Jury duty scam calls, texts and emails
Someone says you missed jury duty and will be arrested unless you pay? It’s a scam. Hang up. Courts never call to demand money.
The call is designed to scare you. The caller may know your name and address and sound very official. That’s part of the trick. Taking a minute to hang up and check is always safe.
What jury duty scam messages sound like
These are made-up examples written in the style the FTC and the federal courts describe. Real scammers change names, badges, and amounts.
“This is Deputy Miller with the U.S. Marshals. You failed to appear for jury duty and there is a warrant for your arrest. Stay on the line.”
“NOTICE: A bench warrant has been issued for failure to report for jury service. Pay your fine today to avoid arrest. (A text or email with an official-looking warrant attached.)”
“To clear the warrant, visit our court payment website and enter your date of birth and Social Security number to see how much you owe.”
“Don’t hang up and don’t tell anyone. Go buy gift cards and read me the numbers, or an officer will come to your home.”
6 warning signs
They threaten to arrest you over the phone
Real police and court officers don’t call to warn you they’re coming to arrest you, and they won’t threaten you for hanging up.
They want money right now
Courts never demand payment over the phone. The FTC says no government agency does.
They want gift cards, crypto, a payment app, or a wire transfer
Only scammers insist on these. Once you send them, the money is very hard to get back.
They ask for your Social Security number or birthdate
Federal courts say they never ask for sensitive information by phone or email.
They text or email you a "warrant"
Real law enforcement never texts or emails an arrest warrant. The official-looking document is fake.
They tell you to stay on the line or keep it secret
Scammers keep you on the phone so you can’t stop and check with family, a friend, or the court.
How real courts contact you
- Jury summons usually come by regular mail.
- Real court staff never ask for your Social Security number or birthdate by phone or email.
- Courts never take payment over the phone, and never in gift cards or cryptocurrency.
- Real fines can be small. In North Carolina, for example, the state courts say the penalty for missing a jury summons is $50 each time, not thousands of dollars.
What to do if you get the call
- Hang up. You won’t get in trouble for it.
- Don’t pay and don’t share your Social Security number, birthdate, or bank details.
- Don’t visit any website the caller gives you.
- Check for yourself. Call your local court’s jury office using the number on its official website.
- Tell someone you trust, then report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Free tools to practice and check
- Phone Number Checker: see what can (and can’t) be known about a number, including fake official numbers.
- Scam Text and Email Checker: paste a text or email and see the warning signs.
- Scam or Real? quiz: practice spotting scams, with a printable version for groups.
- I got scammed. What do I do?: steps and free hotlines if you already paid.
Get one simple safety tip a day
Free, plain-language tips to avoid scams. Unsubscribe anytime.
Questions people ask
Is the jury duty scam call real?
If the caller says you missed jury duty and must pay a fine to avoid arrest, it’s a scam. The FTC says courts never ask you to pay over the phone, and real officers won’t call to threaten arrest.
Do courts call you about jury duty?
Most contact about jury service comes by regular mail. The federal courts say any real phone or email contact will never ask for sensitive information like your Social Security number.
The caller ID showed my local police or sheriff. Is it real?
Not necessarily. Scammers can fake caller ID to look like a police department or the U.S. Marshals. Hang up and call the court or sheriff yourself using a number you look up.
They sent me to a website to pay. Is that OK?
No. The FTC warns about fake jury duty websites with government-looking seals that ask for your birthdate and Social Security number. Don’t use any link or website a caller gives you.
What if I really did miss jury duty?
Call your local court’s jury office using the number on its official website or your summons. Real courts handle it by mail or in person, not by gift cards or crypto.
I already paid or gave my information. What now?
Stop contacting the caller. Call your bank or card company, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, and see our "I got scammed" guide for step-by-step help and free hotlines. If you shared your Social Security number, visit IdentityTheft.gov.
Where do I report a jury duty scam?
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. The federal courts also ask people to tell the clerk of the U.S. District Court in their area, which you can find with the Federal Court Finder on uscourts.gov.
Sources
- FTC (June 2026): Ignore calls, texts, and emails threatening to arrest you for missing jury duty
- FTC: Scammers are using fake websites in a twist on jury duty scams
- FTC: That call or email saying you missed jury duty and need to pay? It’s a scam
- United States Courts: Juror scams
- North Carolina Judicial Branch: Jury service scams
- Report a scam to the FTC: ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Last updated: October 16, 2026. This guide is general information, not legal advice.