Jury service scam reported

SANDPOINT — Court officials in Bonner County are warning residents of a bizarre jury-service scam that came to light on Monday.

A woman reported receiving a phone call from an Idaho area code warning that she had neglected to return a form related to jury service. The caller, who placed the woman on speaker phone, advised the woman to withdraw $600 in cash and use it to purchase a Western Union product at the Sandpoint Safeway. Clerks at the store suspected the woman was being conned and urged her to report the matter to the jury commissioner at the courthouse.

“She was pretty frightened,” said Jury Commissioner Chris Quayle.

Quayle urged the woman to report the incident by calling Bonner Dispatch’s non-emergency phone line and U.S. District Court officials.

What made the incident strange was there were no instructions to send or deliver the money, suggesting the woman was being pranked simply for the amusement of the caller and their friends.

“This was all to capitalize on the fear that they were instilling in this woman,” said Quayle.

Those who receive suspect phone calls are urged to call the jury office’s land line (208-265-1443) to report it. The jury office does not make threatening phone calls to residents or demand payment and personal information for noncompliance with jury service. Those who receive threatening phone calls are urged to call the Bonner County Dispatch at 208-265-5525 to report the incident to the Bonner County Sheriff’s Office.

The sheriff’s Facebook page also features a video on spoofing scams and how they work.

Keith Kinnaird can be reached by email at kkinnaird@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow him on Twitter @KeithDailyBee.