Fake jury duty scams are a growing form of government impersonation fraud in the United States. Scammers may call, text, email, or send fake documents claiming that you missed jury duty and now face arrest, fines, or other legal consequences.
The goal is usually to frighten you into sending money or revealing sensitive personal information.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a consumer alert in June 2026 warning about calls, texts, emails, and fake arrest-warrant documents connected to jury-duty scams.
Understanding how these scams work can help you recognize the warning signs and avoid becoming a victim.
What Is a Fake Jury Duty Scam?
A fake jury duty scam is an impersonation scam in which criminals pretend to represent a court, police department, sheriff’s office, U.S. Marshals Service, or another government organization.
The scammer may claim that you:
- Missed a jury summons
- Failed to appear for jury service
- Have an outstanding arrest warrant
- Owe a court fine
- Need to pay immediately
- Must provide personal information to resolve the situation
The caller may even know your name, address, or other information, making the communication appear more convincing.
Federal courts have warned that scammers can use real court information, names of officials, and spoofed telephone numbers to make fraudulent communications appear legitimate.
How Fake Jury Duty Scams Work
Most fake jury duty scams use fear and urgency to pressure victims into acting quickly.
1. You receive an unexpected call, text, or email
The scammer may claim to be a police officer, court employee, sheriff, or federal official.
The message may sound official and may include a supposed case number, badge number, court address, or other details.
2. They claim you missed jury duty
You may be told that you failed to appear for jury service or ignored a jury summons.
3. They threaten you with legal consequences
The scammer may say that you will be:
- Arrested
- Taken to jail
- Fined
- Prosecuted
- Required to appear before a judge
These threats are designed to make you panic.
4. They demand immediate payment
The scammer may claim that paying a fine immediately will prevent your arrest.
They may request payment through cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, payment apps, prepaid cards, or other difficult-to-reverse methods.
The FTC says government agencies and courts do not demand payment over the phone and that requests for these unusual payment methods are a major warning sign.
Warning Signs of a Fake Jury Duty Scam
1. The caller threatens immediate arrest
A caller who says you will be arrested unless you pay immediately is a major red flag.
The FTC warns that real law enforcement officers do not call and threaten people with arrest because they hang up or refuse to make an immediate payment.
2. You are told to pay over the phone
Be suspicious if someone claiming to represent a court asks you to pay a fine during a phone call.
Federal courts specifically warn that they do not request payment for missed federal jury service by telephone.
3. The scammer requests gift cards or cryptocurrency
Gift cards, cryptocurrency, payment apps, prepaid cards, and wire transfers are common payment methods in impersonation scams.
Once money is sent through some of these methods, recovering it can be difficult.
4. They ask for sensitive personal information
A scammer may ask for your:
- Social Security number
- Date of birth
- Driver’s license information
- Credit card number
- Bank account information
- Other identifying information
Federal courts warn that legitimate court communications should not ask prospective jurors to provide sensitive information through unexpected telephone calls or emails.
5. The caller ID looks legitimate
Don’t assume a call is genuine simply because the caller ID displays a courthouse, police department, or government agency.
Scammers can spoof telephone numbers so their calls appear to come from legitimate organizations.
6. You receive a fake arrest warrant
Some current jury scams include an attachment or document that appears to be an official arrest warrant.
The FTC warned in June 2026 that scammers were using official-looking documents in these schemes.
Do not assume a document is legitimate simply because it contains government logos, seals, names, or legal terminology.
7. You are sent to a suspicious website
Another variation involves directing victims to a fake court website.
The FTC has warned that scammers have created websites that imitate government websites and request information such as a date of birth or Social Security number.
Never use a website supplied by an unexpected caller to verify the caller’s own claims.
Instead, find the court’s official website independently.
Can a Real Court Contact You About Jury Duty?
Legitimate jury service is real, and courts may communicate with prospective jurors.
However, scammers take advantage of legitimate jury procedures to make their stories sound believable.
For federal courts, the U.S. Courts says most contact with prospective jurors is through the U.S. Mail, and federal courts do not require people to provide sensitive information through telephone calls or emails.
If you are uncertain about a jury-related communication, independently locate the court’s official website or contact information.
Do not rely on the telephone number, email address, or website supplied by the suspicious message.
How to Verify a Jury Summons
If you receive a suspicious jury-duty notice, don’t panic.
Follow these steps:
- Stop communicating with the person who contacted you.
- Don’t send money.
- Don’t provide sensitive personal information.
- Don’t click suspicious links or attachments.
- Find the relevant court’s official website independently.
- Use contact information published by the court to verify the claim.
- Keep screenshots, emails, documents, telephone numbers, and other evidence.
- Report the suspicious communication when appropriate.
The official U.S. Courts website provides information about current juror scams and explains how to contact the appropriate federal court.
What to Do If You Receive a Fake Jury Duty Call
If someone unexpectedly calls and claims that you missed jury duty, don’t let the threat pressure you into making a decision.
Hang up and independently verify the claim.
If you believe the communication is fraudulent, report it through the Federal Trade Commission’s fraud reporting website.
You can also notify the relevant court or local law enforcement agency when appropriate.
The FTC maintains additional guidance on government impersonation scams, including scams involving fake government officials and law enforcement personnel.
What If You Already Paid a Jury Duty Scammer?
If you have already sent money to a scammer, take action as soon as possible.
Contact the payment provider
Contact your bank, credit card company, payment app, gift card company, wire-transfer service, or cryptocurrency provider.
Explain that the transaction was connected to a scam and ask what recovery options may be available.
Secure your accounts
If you gave the scammer account credentials or financial information, contact the relevant financial institution and change affected passwords.
Use unique passwords and enable multi-factor authentication where available.
Watch your accounts
Review your bank and credit card accounts for unfamiliar transactions.
If you provided sensitive identity information, consider taking additional identity-protection steps.
Report the scam
Report the incident to the FTC through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
You can also contact the appropriate local law enforcement agency or court.
Fake Jury Duty Scam vs. Legitimate Jury Service
| Fake Jury Duty Scam | Legitimate Jury Service |
|---|---|
| Threatens immediate arrest unless you pay | Uses established court procedures |
| Demands payment during an unexpected call | Does not demand immediate payment over the phone |
| Requests gift cards or cryptocurrency | Does not require unusual payment methods |
| Requests sensitive information unexpectedly | Uses established court communication channels |
| Uses suspicious links or websites | Can be verified through an official court |
| May use spoofed caller ID | Official contact information can be independently confirmed |
| Pressures you to act immediately | Gives you an opportunity to verify information |
How to Protect Yourself From Jury Duty Scams
A few simple habits can reduce your risk.
Don’t trust caller ID alone
A familiar-looking number does not prove that the caller is genuine.
Slow down when someone creates urgency
Scammers want you to make decisions before you have time to verify their claims.
Take a moment to check the information independently.
Never pay because of a threat
Don’t send money simply because someone says you will be arrested if you don’t pay immediately.
Don’t share sensitive information
Avoid giving your Social Security number, banking details, passwords, or other sensitive information to an unexpected caller.
Verify independently
If you are concerned that you may actually have missed jury duty, contact the relevant court through contact information you find independently.
Be careful with links
Don’t click links in unexpected jury-duty emails or text messages.
Type the official website address yourself or use a trusted government website to locate the appropriate court.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fake Jury Duty Scams
Can someone call me about jury duty?
Legitimate courts may communicate with prospective jurors, but an unexpected caller demanding money or sensitive information should be treated with caution.
Verify the claim directly with the appropriate court.
Will a court demand payment to cancel an arrest warrant?
Be extremely cautious of anyone demanding immediate payment over the phone to prevent arrest for missed jury duty. Federal courts state that they do not request payment for jury-related matters in this manner.
Can scammers spoof a court’s telephone number?
Yes. Government agencies and courts have warned that scammers can spoof caller ID to make fraudulent calls appear to originate from legitimate government numbers.
Are jury-duty text messages scams?
Not every jury-related message is automatically fraudulent, but unexpected messages demanding money or sensitive information should be treated cautiously.
Verify the communication directly with the relevant court.
Are fake jury summons emails dangerous?
They can be. Some fraudulent emails attempt to persuade recipients to click links or provide personal information.
Federal courts have warned about phishing attempts involving fake jury communications.
What payment methods should make me suspicious?
Be especially cautious if someone claiming to represent a court demands gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, prepaid cards, or payment through an app.
These are common warning signs of impersonation scams.
Where can I report a fake jury duty scam?
You can report the scam through ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
You can also notify the relevant court and local law enforcement agency when appropriate.
Final Thoughts
Fake jury duty scams use fear and urgency to make people believe they are facing immediate legal trouble.
A scammer may impersonate a police officer, court employee, or federal official and claim that you missed jury duty. They may then demand money or personal information to supposedly prevent arrest.
Don’t allow an unexpected phone call, text, email, or document to pressure you into acting immediately.
Instead, stop, verify the information independently, and contact the appropriate court through an official source.
Remember: Never send money or sensitive personal information simply because someone threatens you with arrest over alleged missed jury duty.
For additional information, visit the official U.S. Courts juror scam information page and the FTC’s consumer advice on jury-duty scams.
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