Ongoing "Jury Duty Scam" targeting community members

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office would like to inform the public of an ongoing "Jury Duty Scam" targeting community members.

How the Scam Works:

Scammers are calling individuals, falsely claiming to be from the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office. The caller often uses the name "Seth Copeland" and claims that Jury Duty has been missed and that a subpoena had been issued and it was never answered. At times they will use a "spoofed phone number", spoofing is where a fake caller ID (it may even appear as a local number or Oneida County) is used to attempt to trick you into answering, or confuse you.

They then may instruct the victim to immediately report to the Sheriff's Office to turn themselves in or send money, sometimes specifying payment apps such as Cash App, Zelle, Venmo, PayPal, or providing a physical location for payment, and often become high pressure and demand that you make the decision immediately.

Important Facts to Remember:

* The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office will NEVER call you to demand payment, nor ask you to send money using payment apps.

* Fines are assessed and collected only through the Court system in the appropriate jurisdiction.

* Bail is paid directly at the booking department via cash, cashier's check, or bond, with proper identification in person at the Facility.

* The Sheriff’s Office Civil Division collects money for court-ordered civil judgments and income executions only as directed by a Court Order, and never through unsolicited phone calls.

What to Do If You Receive a Suspicious Call:

* Do NOT provide personal or financial information over the phone.

* Ask the caller for their name, contact number, and the address they are calling from.

* Tell them you need to verify their identity before continuing and that you will call them back.

* Report any suspicious calls to law enforcement by calling 315-736-0141. Wait until the end of the recording to speak with a dispatcher.

Stay Safe:

Scammers can sound convincing and may possess some of your personal details. Trust your instincts if something feels off, it probably is. Protect your information and verify before taking any action.