Scammed? what to do

Report a jury duty scam

Last updated September 19, 2026

The short answer

Report a jury duty scam call to the US Marshals or the FBI

The jury duty scam is a call saying you missed jury service and must pay a fine to avoid arrest. Federal courts do not call prospective jurors, and the US Marshals Service does not arrange payment of fines by phone.

What they handle

  • Calls claiming you failed to appear for jury duty
  • Demands for a fine to avoid arrest
  • Callers posing as US marshals or court officers
  • Emails and messages threatening prosecution over jury service

How to file a report

  1. 1

    Report it with the caller ID details

    Report the call, with any caller ID information you have, to your local United States Marshals Service office or your local FBI office.

  2. 2

    Know that the court never calls

    Federal courts do not call prospective jurors, and do not ask for money or personal identification information.

  3. 3

    Do not trust the details they give

    To sound credible the scammers supply badge numbers, the names of real federal judges, and real courthouse addresses. Those check out because they were copied.

  4. 4

    Never pay a fine over the phone

    The US Marshals Service says it does not call anyone to arrange payment of a fine, for jury service or any other infraction.

What you'll need

  • The number that called you
  • The name and badge number the caller gave
  • The amount and method demanded

What to expect

The report feeds the Marshals Service and the FBI, who track these nationally. If you paid, contact your bank immediately, because these demand methods are chosen to be irreversible.

Go to US Courts: Juror scams

Frequently asked questions

The caller gave a badge number and a judge's name, and both were real. So?

Both are public. Scammers use real names, badge numbers and courthouse addresses precisely so that checking appears to confirm them. The court still does not call jurors.

Company guide

Federal Courts and Jury Duty scams

Knowing which scam you were hit by makes the report better. This is how scams impersonating Federal Courts and Jury Duty actually work, what the company will never ask you for, and the warning signs to recognise next time.

Read the guide →