Jury Duty Scam: Fake Arrest Warrants Are Targeting Americans

What would you do if someone claiming to be a U.S. Marshal called and said there was a warrant for your arrest? A few moments later, an official-looking document arrives by text or email, showing your name, an alleged violation, and the amount you must pay.

That scenario is at the center of a jury duty scam highlighted by the Federal Trade Commission on June 11, 2026. The documents may look convincing, but the arrest warrants and payment demands are fake. The goal is to frighten people into sending money or revealing personal information.

Why the jury duty scam can seem believable

Missing jury duty can have real consequences, so a message claiming that you ignored a summons may immediately feel serious. Scammers use that concern to make people react before checking whether the story is true.

The caller may pose as a U.S. Marshal, police officer, court employee, or other government official. They might know your full name, address, or other information that makes the conversation sound legitimate. Some scammers also provide badge numbers, courthouse addresses, or the names of real officials.

Government impersonation is part of a much larger fraud problem. The FTC received more than one million imposter scam reports in 2025, with reported losses reaching $3.5 billion. Reports involving government impersonators increased by 40% that year.

How fake arrest warrants are being used

The scheme often begins with a phone call stating that the recipient failed to appear for jury duty. The caller then claims an arrest warrant has been issued and says the matter can be resolved by paying a fine.

A newer part of the scam is the delivery of a fake warrant by text message or email. The document may contain government-style language, seals, case numbers, payment instructions, and a specific amount supposedly owed. Its professional appearance is meant to discourage the recipient from questioning it.

Payment requests may involve cryptocurrency, payment apps, gift cards, wire transfers, prepaid cards, or even cash deposited into a Bitcoin ATM. These methods are commonly requested because they can make recovering the money difficult.

Signs that the arrest warrant is fake

The clearest warning sign is a demand for immediate payment to prevent an arrest. Courts do not call people and require them to pay a fine over the phone. Government agencies also do not insist that a penalty be paid through gift cards, cryptocurrency, payment apps, or wire transfers.

Real law enforcement agencies do not send arrest warrants through unexpected texts or emails. Officers will not call to threaten an immediate arrest if the recipient hangs up or refuses to follow payment instructions.

Caller ID is not proof that a call is genuine. Scammers can use spoofing technology to make a call appear to come from a police department, courthouse, or U.S. Marshals office. The displayed number may be real even though the person calling has no connection to that agency.

Other warning signs include instructions to remain on the phone, demands for secrecy, pressure to act within minutes, and requests for a Social Security number, bank information, or date of birth.

What to do when someone threatens arrest

Do not argue with the caller or follow instructions included in the document. End the conversation without providing personal or financial information.

Contact the court independently using a phone number from its official website. Do not call a number provided by the person who contacted you. The federal judiciary advises people who receive threatening jury-related calls to contact the appropriate court directly and verify the claim.

Save the caller’s number, email, text, and fake warrant when possible. These details may help investigators identify similar reports. However, avoid opening attachments or clicking links included in an unexpected message.

How to protect yourself from jury duty impersonators

Treat any unexpected payment demand from a government official as a reason to pause and verify. A convincing logo, accurate address, case number, or familiar caller ID does not establish that the request is legitimate.

If money has already been sent, contact the bank, payment app, gift card issuer, wire transfer company, or cryptocurrency platform immediately. Ask whether the transaction can be stopped or flagged as fraudulent.

The FTC recommends reporting jury duty impersonation attempts through its official fraud-reporting service. Reports help authorities identify patterns, warn other consumers, and investigate coordinated impersonation campaigns.