Scammers claiming to be sheriff’s deputies are calling school districts, asking for specific teachers and asking them to meet them to hand over cash because they failed to respond to a jury duty summons, according to Schuylkill County officials.

President Judge Jacqueline L. Russell, District Attorney Michael A. O’Pake and Sheriff Shawn Butler are alerting the public to the scam.

O’Pake said the scammers call school districts offices and ask for a teacher by name, which he believes the scammers get from school district websites.

Once the teacher is on the phone, the scammer identifies himself as a sheriff’s deputy and informs the teacher that they failed to answer a jury duty summons.

To rectify the matter, the teacher is asked to meet the “sheriff’s deputy” somewhere to pay him in cash.

O’Pake said that although the scam has not been reported in Schuylkill County, he wants people to be aware of it.

He cautioned people to hang up should they receive such a call. Court officials never call anyone for failing to report for jury duty, he said.

O’Pake also reminded people to never give banking or other personal information to anyone over the phone.

Those who receive scam calls asking for cash, credit card numbers or gift cards are asked to contact their local police, district attorney’s office, sheriff’s office or the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General, Bureau of Consumer Protection, at 800-441-2555.