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Fraud Prevention
Watchdog Alerts
Missed Jury Duty? The Jury’s Out on That
Hello,
Getting summoned for jury duty is a normal part of life for most Americans. But if that notice comes by phone or email, be suspicious. It’s likely a jury duty scam.
These scams have grown in recent years, with criminals impersonating actual sheriffs or federal judges and spoofing legitimate phone numbers. The Federal Trade Commission warns that some now go a step further, using fake websites to steal money and personal information.
HOW IT WORKS
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You receive a call or email from a local court or law enforcement official, such as a marshal or sheriff, saying you’ve missed jury duty and face immediate arrest unless you pay a fine.
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You may be directed to what appears to be a government website that requests personal information, such as your Social Security number and date of birth, to check how much you owe.
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The “fine” can be as high as $10,000, with payment options on the site or through a “government kiosk” to make payment in cryptocurrency.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
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Genuine jury duty communications come by mail, not by phone or email, and real court officials will never threaten arrest or request sensitive information.
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These impostors may know personal details about you from public records or data breaches to appear legitimate.
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Criminals can also spoof phone numbers and create official-looking websites, making them hard to distinguish from real government pages.
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Payment requests via cash, gift cards, payment apps, cryptocurrency or wire transfers are common in fraud tactics.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
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Hang up if someone calls you out of the blue saying you missed jury duty.
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It simply isn’t safe these days to click on a link in response to an email or text because it is too easy for fraud criminals to make copycat sites that are virtually undetectable as fakes.
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If you’re worried you may have missed jury duty, look up and call the official number for a court or law enforcement agency directly to verify.
Knowledge gives you power over scams. AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM equips you with reliable, up-to-date insights and connects you to our free fraud helpline so you can better protect yourself and loved ones. We also advocate at the state, federal and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws.
When it comes to fraud, vigilance is our number one weapon. You have the power to protect yourself and your loved ones from scams. Please share this alert with friends and family and visit the Fraud Resource Center for more information.
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