Phone calls · Scam library
Jury duty and arrest warrant scam: how to spot it and what to do
Arrives by: Phone call, Text message, Email
Is it a scam?
A call, text or email saying you missed jury duty and will be arrested unless you pay a fine is a scam. Callers often pose as a U.S. Marshal or local police and may know your name and address. Real law enforcement never texts or emails an arrest warrant, and courts never demand payment over the phone.
How the scam works.
You get an urgent call from someone who says they're a U.S. Marshal or a local police officer.
They say you missed jury duty and there's a warrant for your arrest. They may know your name and address.
They may text or email you an official-looking “warrant” that lists what you owe.
They demand you pay right away by payment app, cryptocurrency, gift cards or a wire service like Western Union or MoneyGram.
Red flags to look for.
Illustrative example · Phone call
Incoming call
+1 (704) 555-0119
Written from the patterns official sources describe. Phone numbers and web addresses in it are fake.
A threat of arrest unless you pay now.
An arrest warrant sent by text or email.
Caller ID that looks official. It can be faked.
Threats about what happens if you hang up.
Payment by payment app, crypto, gift card or wire transfer.
They know your name and address. That information is easy to find.
The real thing vs. the scam.
What the real organization does
What the scammer does
Real law enforcement never texts or emails you an arrest warrant.
“I'm texting you a copy of the warrant now.”
Courts never demand payment over the phone. No government agency does.
“Pay the bond today and the warrant goes away.”
40%
Reports of government imposters to the FTC rose 40% in 2025.
Source: FTC, New trends in reports of imposter scams (May 2026).
If you got this message.
- Hang up. You won't be arrested for hanging up.
- Don't pay, and don't share personal or bank details.
- If you're truly worried you missed a summons, call your local court clerk using the number on the court's official website or on a real summons you received.
- Talk to someone you trust about the call.
- Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
If you already clicked, paid or shared information.
If you paid or moved money, call your bank or card company right away. Use the number on the back of your card or in the official app, not a number from the scammer.
If you paid with Zelle, report it to your bank first. For Venmo, call 1-855-812-4430. For Cash App, open your profile in the app and choose Support, or call 1-800-969-1940.
If you paid with gift cards, call the company named on the card right away, tell them it was a scam, and ask for your money back. Keep the cards and receipts.
If you sent a wire, call the company and ask them to reverse it: Western Union 1-800-448-1492, MoneyGram 1-800-926-9400, Ria 1-877-443-1399.
If you paid with cryptocurrency, report it at ic3.gov with the dates, amounts and wallet addresses.
If you shared your Social Security number, go to IdentityTheft.gov for a step-by-step recovery plan, and freeze your credit at Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Freezing is free.
Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you're 60 or older, the National Elder Fraud Hotline at 1-833-372-8311 can help you report it (weekdays, 10am to 6pm Eastern).
Expect follow-up calls or messages offering to get your money back for a fee. Those are scams too. Real agencies never charge to help you get a refund.
Money already sent? Start with the free C.A.L.M. recovery wizard or get step-by-step help. And watch out for anyone who offers to get it back for a fee.
Not sure about a message?
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How OwlGuardian helps
Make the next scam bounce off.
OwlGuardian doesn't block calls or texts. If a “warrant” arrives by text, screenshot it and say “Hey Siri, call my Owl” for a verdict in about five seconds, then call your Trusted Contact before paying anyone. If it arrives in Gmail, OwlGuardian quarantines suspicious email before you see it.
OwlGuardian quietly checks your parent's Gmail with AI, moves scam emails out of sight, and asks you before anything risky gets through. $4.99/month after a 30-day free trial.
Questions people ask.
Will the police or a U.S. Marshal call me about missing jury duty and ask for a fine?
I got an arrest warrant by text or email. Is it real?
The caller knew my name and address. Does that mean it's real?
How can I check if I really missed jury duty?
Sources
- FTC, Ignore calls, texts and emails threatening to arrest you for missing jury duty (Jun 11, 2026)
- Social Security Administration blog (Sep 25, 2026)
- FTC, New trends in reports of imposter scams (May 2026)
- FTC, Have you lost money to a scam? Watch for scammers who say they can help (Aug 3, 2026)
The example above is illustrative, written from the patterns official sources describe. Phone numbers and web addresses in it are fake.
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