THOMASVILLE — The Thomas County Sheriff’s Office is warning residents not to fall prey to a new phone scam.

Capt. Steven Jones, sheriff’s office public information officer, said his office has been deluged with calls from people who said someone identifying themselves as a deputy called them and said if they did not arrange for payment over the phone they would be arrested for missing jury duty.

“It is a scam,” Jones said. “We will not call you and tell you you need to pay over the phone. We would never call you to tell you to pay over the phone.”

Jones said one person even went so far as to turn himself in at the jail for missing jury duty after receiving the call.

Jones said one resident told deputies they asked the fictitious deputy which judge had the jury duty summons. The scammer responded with the name of a nonexistent judge, Jones said.