HOUSTON – A Houston man is speaking out after losing $8,000 to people who claimed he was about to be arrested over missed federal jury duty.
The man, who asked to go by John, told KPRC 2’s Ricky Munoz he was at work when the call came in.
“They told me I had a warrant from the Harris County Sheriff’s Department for missing jury duty — failure to appear, failure to follow up,” John said. “They said, either you pay now, or you’ll be arrested.”
John says the callers were convincing, giving him detailed case numbers and transferring him between fake “officers.” They told him to withdraw cash and meet a bondsman at a CVS pharmacy.
“I’ve never dealt with a bondsman before — the man handed me what looked like a legit surety bond, gave me a business card, told me where the security cameras were,” John said. “It all seemed official.”
He handed over $8,000 in cash and waited on the phone while the scammers said they were finalizing the paperwork. But when John tried to email the address on the business card, the message bounced back.
That’s when he realized what had happened.
“I panicked. I’ve always tried to comply with the law. I didn’t want to risk my reputation or my job. So I just… did what they asked, hoping it would all go away,” he said. “And then I realized — it was a scam.”
Bail bond company name dragged into the case
The business card John was given used the name ASAP Bail Bonding Houston and the name Blake Ford.
When KPRC 2 contacted ASAP’s owner, Derrick Dixon, he said no one by that name has ever worked for his company.
“I want the public to know: there’s no association with anybody named ‘Blake Ford’ that has ever been an employee or worked for ASAP Bail Bonds,” Dixon said. “I don’t know why they chose my company’s name, but this fraud blindsided me — and I feel terrible for the guy who lost money.”
Dixon explained that in legitimate cases, bail bond companies work directly through their offices and through the court system — they do not send people out to demand cash on the spot.
“If someone ever approaches you saying you have a warrant and asking for money right there — that’s not how it works,” Dixon said. “You can always call the bonding company’s office or Harris County to check.”
Houston police: How to protect yourself
Houston Police shared several key tips to avoid falling for tactics like this:
- ✅ Never give personal information over the phone.
- ✅ Always check with a family member, friend, or neutral third party before paying.
- ✅ Government agencies will never demand cash or bail bond payments over the phone.
- ✅ If someone keeps you on the phone, pushes you to act fast, or uses threats — it’s a red flag.
- ✅ Talk to older family members who may be more vulnerable to these kinds of calls.
Officials say that while the details may vary, the pattern is often the same: the scammer creates panic, isolates the victim on the phone, and makes them believe they need to act immediately.
“Just pausing for a moment to check with someone you trust can make all the difference,” one police official said.
What to do if you get a suspicious call
If you receive a call claiming you missed jury duty or owe fines:
- Hang up and contact your local sheriff’s department directly.
- Report the incident to local law enforcement and the U.S. District Court in your area.
- You can also file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
