Jury Duty Scam Calls
Phone scams cost Americans $1.4 billion in 2024, according to the FTC.
Quick Answer
Jury duty scams are a form of government impersonation fraud where criminals, posing as law enforcement or court officials, trick victims into paying non-existent fines to avoid arrest for supposedly missing jury duty, contributing to the $1.1 billion lost to impersonation scams in 2023 (FTC).
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How It Works
1
A scammer calls, texts, or emails you unexpectedly, claiming to be a U.S. Marshal, sheriff's deputy, or court official. They use spoofing technology to make the caller ID or email address look authentic, and may have your personal information like your name and address to appear legitimate.
2
The imposter informs you that you failed to appear for jury duty and that a warrant has been issued for your arrest. They create a sense of urgency and fear, threatening you with immediate arrest and jail time if you do not comply with their demands.
3
To clear the fake warrant and avoid arrest, the scammer demands you pay an immediate fine. They instruct you to pay using untraceable methods like gift cards, cryptocurrency, a wire transfer, or a payment app, and will often try to keep you on the phone while you make the payment.
Red Flags
- You receive a phone call, text, or email about missing jury duty; official court correspondence is almost always sent via U.S. Mail.
- The caller threatens you with immediate arrest or fines for failing to appear for jury duty.
- The supposed official demands immediate payment to resolve the issue.
- You are instructed to pay the fine using gift cards, cryptocurrency, a wire transfer, or a mobile payment app.
- The caller asks for personal information like your Social Security number or date of birth to 'verify' your identity or check court records.
- The caller's ID appears to be from a legitimate law enforcement or court number; scammers use spoofing to fake this information.
- The caller pressures you to stay on the phone until the payment is complete.
What to Do If Targeted
- Hang up the phone immediately. Do not engage with the caller or provide any personal or financial information.
- Never make a payment. Courts and law enforcement agencies will never call you to demand payment of fines over the phone.
- Verify the claim independently. Look up the official phone number for the court clerk's office or the law enforcement agency that supposedly called you and contact them directly to ask if they tried to reach you.
- Do not trust caller ID. Scammers can fake the name and number that appears, making it look like the call is from a real government agency.
- Report the scam call to the appropriate authorities to help them track and stop the criminals.
- Warn your friends and family about this scam so they can protect themselves.
How to Report It
- FTC — File a fraud report with the Federal Trade Commission. This helps the agency track and stop scams.
- FBI IC3 — Report the incident to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) if the scam involved the internet or email.
- FCC — File a complaint about phone scams, robocalls, or unwanted calls with the Federal Communications Commission.
- AARP Fraud Helpline — Call 877-908-3360 for free support from trained fraud specialists. Available to anyone, not just AARP members.
Key Statistics
- In 2023, reported losses to government and business impersonation scams combined topped $1.1 billion, more than three times what consumers reported in 2020. — Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 2024
- The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 880,418 complaints in 2023, with total potential losses exceeding $12.5 billion. — FBI IC3 2023 Annual Report
- There were nearly 160,000 reports of government impersonation scams filed with the FTC in 2023. — Federal Trade Commission (FTC) 2024
- Government impersonation was one of the top five cyber-enabled fraud crimes in 2025, with nearly 32,500 complaints and approximately $797 million in reported losses. — FBI IC3 Data 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
No, court officials and law enforcement will never call you to demand payment for a fine over the phone. Real summonses and notices for failure to appear are sent by U.S. Mail, and any fines are handled in court, not through a phone call demanding gift cards or wire transfers.
Scammers use a technique called 'caller ID spoofing' to make it look like they are calling from a legitimate government agency. Do not trust the caller ID. If you are concerned, hang up and call the agency directly using a phone number you have looked up on their official website.
Scammers demand payment through methods that are difficult to trace and recover. They will insist you pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers through services like Western Union or MoneyGram, or mobile payment apps. Government agencies will never demand payment through these methods.
If you genuinely miss jury duty, the court will typically send a notice in the mail. A fine will not be imposed until you have a chance to appear in court and explain your failure to appear. You will not be threatened with immediate arrest over the phone.
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