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Scam guides · updated November 9, 2026

Missed jury duty call or text: is it a scam?

Courts and sheriffs don’t call or text to collect fines for missed jury duty, and they never take gift cards, crypto or payment apps. If someone does, it’s a scam. Hang up and call your local court clerk using the number on the court’s official website.

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What it looks like

Call from “Sheriff’s Office” · example
This is Lieutenant Davis with the county sheriff. You failed to appear for jury duty and there’s a warrant for your arrest. To avoid being taken into custody today, you need to pay a $1,500 bond.

Other forms it takes

An email with a “juror form”
Email from “U.S. District Court Jury Administration” <jury.notice@courts-example.top>: “You have been selected for jury service. Return the attached form with your Social Security number, date of birth and driver’s license number within 48 hours, or you may face fines and jail time.”
A fake court website to “look up” your fine
Caller: “Go to county-warrant-lookup.example-gov.top and enter your Social Security number and birthday to see what you owe. Then I’ll send you to a government kiosk to pay.”
Pay with a prepaid card
Caller: “This is Sergeant Ray Collins, badge 4471. You can clear the warrant today with a $1,200 prepaid card. Stay on the line while you buy it.”

How the scam plays out

  1. A call, text or email says you missed jury duty. The person says they’re a U.S. Marshal, a deputy or a police officer.
  2. To sound real, they use real officers’ names and badge numbers, real judges’ names and court addresses. Caller ID may show a court’s number.
  3. They say there’s a warrant for your arrest, and you can avoid jail only by paying a fine right now.
  4. They ask for your Social Security number or birthday, sometimes on a fake government website.
  5. They want payment by gift card, prepaid card, payment app, cryptocurrency (sometimes at a “government kiosk”) or wire transfer.

Signs it’s a scam

What to do

  1. Hang up.
  2. Call your local court clerk using the number on the official court website.
  3. Never pay a fine over the phone to someone who called you.

How to check if it’s real

  1. Hang up. Don’t use any number, link or website the caller gives you.
  2. Find your court’s official website and jury office yourself, or call the court at a number you already know is right.
  3. For a federal court, use the Federal Court Finder on uscourts.gov to reach the Clerk of Court’s office.
  4. Remember: if you really missed jury duty, the court contacts you by U.S. Mail.

Already clicked, paid or shared something?

  1. Paid with a gift card or prepaid card? Call the company on the back of the card right away. Say you were scammed and ask for a refund. Keep the card and receipt.
  2. Paid with cryptocurrency or at a Bitcoin ATM? Contact the ATM company or exchange right away, say it was fraud and ask them to reverse it. Crypto has fewer protections, so this is hard.
  3. Sent a wire through Western Union or MoneyGram? Call the company right away and ask for a refund.
  4. Paid with Zelle, Venmo or Cash App? Call your bank or the app right away and ask them to reverse the payment.
  5. Gave your Social Security number? Go to IdentityTheft.gov for steps to protect yourself.
  6. Watch for a second call offering to get your money back for a fee. Real government agencies never ask for money to help you get a refund.

Where to report it

Related scams

Sources