Severn Resident Identifies Jury Duty Phone Scam Amid Mispronounced Local Names

SEVERN, Md. — A local resident in Severn, Maryland, recently encountered a phone scam that attempted to exploit her with false claims about jury duty. Nadine O'Drain received a call from a man who identified himself as being from the Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office, but his inability to correctly pronounce local names raised her suspicions.

The call originated from an Annapolis number, which prompted O'Drain to answer, thinking it might be her doctor's office. Instead, she was informed that there was a court order against her for failing to appear for jury duty, a claim she found perplexing.

“I never received anything about jury duty,” O'Drain said. “I’m a conscientious, lawful citizen, so I was confused.”

The caller threatened her with a $4,500 fine for the alleged failure to appear and an additional $4,500 for contempt of court. O'Drain began to question the legitimacy of the call, which led to inconsistencies in the caller's story.

As the conversation progressed, the caller mispronounced 'Severn' as 'serve-in' and incorrectly referred to Church Circle as Church Street. O'Drain, who has lived in the area for nearly four decades, knew these details well, which further fueled her skepticism.

Despite the caller having her personal information, including her full name, phone number, and address, O'Drain felt uneasy but remained cautious. The call's convincing nature, including a professional-sounding callback recording, initially made her anxious.

Even when she pointed out that the courts were closed on July 3 due to the holiday, the caller had a response ready. However, O'Drain ultimately confronted him, stating, “I think this is a scam,” which led to the abrupt end of the call.

O'Drain is now sharing her experience to alert others, particularly seniors who are often targeted by similar scams. The Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office has reported receiving multiple inquiries daily regarding this type of scam, advising residents to hang up if they receive such calls.

Maryland Courts also emphasize that they will never demand payment for missed jury duty over the phone. The Federal Trade Commission warns consumers to be cautious and verify calls independently, rather than relying on caller ID.

Reported by HarborBeat based on WMAR-2 News (source).