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Is the jury duty arrest warrant call a scam?

A typical version of this message
This is Deputy Morris with the county sheriff's office. You failed to appear for federal jury duty, and a bench warrant has been issued in your name. You can resolve this today by paying a citation of $1,500 through approved payment vouchers, or you will need to turn yourself in. Stay on the line — do not hang up, and do not discuss this call with anyone, as the case is under gag order.
Why it is a government impersonation
Yes. Courts handle missed jury duty by mail, and no sheriff's office collects fines by phone, gift card, payment app, or 'voucher'. The fake gag order and the instruction to stay on the line exist to keep you from calling the real courthouse or a family member — isolation is the mechanism. Scammers use real deputies' names from department websites to sound credible.
What to do
Hang up. If any doubt lingers, call the courthouse or sheriff's office on the number from their official website — not one the caller gives you — and ask. Real law enforcement will never object to you verifying who they are. Report the call at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

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Checked by Double Check on August 31, 2026. This page documents a widely reported scam pattern; the example wording is representative, with links and personal details replaced. See more in the scam guide or recent answers.