Residents of the Middle District of Florida have been targeted by an ongoing scam involving fraudulent phone calls. Scammers claim the victim failed to appear for jury duty in federal court and is facing an arrest warrant or other serious legal consequences. To avoid these fabricated penalties, the scammer will demand payment, often requesting the victim to purchase prepaid cards or transfer money via Venmo or Zelle. These calls are designed to sound convincing, with scammers using real information about the victim, including legitimate court addresses and names of law enforcement officers or judges. They may even manipulate caller ID to make the call appear to come from a government office or court.
Key Facts to Protect Yourself:
- Official Jury Summons: Any jury duty summons will always come through U.S. Mail, not over the phone.
- Court Contact: If you miss jury duty, the court will send a follow-up notice through mail or email. In rare cases, you may be ordered to appear before a judge, but this will always be in writing, signed by the judge.
- Fines: Fines are never imposed over the phone. Any fine would only be issued after you have appeared in court and had a chance to explain your circumstances.
- No Phone Payments: The court or law enforcement will never ask for payment by phone. Payments for legal obligations will never be made using gift cards, Venmo, or Zelle.
- Court Payments: The court does not have a kiosk for accepting payments, and no one will be instructed to make payments at such a location.
These scammers are targeting unsuspecting individuals, often using fear tactics and real court information to seem credible. If you receive such a call, do not provide any personal or financial information. Contact the court clerk’s office directly to verify whether you have been summoned for federal jury duty.
Stay Safe: Protect your friends, colleagues, and community by spreading the word about this scam.
For more information or if you have received a scam call, contact the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
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