Jury duty scams: how to spot and report them

The script is always similar. Someone claiming to be a court officer, deputy, or marshal says you missed jury duty, a warrant has been issued, and you can clear it right now by paying a fine or "verifying" your Social Security number, date of birth, or bank details. It's a scam.

What the courts say

The U.S. Courts warn that people are being targeted by phone calls, emails, and messaging scams that threaten prosecution for failing to comply with jury service. Recipients are pressured to hand over confidential data, which can lead to identity theft and fraud, and are threatened with fines and jail. These communications are fraudulent and not connected with the U.S. courts. State courts post similar warnings. Colorado's jury page, for example, opens with a notice about a jury duty phone scam.

How real courts contact jurors

• Mostly by mail. The U.S. Courts say most contact between a federal court and a prospective juror is through the U.S. mail.
• No sensitive data by phone or email. Federal courts don't require anyone to provide sensitive information in a phone call or email, and real court staff who call or email won't ask for it.
• No payment by phone. Courts don't take gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps over the phone to "cancel a warrant."

Red flags

• Threats of immediate arrest unless you pay now.
• Requests for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card.
• Payment by gift card, prepaid card, crypto, or a payment app.
• Caller ID showing a court or sheriff's office. That can be faked.
• Pressure to stay on the line or keep it secret.

What to do

1. Hang up or don't reply. Don't give any information.
2. Call the court yourself using a number from the court's official website, the government listings, or a summons you actually received. Our state directory links to official jury pages.
3. Report it. The U.S. Courts ask people to notify the Clerk of Court's office of the U.S. District Court in their area, and you can also report to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
4. If you already paid or shared data, contact your bank right away, and see the FTC's identity theft guidance.

Why it works

Most people know jury duty is mandatory and that missing it can have consequences. See missed your jury summons?. Scammers rely on that. The real process is slower and on paper. A court would send notices and give you a chance to explain before any penalty. It doesn't demand money over the phone.

The U.S. Courts also note that it's a crime for anyone to falsely represent themselves as a federal court official.

Common scripts, and what's really happening

Scammers reuse a few scripts because they work. Knowing them makes them easy to spot.

• "You missed jury duty and there's a warrant for your arrest." The caller says the warrant can be cleared by paying a fine immediately, often by gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency. Real courts don't collect fines by phone, and they never take gift cards.
• "We need to verify your identity." The caller asks for your Social Security number, date of birth or bank information "to check the juror database." Federal courts say they don't require anyone to provide sensitive information in a phone call or email.
• "Click here to complete your juror questionnaire." A text or email links to a fake site that harvests personal data. Federal courts say most contact with prospective jurors is by U.S. mail.
• Caller ID spoofing. The call appears to come from the courthouse or the sheriff's office. Caller ID can be faked, so it proves nothing.
• Fake officials using real names. Scammers sometimes give the name of a real judge, clerk or officer to sound credible. A real name doesn't make a demand real.

A quick verification routine

1. Hang up or don't reply.
2. Find the court's number yourself: from your paper summons, the court's official website, or for federal courts the Federal Court Finder on uscourts.gov.
3. Call the clerk or jury office and ask whether there's any issue with your service.
4. Never pay to "clear" a warrant over the phone. If a court really needed you, it would tell you to appear.

If you already paid or shared information

Act quickly to limit the damage:

• Contact your bank or card issuer to dispute the charge and freeze the account if needed.
• Call the gift card company using the number on the back of the card and report the fraud. Funds can sometimes be frozen if you act fast.
• Report it to the U.S. District Court clerk's office in your area and to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Place a fraud alert or credit freeze with the credit bureaus if you gave out your Social Security number.
• Change passwords if you entered any login details on a fake site.

Why reporting matters

Federal courts note that it's a crime to falsely represent yourself as a federal court official, and that the judiciary takes these offenses seriously. Reports help courts issue public alerts. The U.S. Courts have published alerts about new juror scams and about scams reported in several districts.

Protect older relatives

Scammers often target older adults. Tell parents and grandparents that courts communicate about jury service mainly by mail, never demand immediate payment, and never accept gift cards.

Frequently asked questions

Could a real court ever call me? Yes. Jury staff sometimes call about scheduling, but a real call won't ask for payment or sensitive information.

Is a text about jury duty always a scam? Some courts send text reminders you signed up for. Treat any link or payment request with suspicion, and verify through the official website.

Key takeaways

• Courts contact jurors mainly by mail and never demand payment by phone.
• Gift cards, wire transfers and payment apps are always red flags.
• Verify by calling the number on your summons or the court's official website.
• Report scams to your local federal court clerk and to the FTC.