Government impersonation

Is the missed jury duty call a scam?

Quick answer

Yes — 100% of the time. No US court demands payment by phone to avoid arrest for missing jury duty. If you actually miss jury duty, real consequences (rare) come by mail with formal court paperwork — never by phone with gift card or wire demands.

Red flags to look for

1
Caller claims to be a court officer, sheriff's deputy, or US marshal
2
Says you missed jury duty (you probably never got a real summons)
3
Demands immediate payment to 'clear the warrant'
4
Wants payment in gift cards, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency
5
Threatens arrest if you don't pay in the next hour

Real examples

Phone call

This is Deputy Sergeant Wilson with the Sheriff's Office. You failed to appear for jury duty on March 3. A warrant has been issued. To avoid arrest, pay $1,500 in Apple gift cards within 90 minutes.

Likely Scam

Real arrest warrants are served in person, not avoided by phone payment. Courts never accept gift cards. The script targets fear of arrest and uses fake authority.

What to do

Hang up. Do not engage or 'press 1.'
Never read gift card numbers or send wire transfers to anyone over the phone.
If concerned about a real jury summons, call your local court clerk directly (find the number via the court's official .gov website).
Report to reportfraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general.
Tell anyone older in your family — this scam targets seniors heavily.

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Why scammers use this approach

Fear of arrest is universally motivating. The fake authority + urgent deadline + irreversible payment method (gift cards) creates a panic loop that bypasses rational thinking.

Frequently asked questions

What if I actually missed jury duty?

You'd receive a written notice by mail. You can call your local court clerk to check. Real consequences are typically a rescheduled date, not arrest.