A jury duty scam is a recent type of scam that involves a scammer telephoning their unsuspecting victim. Or contact may be made by email. The scammer tries to convince the victim that they have failed to report to their local courthouse for jury duty.
The scammer poses as a court official, a U.S. marshal, or a law enforcement officer. The scammer assures the person that they can easily solve the problem by providing their confidential personal information, such as their contact information, Social Security number, credit card information, or bank account number.
This type of scam aims to use the information the victim provides for identity theft or even for direct theft. Sometimes, the scammer may tell a person to wire money directly to the scammer.
Or, in another jury duty scam script, the victim may protest that they never received any information about the need to report for jury duty. The scam caller may stress that it is a citizen’s legal obligation to appear for jury duty whether or not they have received some notice. Of course, this is a ridiculous assertion. A person cannot appear for jury duty if they have not been notified of a time and place to which to report. But under the pressure of the scam, a person may not think this through.
The victim is then told that they can resolve the problem by paying a fine by credit card to avoid arrest. In one case, a victim paid $1,000. The scammers may coerce a victim to provide personal information, such as social security numbers, dates of birth, and other information, which the scammer can use for identity theft or deception to avoid having a problem.
This type of scam is often successful because the victim is caught off guard and feels they do not have time to reflect on what they are told. They may fear the consequences of failing to perform a legal duty. The scammer may increase a victim’s fear by threatening them with jail time, fines, or other dire consequences for failing to appear. The victim may be persuaded that the person on the other end of the phone is truly a court official.
How Can Jury Duty Scams be Prevented?
Government agencies in most states try to educate the public about jury duty scams and how a person should deal with a person who calls them and claims to represent a court official. State and federal courts also have information about jury duty scams on their websites. Courts assure the public that they never ask citizens for confidential personal information over the phone or in emails.
The main way to prevent jury duty scams is for a person never to provide a person who calls them with their confidential information over the phone. And do not provide information to unknown people who contact a person by email.
The scammers are likely to target immigrants, who may not be familiar with the state and federal court systems and how they work. Or, they may target seniors who are less likely to report the crime. Remember, it is a crime for a person to represent themselves as a federal or state court official.
If a person receives a phone call such as the one described here, they can safely hang up and, in no case, provide any confidential information to the caller. We must all be alert to avoid identity theft and fraud.
Again, it is important to recognize that if a person has been called for jury duty, they would know it. They would have received written communication or a visit from a local sheriff telling them they were summoned for jury duty.
While there may be penalties if a person does miss jury duty, a person would not be asked to provide sensitive information over the phone. They would not be asked to pay a fine by credit card over the phone. If a person were legitimately called for jury duty and failed to appear as required, they would not be fined until they were given a chance to appear in court and explain their failure.
Most correspondence between the court and jurors is conducted in writing through the mail. Also, court officials never use threats or coercion to obtain information from a person. Thus, if the person on the phone seems pushy or makes coercive threats to get a person to give them information, it is a sign of a potential scam.
As with most scams, one of the difficulties in preventing a jury duty scam is locating the perpetrator of the scam. Sometimes, the scammers could call from another state or even a foreign country. However, if a person reports these types of scams to law enforcement authorities soon after they happen, there is some chance that they will be able to trace and locate the person responsible for the fraud.
Again, tips for avoiding this particular type of scam are as follows:
- Communications relating to jury duty are usually sent in writing through the U.S. mail. Or, they might even be delivered by a local sheriff;
- If a person has phone contact with a court official, they would never be asked to share confidential information such as social security numbers or credit card numbers;
- A person should only give out their social security, credit card, or bank account numbers over the phone if the person initiates a call to a company or government agency that the person knows to be reputable.
Are There any Legal Penalties for Jury Duty Scams?
Anyone caught perpetrating a jury duty scam may face criminal charges for theft crimes and punishment for their actions. Conviction of criminal charges can lead to jail time or the payment of hefty fines. Impersonating a federal or court official is also a criminal offense and can lead to further criminal consequences.
Lastly, the scammer may also be liable civilly to compensate for the losses they have caused to the victim or victims. However, victims should keep in mind that it is unlikely that a perpetrator of a scam such as this can be expected to provide compensation.
Should I Hire a Lawyer if I Need Assistance with Jury Duty Scam Issues?
Jury duty scams can cost victims thousands of dollars and can also lead to serious legal criminal penalties for the perpetrators. If you are the victim of a jury duty scam, you want to report the crime to your local police. They should be able to guide you as to how best you can deal with the situation.
If your bank account or credit card were involved in the crime, you might also contact your bank or credit card company. They can sometimes offer helpful measures. A consumer lawyer may be able to provide valuable advice also.
If you have been charged with theft or fraud for perpetrating a jury duty scam, you want to consult a fraud lawyer in your area. Your lawyer can review the facts of your case and identify any defenses that may be available to you. Your lawyer can also negotiate a plea agreement if this is your best option. Also, if you need to appear in court, your lawyer can provide you with representation on those occasions.
