Avon Police Warn of Scammers Posing as Law Enforcement

Scammers cost local woman $16,000 in jury duty fine scheme

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Avon Police Department is warning residents about an ongoing phone scam targeting locals, where callers pose as law enforcement or court officials and demand payment to clear a supposed warrant for missed jury duty. In one case, a woman was tricked into paying $16,000 to the scammers before contacting authorities.

Why it matters

Phone scams like this one have become increasingly common and sophisticated, often involving 'spoofed' phone numbers to make calls appear legitimate. These scams can cost victims thousands of dollars and raise concerns about public safety and the vulnerability of all age groups to such schemes.

The details

According to the Avon Police Department, the scammers will call the victim and claim there is a warrant for their arrest due to missed jury duty. The caller then offers to clear the warrant if a large fine is paid over the phone. In one known case, a victim was asked to pay $25,000, and ended up handing over $16,000 before contacting the authorities.

  • The Avon Police Department warned about the ongoing scam on social media on March 8, 2026.

The players

Avon Police Department

The local law enforcement agency in Avon, Indiana that is warning residents about the phone scam.

Hendricks County Courts

The court system that the scammers are falsely claiming to represent when calling victims.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“The Hendricks County Court and local law enforcement will NEVER call you to demand payment of a fine or to threaten arrest over the phone for missed jury duty. Legitimate jury duty summonses and notifications are sent strictly through the U.S. Mail, not via phone calls or emails.”

— Avon Police Department (Facebook)

What’s next

Avon Police are advising residents to be wary of any unsolicited calls claiming to be from law enforcement or the courts demanding immediate payment, and to contact the authorities directly if they receive such a call.

The takeaway

This scam highlights the growing sophistication of phone-based fraud schemes, which can target victims of all ages and cost them thousands of dollars. It underscores the importance of verifying the legitimacy of any calls claiming to be from government agencies before providing any personal or financial information.