Scammers are leveraging jury service — a civic duty required of all Americans — to steal money from unsuspecting victims, according to warnings issued by the Federal Trade Commission and FBI.
The FTC recently outlined how these scams work: A person receives an unsolicited call claiming they missed jury duty and must pay a fine. The caller may claim to be a U.S. Marshal or an officer with local police. Scammers use urgent language and may have basic personal information such as a name or address to sound more legitimate. They threaten arrest warrants to intimidate victims into paying.
"They won't text or email you an arrest warrant," the FTC stated in its consumer alert. "They also won't call and threaten to arrest you — even if the caller ID appears legitimate, remember that it can be spoofed."
The agency further noted that government agencies do not demand payment via gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfer services, or payment apps.
What the Left Is Saying
Consumer protection advocates say these scams highlight the need for greater public awareness and stronger federal resources to combat fraud targeting vulnerable populations. The FTC has requested that anyone contacted by a jury duty scammer report it through their website to help authorities track patterns and identify perpetrators.
"That moment of fear that something terrible had happened was enough to blank my brain," said one Reddit user who described receiving a call from someone claiming to be a Harris County sheriff's deputy. "I'd bet pretending to be police officers makes the scam very effective."
Progressive groups argue that federal agencies should expand public education campaigns about how legitimate government agencies communicate with citizens, particularly for older adults and those less familiar with common fraud tactics.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives emphasize personal responsibility and vigilance when receiving unsolicited calls. The FBI's Atlanta office issued guidance in 2024 advising residents to always be suspicious of unexpected phone calls and never give money or personal information to someone who initiated contact without prior relationship.
"Trust your instincts: if an unknown caller pressures you, or says things that don't sound right, hang up," the FBI advised in its warning. Those with concerns about jury duty should verify claims directly by contacting their local court clerk's office using official phone numbers found on government websites.
Conservative commentators have noted that legitimate law enforcement and courts follow specific procedures — such as sending written notices through mail rather than making unsolicited calls — and that understanding these protocols helps citizens identify scams without unnecessary fear.
What the Numbers Show
The FTC received more than 2.6 million fraud reports from consumers in 2023, with impostor scams consistently ranking among the most common categories reported. The agency does not break out jury duty scams specifically but includes them within broader government impersonation fraud statistics.
Geauga County officials in Ohio report multiple recent complaints about the scam. In one case, a woman attempted to pay scammers $9,000 before her bank intervened, according to Nexstar's WJW.
The FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center received 880,418 complaints in 2023 with reported losses exceeding $12.5 billion — an increase from prior years as digital fraud tactics have grown more sophisticated.
The Bottom Line
Jury duty scams rely on fear and urgency to override rational decision-making. Federal and local authorities agree on several key prevention points: Courts notify potential jurors through written mail, never unsolicited phone calls; real law enforcement does not demand payment over the phone or threaten immediate arrest via text or email; and any unexpected communication claiming legal consequences should be verified independently using official contact information.
Anyone who believes they may have been targeted by a jury duty scam can report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Victims who have already paid scammers should contact their bank immediately, the agency advises.