Scam guides › Jury duty / warrant scam
Jury duty scam: "You missed jury duty and there's a warrant"
Updated . By the AskBeforeYouSend editorial team (how we fact-check). Fact-checked against the official sources listed at the bottom.
Short answer: It's a scam. The federal courts say they don't require anyone to give sensitive information by phone or email, and that most contact with jurors is by U.S. mail. Scammers threaten fines and jail to get your money or personal information.
What it looks like
This is Deputy Smith with the county sheriff's office. You missed jury duty and there is a warrant for your arrest. You can clear it today by paying a $1,500 fine.
A made-up example. Scammers often use real officers' names and court addresses.
How the scam works
- A caller claiming to be a deputy, marshal or court clerk says you missed jury duty.
- They say a warrant was issued, and you can avoid arrest by paying a fine now.
- They ask for gift cards, a payment app, crypto or a Bitcoin ATM, or your personal details.
Red flags
- Threat of arrest over jury duty
- Paying a fine by phone, text, gift card or crypto
- Pressure to stay on the line until you pay
What to do now
- Hang up.
- Call the clerk of court yourself using the number on the court's official website.
- Report it to the FTC.
Never send money, gift cards, crypto or verification codes because of a call, text or message. Hang up and call the real number.
Report it
Questions
What if I really did miss jury duty?
Call the court clerk using the number on the court's official website, not a number the caller gives you.
Sources
Example messages are made up to show the pattern unless we say otherwise. Phone numbers in examples use the fictional 555 range.
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