FLAGSTAFF, Arizona — The Coconino County Sheriff’s Office has received several concerns from citizens reporting an apparent phone scam where the caller was identified as “Captain Smith” of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office does not employ “Captain Smith”.

Posing as local law enforcement, the scammer contacted the victim, accusing him of failing to appear on jury duty, and said an arrest warrant would be issued until the fine was paid. CCSO will never request funds or collect fines over the phone. Jury subpoenas should be sent by mail and any other medium of communication should be considered dubious.

Anyone receiving such a call should contact the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office or local law enforcement.

Reduce your risk of becoming a victim of fraud by following the crime prevention tips below.

• Always be suspicious of unsolicited calls, texts, or emails.

• Beware of spoofed phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Even if the information displayed in your caller ID looks like a law enforcement or government agency, hang up and call the agency directly to verify the caller’s legitimacy.

• Never use the phone number provided by the caller to verify the authenticity of the caller.

• Never give money or personal information to someone you are not related to or have no contact with.

• Take your time and trust your instincts. If a strange caller makes you uncomfortable or says something that doesn’t sound right, hang up.

Information provided by Coconino County.