The Maryland Judiciary has issued a warning about a new telephone scam targeting residents in southern Maryland, which may also be occurring elsewhere in the state. The scam involves callers claiming to represent the court, alleging that the recipient failed to appear for jury duty. These callers request Social Security numbers, credit card information, and other personal details. They also attempt to persuade individuals to pay a "fine" through PayPal.
The scammers use names of real court officials and provide fake contact details, including phone numbers that connect to recordings purporting to be from the Sheriff's Department's warrant division. The judiciary emphasizes that these calls are fraudulent and advises recipients not to share personal information or make payments.
Courts do not solicit payments or personal data via phone or email. Those who receive such calls should disconnect immediately and refrain from using PayPal for any payments. Individuals concerned about jury duty should reach out directly to their local Circuit Court. In Charles County, where several incidents have been reported, the Clerk’s Office is collaborating with law enforcement authorities.
Additional scams include emails posing as court case notifications, which contain malicious attachments or links. These emails are not from the courts and should be deleted without opening any content. Another scam involves fraudulent emails seeking personal information under the guise of federal juror communication.
U.S. District Court officials urge anyone suspecting fraudulent communication related to federal courts to contact their nearest district court clerk's office. Those who have responded to scams should take steps to protect their financial and personal information.
For more details on protecting against email scams and malware threats, resources are available from the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) under the Department of Homeland Security and through the Federal Trade Commission website.