I have been warning you about the jury duty scam for twelve years, but it continues to snare many unwary victims.   Recently the Bay County, Florida Sheriff’s Office issued a warning about scammers posing as law enforcement and telling their targeted victims that there is a warrant for their arrest for missing jury duty.  This call is followed up with an email containing a phony warrant for their arrest, however, the targeted victim is told that he or she can avoid arrest by paying fines of thousands of dollars to avoid arrest.

Often in these scams you are told that you can pay the fine through a credit card or, as is being done more and more,  by a gift card.  Other times they ask for your Social Security number to confirm your identity.  Of course, the phone call is a scam.  Even if you have missed jury duty, you will never be called by legitimate court officers and shaken down for a payment.

Often the scammers will use a technique called “spoofing” to make the call appear on your Caller ID as if it is coming from a legitimate law enforcement agency or court.  In some instances of the scam you are asked to confirm your identity by providing your Social Security number which will then be used to make you a victim of identity theft.  Recently the scam has evolved to where people are also being contacted by text messages or emails from scammers posing as a representative of the local court system.

TIPS

Initial contacts from courts regarding jury duty are always in writing through the mail although some systems will permit you to receive future notices through email.  Under no circumstances will you receive telephone calls or text messages indicating that you have failed to report for jury duty.  No court will demand payment over the phone for failing to appear for jury duty.  If you do receive such a call and you think that there is even the possibility that you might have forgotten to report for jury duty, merely call the local clerk of courts in order to  get accurate information. Of course anyone calling you and telling you that you can pay your fine to them over the phone using your credit card or a gift card is a scammer.

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