Jury Duty Scams: How to Recognize the Warning Signs

Written by Attorney Connor Graham and Attorney Neil T. O’Donnell

With the internet and artificial intelligence making it easier to collect personal information and impersonate others, scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated. One alarming example involves fraudsters posing as sheriffs, U.S. marshals or other authorities and falsely claiming that the person they have called missed jury duty.

How a Jury Duty Scam Works

The storyline is generally simple. A scammer calls while impersonating a law enforcement officer or another government official. To sound convincing, the caller may recite basic personal information, such as your name and address.

Then comes the hook: The caller claims that you failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant has been issued for your arrest. The scammer may demand thousands of dollars in supposed bail or fines, often insisting that payment be made immediately through a payment app, cryptocurrency or another difficult-to-reverse method.

Although the story may seem suspicious in hindsight, these scams are designed to trigger panic. By creating fear and urgency, the caller attempts to push the victim into acting before there is time to question the suddenness or strangeness of the demand.

Warning Signs of a Jury Duty Scam

The Federal Trade Commission offers several important reminders for recognizing this type of fraud:

• Police will not call or email you an arrest warrant.
• Law enforcement will not call to warn you of an impending arrest.
• A legitimate officer will not threaten to arrest you simply for ending a phone call.
• The government will not demand immediate payment by phone through cryptocurrency, a payment app, gift cards or similar methods.

If you receive a call like this, do not let the caller's threats or sense of urgency control your response. Hang up, take a moment to think and independently contact the relevant court or law enforcement agency using a verified public phone number.

What to Do If You Were Scammed

If you sent money or shared financial information, contact the bank, credit card company, payment app or other company involved as soon as possible. Explain that the transaction was fraudulent and ask whether it can be reversed.

If you gave the scammer your Social Security number or other sensitive personal information, visit IdentityTheft.gov for a personalized recovery plan. You should also report the scam to the FTC. Reporting fraud helps authorities identify patterns and respond to evolving scams.