U.S. Attorney Mark Totten has issued a warning to residents in the Western District of Michigan about a scam involving fraudulent calls related to jury service. The scammers claim that the victims have warrants for failing to appear for jury duty and demand money over the phone.
"Scammers will do anything to rip off their victims — even impersonating law enforcement and court officials," stated U.S. Attorney Mark Totten. "Be aware. Protect yourself. And don’t be afraid to end the call and contact the law enforcement agency directly to verify."
The callers often pretend to be law enforcement officers or court staff, using real names or badge numbers found online. They typically ask for payment through gift cards or QR codes. To protect against such scams, citizens are advised to document details of the call, ask questions, remain calm, and independently verify any claims by contacting courts or law enforcement agencies directly.
Attempts at this type of fraud can be reported to both the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Federal Trade Commission. Additional information on these scams is available at https://www.miwd.uscourts.gov/jury-scams.