The Tell-Tale Signs of a Jury Duty Scam You Need to Know Now

The scam that's hit Bossier Parish residents for the past couple of years is making rounds all over the country!

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It was about this time a couple of years ago in 2024 when the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Department alerted us all on Facebook about what they were calling the "Jury Duty Scam."

Again last year, the Federal Trade Commission, was forced to alert citizens about an email circulating regarding the same "Jury Duty Scam".

In the scam, criminals capitalize on our fear of the serious the consequences for those who miss jury duty; fines, court appointments or possibly even jail time.

So, they'll call or email, claiming to be a U.S. Marshal or police officer, and attempt to scare a person into believing they've missed jury duty and will need to pay to avoid jail time.

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And now, it appears the scam is making its rounds again. The FTC warns that these scammers are attempting to steal your money, and if you give them information like your Social Security number or date of birth, they could try to steal your identity.

The FTC Says These Are The Tell-Tale Signs Of A Possible Scam

Courts never ask you to pay over the phone. In fact, no government agency will do that.
Only scammers insist that you can only pay with gift cards, a payment app, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram.
Courts never ask potential jurors for sensitive information over the phone, like your Social Security number or birthdate. Only scammers do.
If you get a call or email like this, don’t respond. Don’t pay or give them any personal information.
If you think a call or email could be real, check the court’s website for jury duty information or call the court directly at a number you know is correct.