Reposted: March 8, 2016
(Download Press Release)
 
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MONDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2015
www.nmd.uscourts.gov
 

 
WARNING: BOGUS PHONE CALLS AND EMAILS ON JURY SERVICE MAY LEAD TO FRAUD
 
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Citizens in New Mexico continue to be targeted by
phone calls and emails, and threatened with arrest and prosecution for failing to comply with jury
service in federal courts.
 
In the phone calls and emails, recipients are often pressured to provide personal identifiers and
confidential information (social security number, date of birth, mother’s maiden name, credit card
numbers, etc.).  Threats of a fine and jail time for shirking jury service are used to coerce recipients
of such phone calls and emails, into providing this information, potentially leading to identity theft
and fraud.  In an alternative method the scammer may already have personal information about the
citizen, which the scammer uses in an attempt to legitimize the call or email, and may demand the
citizen purchase a prepaid debit card and provide the card information to the scammer over the
phone or in email, in order to pay off a fine for failing to appear for jury duty. These phone calls and
emails are not from real court officials.
 
Federal courts do not require anyone to provide any sensitive information or pay a fine in an unsolicited
phone call or email.  Initial notifications of selection to serve jury duty and requests to complete jury duty
qualification questionnaires are always initiated by formal written correspondence through U.S.
Mail, and instructions are provided for the juror participant to complete their questionnaires
on-line over a secure connection.
 
Jury duty is a vital civic responsibility and should be taken seriously by all citizens. However, it is
a crime for anyone to falsely represent himself or herself as a federal court official. The federal
judiciary takes seriously such an offense.
 
Persons receiving such phone calls or emails should not respond or click any links in emails, and
should notify the District of New Mexico Clerk’s Office Jury Department at 505-348-2070.
 
Stay current with the United States Courts – District of New Mexico by visiting www.nmd.uscourts.gov