Jury duty / warrant scam
A caller posing as a sheriff's deputy or court officer says you missed jury duty and a warrant has been issued, but the 'fine' can be paid by phone to avoid arrest.
The script borrows real authority signals — actual judge names, courthouse addresses, badge numbers — scraped from public court websites, and spoofs sheriff's office numbers. Its power is shame: 'resolving a warrant' quietly by phone feels easier than showing up. But US courts handle missed jury service by mail, fines are paid to court clerks through official channels, and no law-enforcement agency accepts gift cards. Hanging up and calling the clerk's published number collapses the scheme instantly.
How to recognize it
- Claim of an active arrest warrant resolvable by immediate phone payment
- Demands for gift cards, prepaid cards, or a wire
- Spoofed caller ID showing a real courthouse or sheriff number
What to do
- Hang up — courts handle missed jury duty by mail, never by phone payment
- Call the court clerk directly using the official number
- Report to the FTC and local law enforcement
Where to report
Sources
FAQ
What should I do first if I suspect a jury duty / warrant scam call?
Hang up without pressing anything or confirming any details. Hang up — courts handle missed jury duty by mail, never by phone payment. Then report it through the channels listed below.
I already gave the caller money or information — now what?
Act on the money first: contact your bank or card issuer immediately, and if you paid by gift card, call the card company to try freezing the balance. Then file a report at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and, if identity data leaked, follow the recovery plan at IdentityTheft.gov.
Does the number that called me identify the scammer?
Usually not — the display is routinely spoofed. Report the number anyway: combined with time and content, it still helps investigators map calling campaigns.