Reports of Jury Duty Scam Continue in Canton

The Canton Police Department is warning its residents about a scam that continues to occur in Cherokee County.

Residents have been receiving phone calls from someone claiming to be a member of the Canton Police Department or the Cherokee Sheriff’s Office, Canton police said on Wednesday.

The caller informs the resident that a warrant for their arrest has been issued because they missed jury duty. To prevent the arrest, they inform residents they must pay a fine, Canton police said.

“They will instruct you to go to your bank and withdraw money, or to a drug store and buy a gift card equal to the amount of the fine,” the agency added.

Residents are then instructed to deliver that payment to a certain location or send the money to a specific address.

Cherokee County court officials will never contact residents by phone or email if they’ve missed jury duty. The court only contacts people who miss jury duty by regular mail, Canton police added.

Additionally, neither the sheriff’s office nor Canton police will contact a resident by phone pertaining to a fine to an arrest warrant.

If anyone receives a phone call regarding missed jury duty or a warrant for his or her’s arrest, they are instructed to notify police and never give money to the callers.

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