The Jury Duty Warrant Phone Scam Is Surging in 2026

Threat level

You get a phone call from someone claiming to be a law enforcement officer. They tell you that you missed jury duty and there is now a warrant out for your arrest. They say you need to pay a fine immediately to avoid being arrested.

Stop. This is a scam.

Courts in multiple states have issued public warnings about this scam throughout 2026. The Delaware Judiciary, district courts in Texas and Maryland, and Santa Clara County Superior Court in California have all confirmed that real courts do not contact citizens by phone to collect payments.

Quick Summary

  • Scammers impersonate law enforcement and threaten arrest over fake jury duty warrants

  • Real courts never collect fines by phone, ever

  • Fix: Hang up immediately, then verify your actual jury status at your courthouse's official website

How This Scam Works

The caller knows your name. They give a fake badge number, a case number, and sound completely official. In 2026, many use AI to make their voices sound more authoritative.

Then comes the demand. They say the warrant can be cleared up right now if you pay by gift cards, wire transfer, Bitcoin, or cash at an ATM. They insist you stay on the phone while you drive to pay.

That last part is the giveaway. Keeping you on the phone prevents you from calling a family member or doing a quick search.

What real courts actually do:

  • Courts communicate by U.S. Mail, not phone calls.

  • Fines are only imposed by a judge in open court, never over the phone.

  • No court in the United States authorizes law enforcement to collect fines by telephone.

  • Real warrants are served in person by a U.S. Marshal, not announced by a caller asking for gift cards.

What To Do Right Now

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1. Hang up immediately.
You do not owe an explanation.
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2. Do not call back any number the caller gave you.
Those numbers are controlled by the scammers.
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3. Verify your actual jury status.
Go to your county courthouse website directly and call the jury services number listed there.
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4. Do not pay anything.
No court in the United States collects fines by phone.
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5. Report the call.
File a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Stay Protected Going Forward

Government agencies communicate by mail first, then in person. A phone call demanding immediate payment is always a scam, regardless of how official it sounds. Share this with seniors in your family.

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