Current:Home > StocksJury duty phone scam uses threat of arrest if the victim doesn't pay a fine. Here's how to protect yourself. -Excel Money Vision
Jury duty phone scam uses threat of arrest if the victim doesn't pay a fine. Here's how to protect yourself.
View
Date:2025-04-13 04:52:34
The U.S. District Court and U.S. Attorney’s Office warned the public Monday from falling prey to a reoccurring nationwide scam that involves a threatened arrest for missing jury duty.
The scams happen when criminals who pose as U.S. Marshals or government officials call someone and tell them they will be arrested for not appearing for jury duty unless they pay them a fine, according to a news release Monday from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Middle District of Florida. Once the person agrees, the scammers then "walk them through purchasing a prepaid debit or gift card or making an electronic payment to satisfy the fine."
Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan and U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg said authorities from several Florida counties – including Nassau, Orange, and Pinellas – have heard from multiple victims of the scam. Corrigan and Handberg want to prevent people "from falling prey to such scams."
"Let me be clear: these calls are fraudulent,” Corrigan said. “If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a judge or other court official, do not give them your credit card or other financial information."
Anyone who thinks they are a victim of the scam can report it to the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office.
What to watch out for
According to the news release, the public can watch out for criminals of the jury duty scam who:
- "May provide convincing information, including about the victim (e.g., addresses, date of birth, etc.), real names of federal judges or court employees, actual court addresses, court phone numbers, and case and badge numbers."
- "(Imitate) the phone number on the caller ID so that the call falsely appears to originate from a court number or the number of another government agency."
- "Tell them that they can avoid arrest by paying an immediate fine and walk them through purchasing a prepaid debit or gift card or making an electronic payment to satisfy the 'fine.'"
"In no instance will a court official, U.S. Marshals Service, or other government employee contact someone and demand payment or personal information by phone or email," the news release added.
Scam watch:Make these 5 New Year's resolutions to avoid scams this year
What is the importance of jury duty? How often do people miss jury duty?
The United States Courts deems participating in jury duty a civic duty.
"A jury decides the facts of a case in accordance with principles of the law as explained by a judge," its website reads.
According to the latest report from the National Center for State Courts, compared to the 15% of Americans who get summoned for jury duty each year, even fewer serve and less than 5% end up on a jury, the Pew Research Center reported. The report represents about 70% of the U.S. population, the Pew Research Center reported.
'Resurgence' of jury duty scamsImpersonating court officials, fake fines
'People are being targeted by phone call, email and messaging scams'
There have been other jury duty-related scams.
An Ohio man recently paid $400 to a scammer after he missed jury duty. An Alaska court system, Connecticut court officials, and Miami officials recently warned residents about similar scams.
"These instances are looking pretty sophisticated, and I think we all know the emails we are all getting out there and the phone calls are becoming more and more sophisticated,” said Miami-Dade Courts Chief Judge Nushin G. Sayfie, the news outlet Local 10 reported.
Juror scams happen when "people are being targeted by phone call, email, and messaging scams threatening them with prosecution for failing to comply with jury service," according to the U.S. Courts. It is punishable by law "for anyone to falsely represent themselves) as a federal court official," and the federal Judiciary "takes such offenses seriously," its website reads.
"Jury service is one of the most important public services a citizen can perform, and it is a serious matter when scammers attempt to use a citizen’s sense of civic duty to defraud them," Handberg said Monday.
Contact Kayla Jimenez at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter, at @kaylajjimenez.
veryGood! (23)
Related
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- After the end of Roe, a new beginning for maternity homes
- 'Bill & Ted' stars Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter to reunite in new Broadway play
- Kate Douglass 'kicked it into high gear' to become Olympic breaststroke champion
- Meet first time Grammy nominee Charley Crockett
- USA Basketball's Steve Kerr, assistants enjoying master’s class in coaching
- Flavor Flav, Alexis Ohanian step up to pay rent for US Olympian Veronica Fraley
- Georgia governor suspends Newton County commissioner accused of taking kickback
- Selena Gomez's "Weird Uncles" Steve Martin and Martin Short React to Her Engagement
- Periodic flooding hurts Mississippi. But could mitigation there hurt downstream in Louisiana?
Ranking
- Louvre will undergo expansion and restoration project, Macron says
- AP Decision Notes: What to expect in Michigan’s state primaries
- Surfer Carissa Moore says she has no regrets about Olympic plan that ends without medal
- Judge overturns $4.7 billion jury award to NFL Sunday Ticket subscribers
- At site of suspected mass killings, Syrians recall horrors, hope for answers
- Demi Moore wants to normalize farting: 'What’s the big stink about?'
- 2 men sentenced for sexual assaults on passengers during separate flights to Seattle
- Job report: Employers added just 114,000 jobs in July as unemployment jumped to 4.3%
Recommendation
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Kate Douglass 'kicked it into high gear' to become Olympic breaststroke champion
Katie Ledecky makes more Olympic history and has another major milestone in her sights
Mama June Shannon's Daughter Lauryn Pumpkin Efird and Husband Josh Break Up After 6 Years of Marriage
Backstage at New York's Jingle Ball with Jimmy Fallon, 'Queer Eye' and Meghan Trainor
D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event Unveils Star Wars, Marvel & More Collections: An Exclusive First Look
Billie Eilish and Charli XCX Dance on Pile of Underwear in NSFW Guess Music Video
Conn's HomePlus now closing all stores: See the full list of locations