The Maricopa County Superior Court is issuing a warning to residents as reports of jury service scams have surged. According to jury administrator Matthew Martin, fraudsters are contacting residents, falsely claiming they have missed jury duty and insisting on immediate payment of fines.
“The scams are very sophisticated and believable. The fraudsters may pose as law enforcement, even going as far as using the identities of actual officers and changing their caller IDs to make the scam more believable,” Martin said. “To protect yourself, just remember that the jury office will never call individuals demanding payment for any reason.”
Martin says any fines or fees related to jury service can only be imposed by a judge in court. Anyone who receives this type of call is advised to note the caller's number and contact the Superior Court Jury Office directly at 602-506-5879.
According to FBI data, scams like these cost victims $1.3 billion nationwide last year, with Arizona alone reporting losses of $324.4 million.
