Bogus Phone Calls on Jury Service May Lead to Fraud
In various parts of the United States, citizens are being targeted by phone calls and threatened with prosecution for failing to comply with jury service in federal or state courts. In the calls, the threat of a fine for shirking jury service is used to coerce those called into providing confidential data, potentially leading to identity theft and fraud. These calls are not from real court officials.
State courts do not require anyone to provide any sensitive information in a telephone call. Most contact between a state court and a prospective juror will be through the U.S. Mail, and any phone contact by real court officials will not include requests for social security numbers, credit card numbers, or any similar sensitive information.
Jury duty is a vital civic responsibility and should be taken seriously by all citizens. However, it is a crime for anyone to falsely represent himself or herself as a state court official. The state judiciary takes seriously such an offense.
Persons receiving such a telephone call should not provide the requested information, and should notify the Court Administrator's office.
Invalid E-mail Subpoenas
Reports have been received of bogus e-mail grand jury subpoenas, purportedly sent by Federal or State courts. The e-mails are not a valid communication from a federal or state court and may contain harmful links. Recipients are warned not to open any links or download any information relating to this e-mail notice. The emails were sent from a uscourts.com address. The federal Judiciary’s email address is uscourts.gov and state emails are sent from an alacourt.gov address. Law enforcement authorities have been notified.