Better Call Behnken: Don’t be fooled by fake jury summons scheme

Shannon Behnken
·2 min read
Better Call Behnken: Don’t be fooled by fake jury summons scheme
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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — If you get a phone call about jury duty, chances are it’s a scam and criminals are making a lot of those calls right now, according to Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who issued a warning this week.

“I’ve heard personally from many Floridians who’ve received calls from imposters, posing as court officials and they missed jury duty and they face fines or arrest,” she said.

Moody warns:

  • A court will always send jury summons through the mail—not by email, phone call or text message;

  • Payment will never be demanded by a government office over the phone;

  • A fine will never be imposed until after an individual appears in court to explain a failure to appear;

  • Never trust a solicitor demanding payment via gift card, money transfer apps or wire transfers.

Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken sat down with Hillsborough County Clerk of Court Cindy Stuart.

“They are trying to get you to send money somewhere. You are not sending money anywhere that is legitimate,” she said. “I will say that. Typically, that money is going somewhere and you will never see it again.”

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“The amount we’ve heard is anywhere from $100 to $500, and people again, they get scared. They have a lot of personal information on you,” she added. “They may know your spouse’s name, your home address. They clearly have your phone number. They are not shy or bashful about asking you to drive somewhere and pay something or to wire them money.”

Remember, courts don’t ask for sensitive information in calls and emails. In the federal system, you’ll be summoned for jury duty through the U.S. mail.

If you don’t respond, the court will follow-up, again through the postal service.

Stuart said if you can’t make jury duty, you have an opportunity to explain why. She said you won’t be arrested for skipping out, but judges still want you to respond to summons.

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