Scammers Pose as Deputies, Target Residents with Fake Documents

Clay County residents have faced a surge in scam attempts over the past month, as relentless fraudsters impersonating deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office have repeatedly called and texted locals in an effort to extort money. The scammers’ tactics include claiming that residents have missed either jury duty or a court date and warning them of an outstanding warrant for their arrest.

Victims report that the callers insist they remain on the phone, threatening that hanging up would constitute breaking the law. The scammers then offer a way out: payment of a so-called “civil bond.” Residents are directed to transfer money through popular apps or deposit funds at a Bitcoin ATM.

In recent weeks, the Sheriff’s Office has also received a notable increase in complaints about fraudulent documents being sent via text message. These documents, crafted to appear official, use information sourced from the internet about the targeted individuals. Authorities emphasize that these texts do not resemble legitimate paperwork issued by the Clay County Circuit Court.

Adding to the sophistication of the scam, reports have emerged in the past two weeks of the Sheriff’s Office main administrative phone number, 816-407-3750, being spoofed. This tactic is intended to make the scam appear more credible to unsuspecting residents. Law enforcement officials urge anyone who receives a suspicious call to verify its authenticity by contacting the Sheriff’s Office directly at their non-emergency number, 816-407-3700.

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office reminds the public that deputies will never call to inform someone of an arrest warrant, nor will they demand payment or insist that a person stay on the line.

In Missouri, missing jury duty is considered an offense punishable by a fine, not arrest, and the courts would issue multiple forms of communication before taking any action. Residents are advised to be vigilant, recognize these red flags, and hang up immediately if contacted by someone making such demands.

Officials continue to investigate these scams and urge the community to remain cautious. Anyone who receives a suspicious call or message should report it to the authorities and refrain from providing personal information or sending money.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.

Clay County Sheriff's Office Warns of Sophisticated Jury Duty Scam

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents about a new and highly deceptive phone scam making the rounds today. A scammer claiming to be a Clay County deputy is contacting numerous residents, urging them to return a call to 816-200-0795. The number connects to what appears to be an official Clay County Sheriff's Office phone tree — but officials confirm it is a fraudulent system.

“This is a scam,” Sheriff’s Office Public Relations Manager Sarah Boyd said in a statement. “It may sound convincing, but do not engage with it.”

The fake phone tree mimics a real administrative phone system, but all menu options funnel the caller to the same selection: “civil service.” From there, victims may be directed to a website that falsely claims to be related to federal civil services. The site appears legitimate at first glance, but on closer inspection, all links redirect to a single account log-in page — and the domain ends in .org, not .gov as all authentic federal websites do.

The underlying scam follows a familiar pattern: targets are told they missed jury duty and now face a warrant for their arrest unless immediate action is taken. However, the added layers of a fake phone system and fraudulent website make this version more convincing — and more dangerous.

The official administrative number for the Clay County Sheriff’s Office is 816-407-3750, and the non-emergency line is 816-407-3700. Any residents receiving suspicious calls are encouraged to report the incident and not provide personal or financial information.

KPGZ News – Brian Watts contributed to this story.