Outsmart Scammers: Defend Yourself Against Jury Duty Scams

One of the most important civic duties a citizen can perform is serving on a jury. But if you get a phone call from the court about jury duty, be aware that this could be a scam. According to the FBI, in many communities, a growing number of attempts are being made by scammers to trick you into giving your personal information over the phone. You might get a call warning you that you have missed jury duty, and that a warrant has been issued for your arrest.

The scammer tries to scare you at first, and when you are vulnerable, they give you an opportunity to clear things up by paying a fine over the phone by credit card.

The FBI states that these scams have been around for years, but they are now on the rise. They offer a few tips that can help you recognize the scam, and take the proper precautions to keep your personal information away from these creeps:

• Almost all court correspondence with potential jurors is done by mail.
• As a rule, court officers never ask for personal information over the phone.
• If you are contacted by phone regarding jury duty, contact the Clerk of Court’s office of the U.S. District Court in your area before offering any information.

You should always be on guard anytime anyone asks for your personal information. Check out FBI.gov for more information about jury duty scams, and on how you can protect yourself against this fraud.

We’ve also got a lot of information right here on the Safety Center about how to protect yourself against scammers, and what to do if you think you might be a victim of a scam or identity theft.