BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County Sheriff's Office is warning the public about a recent phone scam that has been going on in the area.

The scam is that a person calls, claiming to be a Deputy and tells the caller that they did not show up for jury duty and there is a warrant out for their arrest.

KCSO said that the Sheriff's Office will not contact the public via telephone to pay fines and that if anyone receives a call from an unknown person requesting money, they should research the matter prior to providing any funds or personal information.

If you receive a call that you suspect is a scam, ask for the persons name as well as an employee identification number and callback number. This information can be used to contact the organization directly to determine the validity of the request.

If you receive suspicious telephone calls that you believe to be a scam, you are urged to contact the Kern County Sheriff's Office communication center at (661)861-3110, or your local law enforcement agency, to report the incident.