I got a call saying I missed jury duty and there's a warrant unless I pay a fine, is it real?
Last reviewed: 2026-08-01 · Checked with Hunch’s on-device engine, the same one inside the extension. How Hunch checks →
Part of our guide: How to recognize a bank-impersonation scam →
It's a scam. Callers claiming you missed jury duty and now face arrest unless you pay a fine immediately, often by gift card or a payment link, are impersonating the court. Courts handle missed jury duty by mail and never take fines by phone or demand instant payment to cancel a warrant.
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This works because most people take jury duty seriously and don't know the exact procedures, so a confident caller citing case numbers and warrants sounds plausible. The threat of immediate arrest triggers fear and compliance, and by insisting the fine be paid right away, the scammer denies the victim the pause they'd need to call the real court and discover none of it is true.
Illustrative example of the pattern, not a real message someone received.
How to verify it yourself
- Courts contact you about jury duty by mail, never by a surprise call demanding payment.
- No court accepts fines via gift cards, crypto, prepaid apps, or a payment link.
- Call the actual courthouse using a number from the county's official .gov site to check.
- A threat of arrest unless you pay right now is the scam's core pressure tactic.
Common questions
is a missed jury duty warrant call a scam
Yes. Real courts don't call to collect jury-duty fines or threaten immediate arrest unless you pay through a link or gift card.
court says I missed jury duty and owe a fine
Don't pay. Hang up and call the courthouse directly through the county's official website to confirm, the caller is impersonating the court.
can you be arrested for missing jury duty over the phone
No one resolves a warrant by paying a caller. Courts use mailed notices and formal hearings, not phone payments, so this is a scam.
how to verify a jury duty warrant
Look up your county court's real number on its .gov site and call it yourself. Never trust a number or link the caller provides.
If you already responded
- If you paid, contact your bank or the gift-card issuer immediately to try to stop it.
- Call your county court through its official .gov number to confirm you have no real obligation.
- Report the call at reportfraud.ftc.gov.