HOLLIDAYSBURG — The Blair County Court of Common Pleas has learned of an ongoing telephone scam that local residents should be aware of.

Based on an announcement the court distributed Friday, local residents are receiving calls from someone identifying themselves as a deputy in the county sheriff’s office, who then asks for gift cards to be purchased or that money be placed in a private account to dismiss a pending bench warrant.

The caller reportedly advises that a county judge issued the bench warrant for the person’s failure to appear for jury duty and imposed a $5,000 fine.

In releasing the announcement, President Judge Wade A. Kagarise advised that the sheriff’s office and the county court never ask local residents to dispose of bench warrants and fines by purchasing gift cards or by making payments to a private account.

“Calls of this nature are an effort to scam Blair County citizens financially,” Kagarise said in the announcement. “Do not provide the scammer with any personal or banking information. Simply terminate the call immediately and report the scam to law enforcement.