Residents of Pasco County are being urged to stay alert after a new phone scam targeting supposed missed jury duty has cost at least one woman $2,000, and authorities believe there are more victims.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office says callers are posing as law enforcement or court officials, claiming the person neglected to report for jury duty and now faces a warrant for arrest unless payment is made immediately. In the latest known case, a Land O’ Lakes woman, Jana Cash, says she believed the threat.

What Happened

The caller claimed to be with the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) and told Cash she had a warrant due to missed jury duty. The scammers apparently had her personal information, including home address, Social Security number, and driver’s license number. They demanded payment via cryptocurrency—telling her to withdraw money and use a cryptocurrency machine to transfer funds.

The call lasted more than three hours. Cash says she was instructed not to tell anyone. After using some of her own funds, she enlisted her husband to send additional money until she reached $2,000 paid out.

Cash describes the ordeal as feeling “like a hostage situation,” saying the incident left her and her family traumatized.

Sheriff’s Office: What You Should Know

To protect yourself from falling victim:

• Courts and law enforcement will never demand payment by phone or require wire transfers or cryptocurrency to resolve missed jury duty.
• You will not be arrested immediately for missing jury duty without due legal process.
• If you receive such a call, hang up immediately. Then, verify your jury duty status directly with your local court.
• Report the scam to law enforcement. Cash’s case wasn’t isolated: the Pasco Sheriff’s Office said at least seven other people had reported similar calls the same day.

Bottom Line

This is a reminder to be extremely cautious about unsolicited calls claiming legal or law enforcement authority, especially when paired with threats or demands for immediate payment. Genuine courts provide official notices in writing, not via pressure-filled phone calls demanding money.

If you or someone you know is contacted in this way, stop, verify independently, and report the incident.

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