Scammers posing as Sheriff's Office deputies threatened to arrest citizens for missing jury duty unless they pay hundreds of dollars on Money.Pak cards, a Rutherford County Sheriff's detective said.

Four victims paid about $5,000 in the past three weeks to the scammers who told citizens this was an urgent matter and they would be arrested if they didn't pay up, said Detective Jason Dowdle.

"Rutherford County Sheriff's Office will not call you and request money paid over the phone," Dowdle said. "It's a scam."

The scammers direct the citizen to buy Money.Pak cards and to read the numbers on the back of the card, Dowdle explained. Then, they ask the citizen to come to the Sheriff's Office where they learn they've been scanned.

Warrants deputies called the numbers the scammers gave and their recording stated they are from the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office. The numbers are not with the Sheriff's Office.

The Sheriff's Office never calls anyone for money.

The Circuit Court Clerk's office sends out about 500 jury summons' forms per month for citizens to serve on jury duty. The summons is white and folded with perforated ends to open it.

If someone doesn't show up for jury duty, they will receive a letter to reassign the jury duty to another month. Citizens are not arrested for missing jury duty.