LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A Louisville woman is warning others after nearly falling victim to a phone scam in which the caller, posing as a law enforcement officer, attempted to lure her to an unknown location.
Shahara Ross, who frequently receives calls for work, answered a local 502 area code number last week. On the other end, a man claimed to be a deputy from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office.
"He gave me a badge number and said 'Do you know you didn't show up for federal jury duty today?'" Ross said . "I said 'I didn't know I was supposed to be on jury duty today.'"
The caller didn't ask for money but instead insisted that Ross verify her personal details and show up at a specific location. When she questioned the legitimacy of the call, the man told her to hang up and call an 800 number extension to reach him directly.
Ross instead contacted the sheriff's office, where officials confirmed the call was a scam. According to law enforcement, similar scams have been increasing in frequency, with fraudsters impersonating officials and threatening arrest for missed court dates or unpaid fees.
The Louisville Metro Police Department recently issued a warning on social media, stating that scammers often demand money, credit card information or gift cards while falsely claiming affiliation with agencies like the U.S. Marshals Service.
Authorities urge residents to be cautious, stating that law enforcement will never request payments or personal information over the phone.
Ross said she hopes her experience will encourage others to remain vigilant.
"I'm just glad I stopped the conversation," she said.
Residents who receive suspicious calls are advised to hang up immediately and report the incident to police.
Anyone who has been a victim can call 502-574-5673 or report it online by clicking here. And for more help regarding scams, the Administrative Office of the Courts for Kentucky has a link here.
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