Sonoma County authorities warn of scam seeking payment from purported jury duty scofflaws

Authorities are warning Sonoma County residents not to fall for a phone scam tied to false calls about missing jury duty.

The Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office said a suspect has been calling area residents and posing as a law enforcement officer, identifying himself as Lt. Vance Berry. He then tells people that they’ve missed jury duty and there is a warrant out for their arrest.

The suspect then asks for money or credit card numbers. In one case, a person handed over her Social Security number, according to Windsor Police Sgt. Michael Raasch.

There have been 20 such cases in the past two days reported to the Windsor Police Department and the Sheriff’s Office, according to Raasch.

No one named Vance Berry works at either agency, according to Raasch.

Law enforcement would not phone you to advise you of an arrest warrant, he added.

Raasch advised anyone who receives such a call to hang up and report it to their police department.

You can reach Staff Writer Angela Hart at 526-8503 or angela.hart@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @ahartreports.