Three Oahu residents recently were called by a scam artist who offered to clear a warrant for failing to show up for jury duty in exchange for payment by phone, the state Sheriff Division reported.

One of the residents fell victim to the scam, triggering a second-degree theft investigation, according to the Sheriff Division, and two individuals figured out it was a scam before giving any money over the phone and immediately notified sheriffs.

“This is a nationwide scam that started affecting Hawaii residents in early 2014,” said Sheriff Renee Sonobe Hong in a news release. “The calls appear to be random. The victims are usually scammed to pay money. We urge people to share this alert with your family and friends so they don’t become the next victim.”

In the three recent cases, the individuals received calls from people who identified themselves as captains or lieutenants with the Sheriff Division and spoke with a Southern accent.

The callers said there was a warrant for failure to show up for jury duty, asked for money and told the individuals to go over to the Honolulu District Court to meet with the sheriffs to take care of the warrant.

Hong said in a news release that sheriffs do not call people about warrants having to do with jury duty and will never ask for personal information or solicit payment over the phone. Hawaii residents are also advised not to provide credit card numbers or other personal information to callers claiming to represent a law enforcement agency or the courts.

Anyone receiving a phone call similar to ones used in this scam is asked to call the Sheriff Division at 586-1352.

Also this week, taxpayers were being warned about a phishing scam and urged not give out personal information to anyone claiming to be a state Department of Taxation employee. The department is transitioning to a new tax information system — including the issuance of new tax identification numbers, and said it will be mailing information to taxpayers later this month.

If additional information from taxpayers is needed, the request will be mailed to the taxpayer’s mailing address on file, the state said in a press release.

A Kailua-Kona resident recently received a call from someone purporting to be a Tax Department employee asking for personal information and saying it was related to the conversion to the new tax information system and the issuance of new tax identification numbers.

The department said it will not be contacting taxpayers by telephone for any tax account information, and will not request additional personal information.