The King County Sheriff’s Office wants to warn citizens of a scam that has been occurring in the Seattle area over the last couple of years.

“Someone may call you and identify themselves as a King County deputy or detective and tell you that you failed to show up for jury duty,” said Sgt. Cindi West.

West adds that once they have people’s attention, they will threaten them with jail unless they pay a fine immediately. Usually they will request a credit card number over the phone or even ask people to go to a nearby store to purchase a gift card and then tell them the card number.

“This is a scam. Do not give them any money,” she said.

Most of the citizens who have called the Sheriff’s Office checking the validity of the call have not given any money to the scammers. West suggests that if someone gets one of these calls to hang up.

She said that the Sheriff’s Office would never call someone about a warrant and ask them to pay over the phone.