Ignore calls, texts, and emails threatening to arrest you for missing jury duty
Scammers call, text, or email claiming you missed jury duty and threaten arrest to scare you into paying a fake fine.
How it works
You receive a call, text, or email posing as a court official and claiming you missed jury duty. The message includes official-looking documents and says a warrant is out for your arrest. The scammer then demands you pay a fine immediately to avoid legal trouble.
Red flags to watch for
- Threatening arrest for missing jury duty
- Demand for immediate payment by wire, gift card, or cryptocurrency
- Official-looking documents sent via email or text
- Caller or sender says you have an active arrest warrant
- Pressure to act quickly or face jail time
- They refuse to let you verify with the court directly
What to do
Do not pay anything and do not click links in messages or call the number provided. Instead, hang up or delete the message. Then contact your local court directly using the phone number on your court's official website to confirm whether you actually owe jury duty. Real courts do not threaten arrest via text or email and do not demand payment by wire or gift card.
If this reached you
Source: FTC . Scam Sentinel summarizes official guidance in plain language; it is a decision aid, not a guarantee.