Being summoned for jury duty can seem like an inconvenience to some — and scammers are trying to make it even more cumbersome. Here’s what to watch out for when it comes to common jury duty scams.
Jury duty is a serious responsibility. If you don’t show up or respond, you could be faced with fines, court hearings, or even jail time. Scammers take advantage of the seriousness of the situation by calling and emailing you to scare you into thinking you’ve missed jury duty — and therefore need to pay.
In jury duty scams, you receive an unexpected call, text, or email from someone claiming to be a U.S. Marshal, law enforcement officer, or court official. They say you missed jury duty and now face fines or jail time, unless you pay immediately. In reality, you were never summoned. Courts don’t work this way.
If you receive any communications about jury duty, keep these tips in mind:
● Real courts don’t demand payment over the phone. In fact, no legitimate government agency will call you and insist you pay immediately for anything.
● Scammers love specific methods of payment — gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency, and wire transfers.
● Courts never ask potential jurors over the phone for personal information, such as your Social Security number or birthdate.
If you get a suspicious message about jury duty, there are three things to avoid:
1) First of all, don’t respond.
2) If you happen to respond, don’t give out personal info.
3) And most importantly, don’t pay.
If you’re unsure of a message’s legitimacy, visit your local court’s official website or call a verified number to check on your jury duty status.