WASHINGTON — Loudoun County residents should beware of a scam phone call from someone claiming to be a sheriff’s deputy.

Loudoun Clerk of the Circuit Court Gary M. Clemens said the individual is using the name of an actual Loudoun County Sheriff deputy and is calling residents asking them to pay fines for not reporting to jury duty.

In a Thursday news release, Clemens said this effort aims to “defraud residents by taking advantage of their fear of potential legal problems for skipping jury duty.”

Anyone who receives the phone call should not submit payment, he said.

Clemens stated that a law enforcement officer will never contact citizens demanding payment for missing jury duty; a circuit court judge provides a written notice about fines or fees required by the court.

Clemens suggests that citizens who receive this call should collect as much information as possible about the caller and then contact the sheriff’s office to file a police report.

Anyone who was a victim of this or a similar scam should call the sheriff’s office at 703-777-1021 or file a police report online.