02/14/2026
The Etowah County Sheriff’s Office has been made aware of a phone scam circulating in our area involving individuals falsely claiming to represent law enforcement or the Circuit Clerk’s Office.
Scammers are calling citizens and stating they have missed jury duty and must pay a fine immediately to avoid arrest. They often demand payment over the phone through prepaid cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or electronic payment apps.
⚠️ THIS IS A SCAM.
Please remember:
• The Etowah County Sheriff’s Office will NEVER call and demand money over the phone.
• The Circuit Clerk’s Office will NEVER request payment over the phone to avoid arrest.
• Law enforcement will not ask for payment via gift cards, Cash App, Venmo, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers.
• Scammers may “spoof” phone numbers to make it appear they are calling from a local government agency.
If you receive a call like this:
✔️ Hang up immediately.
✔️ Do not provide personal or financial information.
✔️ Do not send money.
✔️ Report the incident to the Etowah County Sheriff’s Office.
If you are unsure whether a call is legitimate, hang up and contact our office directly using the official number listed on our website or verified social media page.
Please share this post to help protect others in our community, especially elderly family members who are often targeted in these scams.
Stay alert, Etowah County.