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Jury duty scam calls: the warrant threat is fake

Editorially reviewed · Last updated September 8, 2026

Yes — this is a scam. A supposed court official demanding immediate payment to cancel a jury-duty arrest threat is a scam pattern. Hang up and check with the actual clerk.

Exhibit · Phone call

Incoming call
(202) 555-0186
maybe: US Marshals Service
Voicemail transcript

“This is Deputy Marshal Grant Ellis with the United States Marshals Service. Our records show you failed to appear for federal jury duty, and a warrant has been issued for your arrest. You can resolve this today by paying a $1,900 civil citation. Stay on the line — do not hang up, or officers will be dispatched to your address.”

Illustrative phone call · not an original screenshot

Other versions you might get: A “local police officer” or “sheriff's deputy” instead of a marshal, a text or email with an official-looking “warrant” attached, or a follow-up caller who keeps you on the line while you drive to buy gift cards. Same script, same fix: hang up.

What to do right now

  1. Hang up. Don't press anything, don't call back, and don't stay on the line — “don't hang up” is part of the script, not the law.
  2. Do not pay or give sensitive details to the caller. Verify the alleged court and case through an independently found clerk’s number.
  3. Check the claim yourself. Call the clerk of court's office for your local court using the number on its official website (federal courts are listed at uscourts.gov).
  4. Report it. File at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and notify the clerk of court so they can warn others.
  5. If you already paid, call your bank, card issuer, or the payment app immediately and ask them to reverse or freeze it, then report it right away.

Reduce the risk of another scam

Hang up and verify the claim through a number you find independently. If you paid or shared account details, start with what to do after a scam. Blocking and reporting can reduce unwanted contact, but they cannot stop every attempt or tell you how the sender found you.

● Public service · free steps first

Reduce unwanted calls

Start with call blocking and your phone or carrier's filtering options. The Do Not Call Registry covers sales calls from companies that follow the rules; it does not block scammers.

Decide what protection you need

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Frequently asked

Will you actually be arrested for missing jury duty?
Missing a genuine jury summons can have consequences under the relevant court’s rules. An unverified caller’s immediate payment demand does not establish a real violation or warrant. Hang up and ask the actual clerk about your jury status; do not ignore a genuine summons.
Do courts ever call you about jury duty?
Courts may call or email about jury administration. The federal judiciary says most contact is by mail and officials do not ask for sensitive information by phone or email. Verify any unexpected demand through the actual clerk; do not assume every call is fake.
The caller ID showed the court / U.S. Marshals — how is that fake?
Caller ID is easily spoofed: scammers can make any name or number appear, including a real courthouse or police line. Courts warn that these calls are made to look like they come from a court or another government agency. Treat caller ID as decoration, not proof — hang up and call the court back on the number from its official website.
They sent me an arrest warrant by text or email — is it real?
Do not treat an emailed or texted document as proof of a warrant. Scammers forge court paperwork. Independently contact the named court or agency to verify the claim, and do not pay the sender or use the document’s contact route to check itself.
How do I report a jury duty scam call?
Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and notify the clerk of court's office at the court the caller claimed to be from — federal courts ask to hear about these attempts. If you lost money, also file with the FBI at ic3.gov. Include the number that called, the date, and what they demanded.
They called it a “refundable fee” and said a gag order means I can't tell anyone — is any of that real?
A caller’s claim that you must stay on the line, keep the call secret, or pay a refundable fee to stop an arrest is a serious scam warning. Do not accept the caller’s account of a legal order. Contact the real clerk independently; if an actual order is involved, get advice about it from the court or a qualified lawyer.

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Sources

  1. 01Juror Scams— United States Courts
  2. 02Ignore calls, texts, and emails threatening to arrest you for missing jury duty— Federal Trade Commission
  3. 03Report fraud to the FTC— Federal Trade Commission

Pass it on

Help protect someone else

If this could have fooled you, it can fool someone you know — a parent, a friend, the family group chat. It's safe to forward, and stands on its own as a record for a bank or the police.