Residents of the Middle District of Florida continue to receive fraudulent phone calls claiming that they failed to appear for jury duty in federal court and/or have an arrest warrant or face a similar adverse situation.
The scammer tells the victim that he or she can avoid arrest or other consequences by making a payment. This may include purchasing a prepaid card and providing the card number, or sending money through services like Venmo or Zelle.
These scammers can sound convincing. They may use real information about the victim, real court addresses, and even the names of law enforcement officers, court officials, or federal judges to appear legitimate.
In some cases, they will “spoof” the caller ID so the call appears to come from a court or government agency, including local sheriff’s offices.
These phone calls are not from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the U.S. Marshals Service, or any legitimate law enforcement agency.
No one should provide personal information, credit card details, prepaid card numbers, cryptocurrency, or any form of payment to these callers.
Key facts about jury duty and court communication
- Jury summons are sent by mail: The court will always send a jury summons by U.S. Mail.
- Follow-up communication is formal and documented: A prospective juror who disregards a summons may be contacted by mail or email from the clerk’s office. In some cases, they may be ordered to appear before a judge, but that order will always be in writing and signed.
- Fines are handled in court: A fine is never imposed until after the individual has appeared in court and had an opportunity to explain their situation. Any fine will be issued in open court and documented in writing.
- No payments are demanded over the phone: Courts and law enforcement do not demand payment by phone.
- No gift cards or digital payment apps: Courts and law enforcement will never request payment via gift cards, Venmo, or Zelle.
- No kiosks for court payments: The court does not operate kiosks or instruct individuals to make payments at third-party locations.
If you receive a suspicious call and want to verify whether you have been summoned for federal jury duty, contact the clerk’s office directly.
Sharing this information with friends, family, and colleagues can help prevent others from becoming victims of this scam.
Timothy J. Corrigan
Chief Judge