Hampden County Sheriff's Office warns of new jury duty scheme
Warning: Schemers posing as West Springfield police chief demand money
The scheme involves a caller saying there was a legal issue involving jury duty paperwork. In one incident, a mother received a phone call saying that there was an issue with her paperwork. The mother got her adult daughter on the line as she was concerned. The schemer cut the mother out of the call and focused only on the daughter. The schemer told her she needed to report to the jail in person to verify her signature.
The caller insisted she stay on the phone the whole time, which is an alarming tactic often used in coercion and abduction schemes to isolate and control victims. The call seemed convincing, using legal-sounding language and referencing real institutions to make it seem legitimate.
Sheriff Nick Cocchi says the scheme is deeply troubling and that no deputy from his office will ever call a resident to resolve legal matters.
'This kind of scam is deeply troubling,' said Sheriff Cocchi. 'It's not just about stealing money—it's about exploiting people's trust, their concern for loved ones, and using fear to manipulate them. The fact that the scammer tried to isolate the victim and keep her on the phone raises serious red flags. Let me be clear: no deputy from my office will ever call you to resolve legal matters, demand payment, or tell you to come to the jail over the phone. That's just not how we operate.'
If you get a call like this, hang up, and contact the sheriff's office right away at (413) 858-0000.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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