Nye County Warns of $2,000 Jury Duty Phone Scam Spoofing Sheriff's Number

Scammers used a familiar local phone number to pressure residents into sending a $2,000 bond payment after falsely claiming a missed jury duty summons and an outstanding warrant. County officials say the calls, which surfaced January 21, 2026, aimed to frighten people into paying at a local service provider to avoid arrest.

The Nye County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it has received complaints about the calls and warned the public that this is a scam. The office said the caller ID displayed the sheriff’s office phone number, but the number had been spoofed and callers were falsely identifying themselves as ranked deputies. When it comes to enforcing a failure to appear, the sheriff’s office said this is not the process county officials go through.

“Neither the Courts nor the Sheriff's Office accepts payments for warrants through outside electronic sources,” the sheriff’s office said. The agency also urged anyone who receives one of these calls to follow basic precautions and not to provide personal information. "Do not provide any personal information."

Spoofing technology allows fraudsters to make a call look like it originates from a trusted local line, and scammers often vary scripts and payment demands to target different people. In this case, the scam demanded a $2,000 bond payment sent through a third-party local service provider, a method county officials say they do not use for warrants or fines.

The immediate impact is financial risk and anxiety among residents, particularly older adults and anyone unfamiliar with newer scams. Local trust in official communications can be eroded when a trusted phone number is copied in this way, complicating legitimate outreach from law enforcement and the courts. County leaders emphasize that real notices about jury duty or warrants come through the courts or in-person procedures, not by high-pressure phone demands for cash.

Residents should verify any official-looking call through known channels before taking action and preserve evidence such as call logs or messages to share with authorities. The sheriff’s office is tracking complaints and reminding the public that legitimate agencies do not demand payment through outside electronic sources or require immediate cash transfers to avoid arrest.

For Nye County residents, the episode is a reminder to be skeptical of unsolicited calls demanding money and to rely on established county and court procedures for jury and warrant matters. Officials say they will continue investigating reports of the scam and updating the community as more information becomes available.