The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department is warning everyone about a scam it’s received several reports about in the past week.
The department tells us it got multiple calls Friday from people who had received calls from someone claiming to be a deputy with the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department. The fake deputy said his name was Lieutenant Justin O’Brien and then claimed the person he was calling had failed to report for jury duty. He told would-be victims a warrant was being issued for their arrest unless they paid a fine via money transfers through places like Walmart, Walgreens, Meijer, and Western Union.
None of those who reported getting those calls last week fell for the scam, but the sheriff’s department is advising everyone that it never contacts people over the phone threatening to arrest them unless they make a payment.
The sheriff’s department notes the calls came from a 269 area code, but that was likely spoofed by the scammer to seem more real.
If you get such a call, hang up and report it to Berrien County Central Dispatch.
