By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina Post
A Salina woman was scammed out of nearly $3,000 by a caller claiming she had an outstanding warrant for missing jury duty.
Salina Police Captain Paul Forrester said this morning that the 27-year-old woman received a call at work Tuesday night from a male claiming to be from the "sheriff's department." The man told her that she had a warrant for her arrest because she missed jury duty and that there was a $2,300 bond.
The caller convinced the woman that if she hung up, she would be arrested, but if she stayed on the line, he could take care of the bond over the phone, Forrester said. The woman was told to purchase pre-paid gift cards and provide the numbers on the cards to the caller. She purchased three cards at Walmart and two at a Dollar General.
She then provided the numbers to the man and was told to break the cards in half and mail them and the receipt to the City-County Building, Forrester said.
The man called her back and said there were some additional fees. She ended up transferring another $860 to the caller, Forrester said.
Forrester wants the public to be alert to calls such as those the woman received. He said it is important to remember that the sheriff's office will not collect bond money over the phone and does not take gift cards.