The Washington County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about a jury duty scam actively circulating in the county, where callers posing as law enforcement threaten arrest unless victims pay "bail" immediately.
The warning is part of the WCSO's August 2026 newsletter, published Monday, Aug. 17, which also covers e-bike safety, the office's 10-year milestone at Bethany Station and a push for residents to sign up for emergency alerts.
How the scam works
Scammers call victims claiming they missed jury duty and face immediate arrest. They demand payment in cash or cryptocurrency.
According to Newser, one victim nationally was kept on the phone for nearly 10 hours and lost $25,000.
The WCSO posted a blunt warning on its website: "Law enforcement, including the Washington County Sheriff's Office, will never ask for payment over the phone."
Any caller demanding money and claiming to be from a court or sheriff's office is running a scam.
The problem is growing nationally. According to FTC data reported by Light Reading, Americans lost $920 million to government impersonator scams in 2025, up from $789 million in 2024.
E-bike safety push continues
The newsletter also renews the WCSO's e-bike safety campaign, which the office has emphasized since at least June. In its July community column published in the Cedar Mill News, the office warned that e-bikes' speed and weight make crashes far more serious than typical bicycle falls, especially for young riders.
Key points for parents: Oregon law requires riders to be at least 14 to operate a Class 1 e-bike and at least 16 for other electric bikes. Age requirement changes take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Helmets are required every ride.
The WCSO launched an online tool for reporting reckless e-bike behavior on July 6 as complaints increased countywide.
Emergency alerts and Bethany Station
The newsletter urges residents to sign up for Washington County's free emergency alert system, which sends notifications about evacuations, shelter-in-place orders, boil-water advisories and major police or fire activity.
The August edition also marks 10 years since the Sheriff's Office established its presence at Bethany Station, serving the unincorporated Bethany community northwest of Beaverton.
Residents can sign up for emergency alerts online or text "WashingtonCounty" to 38276 for SMS-only notifications.
