Jury Duty Scams Are Back, With a Digital Twist, the FTC Warns

Scammers are highly creative. They piggyback on viral news, but most importantly, they regularly improve their scams, adding new twists to fool unsuspecting users.

That’s why consumers need to stay on top of developments in the scam agenda of cybercrooks.

The latest FTC consumer alert highlights this trend, expanding on the staple jury duty scam.

You may think you’re in trouble if your local police department calls to say you’ve missed jury duty. But with scammers, there’s always a catch: your troubles will go away if you pay.

How the Scam Works

It all starts with a phone call from someone posing as law enforcement. The caller ID may even show your local police department. The agent on the line with you may sound official and highly convincing. They say you missed jury duty and could be arrested unless you pay a fine immediately.

Then comes the new twist: they direct you to a website.

The link may look government-related, complete with seals, court logos, and an official-sounding URL. Once there, you’re prompted to enter personal information like your birthdate and Social Security Number to “check your case status” or “see how much you owe.”

You may be told you owe thousands, with sums that are up to $10,000, and asked to pay using cryptocurrency or at a “government kiosk.” (There’s no such thing.) The real goal? Steal your identity and your money.

Here’s What You Need to Know

Police don’t call to say you’ll be arrested and ask you for money
No real officer or court will threaten you over the phone or demand payment to avoid jail.

Know that Caller ID can be faked.
Scammers can spoof local police numbers to make you believe the call is legitimate.

Only scammers demand crypto, gift cards, or wire transfers.
Legitimate agencies don’t ask for payment via untraceable methods.

Fake websites look real.
That convincing link they give you? It could be loaded with malware or phishing traps.

Before clicking on any suspicious link, use the Bitdefender Link Checker to verify if it’s safe. And if you’re not sure whether a message, request or website is a scam, ask Bitdefender Scamio — your free AI-powered scam detector.

What to Do If You Get This Call

• Hang up. Don’t engage or follow any instructions.
• Don’t click on the link. Use tools like Scamio and the Link Checker to verify.
• Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
• Double-check directly. If you’re unsure, look up your local court’s official website or call a verified number and not the one they give you.

Share this with your friends, family, and especially older loved ones who might be more vulnerable to these tactics. Together, we can block the scammers at every turn.

You can also read more about jury duty scams here.