Scammers claim you missed jury duty and face arrest unless you pay a fine. Courts never demand payment by phone.
The caller claims to be from a local court, sheriff's office, or US Marshals Service. They inform you that you failed to appear for jury duty and a bench warrant has been issued for your arrest. Officers are being dispatched to your location. However, you can "clear" the warrant immediately by paying a fine — usually $500 to $2,000 — via gift card, wire transfer, or prepaid debit card.
The scam is made convincing by caller ID spoofing (showing the actual court or sheriff's office number), use of legal terminology, and knowledge of your name and address (from public records). Some scammers even know the names of real judges in your jurisdiction.
Jury duty summons come exclusively by US mail. Courts never contact potential jurors by phone to demand payment for missed service. If you miss jury duty, you'll receive a written notice, and any penalties are handled through the court system — not over the phone.
Real consequences for missing jury duty vary by jurisdiction but typically involve a rescheduled date, a small fine processed through the court (not paid by phone), or in extreme cases, a show-cause hearing where you explain the absence to a judge. Arrest warrants for missed jury duty are extremely rare and would be served in person by law enforcement, not resolved by phone payment.
The jury duty scam exploits several psychological triggers: fear of arrest (most people have never been arrested and the prospect is terrifying), respect for authority (the caller represents the court system), guilt (many people genuinely can't remember if they received a summons), and urgency ("officers are on the way" creates panic that overrides rational thinking).
The scam is particularly effective with people who have never served on a jury, immigrants who may be unfamiliar with the US legal system, and elderly individuals who are more likely to comply with authority figures.
Hang up immediately. No court, sheriff, or law enforcement agency will call to demand immediate payment for missed jury duty. If you're genuinely concerned about whether you missed a jury summons, contact your local clerk of court using the number from the court's official website (not any number the caller provides).
Do not provide any personal information — name, address, date of birth, or Social Security number. The scammer may already know your name and address from public records, but confirming additional details enables identity theft.
Report jury duty scams to: your local court clerk's office (they track these scams targeting their jurisdiction), the sheriff's office (especially if the caller impersonated a deputy), the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and your state attorney general's consumer fraud hotline.
If you paid, contact your bank immediately for potential recovery. For gift card payments, call the issuing company — some may be able to freeze remaining balances. Document everything for your police report.
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