Watch Out for Jury Duty Scams
In various parts of the United States, citizens are being targeted by phone calls and emails threatening them with prosecution for failing to comply with jury service. Individuals are pressured to provide confidential data, potentially leading to identity theft and fraud.
These calls and emails, which threaten recipients with fines and jail time if they do not comply, are fraudulent and are not connected with the U.S. courts.
Jury Duty is a vital civil responsibility and should be taken seriously by all citizens, and it is a crime for anyone to falsely represent himself or herself as a court official or law enforcement agent.
What to do if you receive a suspicious call:
- Hang up the phone,
- Do not provide the requested information, and
- Notify the Jury Commission immediately or local law enforcement agency.
What to do if you receive a suspicious email:
- Do not open the email; move the email to your trash folder;
- If you opened the email, do not reply, and do not click on any attachments or links;
- Notify the Jury Commission immediately or local law enforcement agency.
You can also report the suspected email to the agencies listed in the Resources section. It will also have tips for avoiding email scams.
