Missing jury duty can come with real consequences. You could face a fine, go to court, or even get arrested. Scammers take advantage of that to get your money or sensitive information. But their story is a lie.
This scam usually starts with a phone call or an email from someone claiming to be from the police department or a court official. (They’re not.) They say you missed jury duty, even though you never got a jury duty notice. They’ll tell you there’s a warrant out for your arrest, and the only way to cancel it is to pay a fine. (It’s a lie.) If you refuse, they may threaten you with jail. Or they might ask for personal information like your Social Security number or date of birth to steal your identity. To make the scam seem real, scammers also might give you a fake sheriff’s badge number and case number.