What Is the Jury Duty Payment Scam?

This scam involves fake messages claiming you’ve missed jury duty and now owe a fine. Scammers impersonate court or law enforcement officials and pressure you to pay quickly, often using fear tactics like threats of arrest or legal action.

How the Scam Works

Fraudsters contact individuals by phone, email, or text, claiming they missed jury duty, and now face arrest, fines, or legal action unless they pay immediately. They often pretend to be from the sheriff’s office, courthouse, or another official agency. To sound more convincing, scammers may use real judges or court staff names, fake badge numbers, or spoofed caller ID information. These scammers typically demand payment by wire transfer, prepaid debit cards, gift cards, or other untraceable methods because getting your money back is nearly impossible once it’s sent.

Example of the Scam

Jonah receives a call from someone claiming to be with the local court. The caller says Jonah missed jury duty and now owes a $900 fine. If he doesn’t pay immediately, a warrant will be issued for his arrest. The caller gives a fake badge number and says payment must be made using gift cards. Afraid of getting into trouble, Jonah buys the cards and shares the numbers over the phone, only to realize later it is a scam.

Tips to Protect Yourself From the Jury Duty Payment Scam

• Know how courts operate. Courts do not call or email you to demand payment for missed jury duty.
• Verify suspicious messages. If you’re unsure, contact the court directly using a phone number from an official government website.
• Watch for unusual payment requests. No government agency accepts gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency as payment.
• Protect your personal information. Don’t give out Social Security numbers, bank account details, or other sensitive data over the phone or in emails.
• Hang up on threats. Scammers often use fear to pressure you. Real government agencies won’t threaten arrest over the phone.

If You’ve Been Scammed

If you’ve been targeted by a jury duty payment scam, follow these essential tips:

• Contact us and any other financial institutions you work with. If your account information has been compromised, or if you have mistakenly given money to a scam, let us know.
• Report the scam to the FTC. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.FTC.gov. Also, inform your local law enforcement.
• Report the scam to the state attorney general. You can find information at NAAG.org.
• Notify local law enforcement. They may be able to investigate or provide next steps.