17-06-2025
Don't fall for this scam: Caller impersonates St. Joseph County officer asking for money
Police warn residents against a scam that falsely told people to pay money to avoid legal issues for missing jury duty or having an outstanding warrant.
The St. Joseph County Police Department was told by at least five people that a caller, impersonating Officer Steven Metcalfe, instructed people to deliver $8,000 to the department's Civil Division to avoid legal trouble, police said June 13.
Similarly, last summer, police warned residents of a fake court order that asked people to pay money to avoid arrest from missing jury duty or from an outstanding warrant.
St. Joseph County Police will never ask residents for money to resolve legal issues, they said. All matters are handled by the court, police said.
"Legitimate notifications regarding jury duty or legal matters will always come by official mail, not by phone," the department said.
If a person receives a call similar to this, they should hang up, county police said.
Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Police warn against scam asking for money for missing jury duty
