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By Jill K. Sanders, Esq.

While going to jury duty can seem like a hassle, it’s an important civic responsibility. For our legal system to work properly, jury trials are an essential part of the process. Yet a lot of people want to avoid the task. Now, a nationwide scam is taking advantage of this. The scammers are claiming people owe penalties for missing out on jury service.

What is the Jury Duty Scam?

Since earlier this year, the jury duty scam has been popping up all over the country. The scam can take several forms, including mailed letters, phone calls, or emails. To accomplish the scam, the perpetrator tells the victim that they can avoid arrest by paying a penalty.

In these frauds, the scammers may provide detailed information about the victim, such as name, address, and date of birth. They may also know information about the court, judges, and other court employees. As with other sophisticated scams, the perpetrators may spoof the phone number so it looks as if the call is originating from the courthouse or another law enforcement agency.

Just recently, it was reported that the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office was used in the scam. Residents reported a person claiming to be a sergeant from the Sheriff’s Office making a request for fines for missing jury service. According to a Facebook post, the Sheriff’s Office noted that the Sheriff’s Office “does not make such calls or request payment for jury duty fines or penalties.” Indeed, the NYS Department of State has issued a warning on its website about the scam.

Image from Putnam County Sheriff’s Office (Facebook.com).

The Real Penalties for Missing Jury Duty

According to NYJuror.gov, skipping jury duty can result in civil or criminal penalties. For example, you could be charged with Criminal Contempt in the Second Degree (Penal Law § 215.50(6)).

If you’ve routinely ignored your jury summons and are contacted about a civil or criminal penalty for doing so, contact an attorney. Your attorney will help you in resolving the matter. Additionally, in the event of a scam, the attorney can verify with local law enforcement agency or district attorney’s office if the penalty is legitimate or not.

If you receive what is obviously a scam call, don’t give the caller any of your information and hang up. If the scammer tells you they are from a particular law enforcement department, make note of that information. Then, call your local law enforcement and let them know what happened to you. For victims of the fraud, you can also make a report with the FTC or your local FBI field office.

References:

• Bobby Welber, “Dangerous Jury Duty Scam Reaches Upstate New York,” Hudson Valle Post (Aug. 29, 2024). Available at: https://hudsonvalleypost.com/dangerous-jury-duty-scam-reaches-upstate-new-york/ (last accessed Aug. 30, 2024).
• NYS Department of State, Jury Duty Scam. Available at: https://dos.ny.gov/jury-duty-scam (last accessed Aug. 30, 2024).

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