Don’t become victim to the jury scam

An old telephone scam is making a resurgence in Indiana communities: the jury duty scam.

Here’s how it works: The potential victim gets a call from someone claiming to be with court staff or law enforcement. They inform the potential victim that he or she has failed to report for jury service and will be arrested unless they pay a fine immediately. The thieves may convince the victim to purchase a prepaid card to make the payment, in order to obtain cash without being traced.

According to the Indiana Attorney’s General Office, one Indiana consumer recently paid $800 to a jury duty scammer. The jury duty scam is just another trick fraudsters use to get cash fast. Don’t fall into their trap.

In 2014, the Attorney General’s Office received 20 complaints involving the jury duty scam.

If someone gets a call like this, hang up immediately. Attorney general Greg Zoeller said a caller demanding an immediate payment over the phone should raise a big red flag, especially if they are using fear tactics like threatening jail time. Being asked to use a pre-paid card to make a payment is also a common sign of a scam. Government offices will never use these tactics.

If a person is targeted by the jury duty scam, they should report it to the Indiana Attorney General’s Office by filing a consumer complaint online at www.IndianaConsumer.com or by calling 1.888.834.9969.

Zoeller reminds Hoosiers to sign up for Indiana’s Do Not Call list to help deter unwanted calls. Sign up for the Do Not Call list by visiting www.IndianaConsumer.com or by calling 1.888.834.9969.