EPCSO warns of phone scam for missed jury duty

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is warning area residents of a telephone scam.

The sheriff’s office says people around El Paso County have received phone calls from a person claiming to be Deputy Paul Cross with the sheriff’s department. The scammer claims that a jury summons was ignored by the victim and there is a warrant for their arrest.

The victim is then told to buy Money Trax cards for different amounts of money. In most cases, the caller asks for $987 and asks the victim to purchase two or more cards in order to have the warrant recalled.

The offender will further ask the victim to meet them in order to give them the money card but then claims they cannot make it. The caller requests the serial numbers on the cards over the phone.

Victor Ramirez, the supervisor of jury selection at the El Paso County Courthouse, says investigators never call anyone by phone to tell them they have missed jury duty.

The sheriff’s office also says they will never contact anyone by phone requesting payment for outstanding warrants.

If anyone has been a victim, they are asked to call the El Paso Police Department non-emergency number 915-832-4400, or the EPCSO non-emergency number at 915-832-4408