Warning: Scams Related to Jury Service
Throughout the United States, citizens are being targeted by phone calls and emails, threatening them with prosecution for failing to comply with jury service in federal or state courts. Victims may be falsely told they missed jury duty and must pay a fine or face arrest. Alternatively, victims may be pressured to provide confidential data, potentially leading to identity theft and fraud. These calls and emails are not connected with the U.S. courts.
Most contact between a federal court and a prospective juror will be through the U.S. mail, and any phone contact by real court officials will not include requests for Social Security numbers, credit card or prepaid money card numbers, or other sensitive information. The courts will never assess a fine or penalty for failing to appear for jury service without first having the person appear before a judge.
Jury duty is a vital civic responsibility and should be taken seriously by all citizens. It is a crime to falsely represent oneself as a federal court employee. Recipients of these suspicious emails or fraudulent calls should not provide sensitive information or money of any kind; instead, please contact the jury division at 303-844-3924. Recipients are also encouraged to report suspicious activity to the Federal Bureau of Investigation at https://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.
Related articles:
https://www.usmarshals.gov/news/chron/2018/scam-alerts.htm
https://www.uscourts.gov/news/2017/11/16/jury-scams-target-even-unlikely-victims
https://denver.cbslocal.com/2018/06/15/jury-summons-scam-safeway-jefferson-county/