Missed jury duty scams: calls and texts threatening arrest
A caller claiming to be a sheriff's deputy or court officer says you missed jury duty and must pay to avoid arrest.
Could you spot it?
2 quick examples. Decide scam or legit for each.
How it works
The caller uses a real local officer's name, a case number and a stern tone. You missed a summons, they say, and there's a warrant. You can clear it today by paying a fine, often with prepaid cards, a payment app or a Bitcoin ATM, sometimes while staying on the phone. Some versions send you to a fake court website to “verify” with your Social Security number.
Real courts communicate about jury service by mail and don't demand fines over the phone.
Red flags
- A threat of immediate arrest unless you pay now.
- Payment by gift card, payment app, crypto or Bitcoin ATM.
- They keep you on the phone while you go and pay.
- A website that asks for your Social Security number to “check” a warrant.
What it looks like
Your phone rings at work.
Caller: This is Sergeant Mike Torres with the County Sheriff's Office, civil process division. Our records show you failed to appear for jury duty, and a bench warrant has been issued for your arrest.
Caller: You can resolve this today without being taken into custody by posting a $1,500 bond. You can pay at any Bitcoin ATM, and I'll stay on the line with you while you do it.
Caller: If you hang up, the warrant will be executed.
The tells:
- A threat of arrest unless you pay today.
- No court takes a “bond” through a Bitcoin ATM.
- Staying on the line keeps you from checking with anyone.
- Pressure not to hang up.
A training example written for this site. Names, numbers and links are made up, and links are disabled.
What to do
- Hang up. Call the clerk of your local court using the number on the court's official website.
- Never pay a “fine” to someone who called you.
If you already paid or shared information
- Contact the company you used to pay (your bank, card company, gift card company, payment app or wire service) right away and ask them to reverse the payment.
- If you shared a password, change it now and turn on two-factor authentication.
- If you gave out your Social Security number or other ID details, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a recovery plan.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. For scams that happened online, you can also report to the FBI at ic3.gov.
From FTC: What to do if you were scammed.
Latest alerts about this scam
- FTC ·Ignore calls, texts, and emails threatening to arrest you for missing jury duty
Did you get a call claiming you missed jury duty and need to pay? Followed by a text or email with official-looking documents saying there’s a warrant out for your arrest? As alarming as these things sound, they’re a scam designed to steal your money.
Sources
- FTC: Ignore calls, texts, and emails threatening to arrest you for missing jury duty
- FTC: Scammers are using fake websites in a twist on jury duty scams
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