SCAM LIBRARY · THREATS & BLACKMAIL
The missed jury-duty warrant call
Scammers call claiming you missed jury duty and have a warrant, pressuring you to pay or give personal information immediately.
Documented by the FTC & FBI IC3 · reviewed 2026-07-07
How it works
You receive a call from someone claiming to represent the court system, saying you failed to respond to a jury summons and now have a legal warrant against you. They create urgency and fear, insisting you must act right away—either pay a fine, confirm your identity, or face arrest.
What it can look like
You get a call saying, 'This is the court calling. You missed jury duty on [date]. There's a warrant for your arrest. You need to settle this now by providing your Social Security number or making a payment.' The caller uses official-sounding language and may even reference a fake case number to seem legitimate.
Red flags
- They call you unexpectedly and demand immediate action to avoid arrest or legal trouble.
- They ask for personal information (Social Security number, date of birth) or payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
- Real courts do not call people demanding payment over the phone or threatening arrest without formal written notice first.
- They pressure you not to hang up or say you cannot verify the call with the court directly.
- The number they call from looks official but may be spoofed; real courts use official channels, not random phone calls.
What to do
- Hang up immediately. If you're unsure, call your local courthouse directly using a number you find yourself online or in the phone book—never use a number the caller provides.
- Never give personal information, passwords, or payment details over the phone in response to an unsolicited call.
- Report the call to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov so others are warned.