Officials are warning of an uptick in scammers calling people and saying they failed to show up to Jury Duty, then threatening victims with fabricated arrest warrants if they don’t send money immediately.
Speaking in front of the federal courthouse in Boise on Monday, Clerk of the Court Steve Kenyon said scams mimicking state and court officials have increased in the last six to eight months.
“We used to get one call [from victims] every couple of months, and now we're getting calls every week,” he said.
Kenyon advised never to give sensitive information or payment details over the phone.
“What they tell you is they want you to go to a kiosk, you pay the money,” he said. “It sounds so legit, they'll tell you to go to the courthouse now and take your receipt. And that's how you're protected. They're telling you that's how your warrants can be quashed.”
The clerk advised to never trust a caller urgently asking for money, regardless of how official they may sound.
“Do not trust them at all. Simply hang up the phone and google the Ada County Courthouse or the United States Courthouse and contact the jury offices there, or the clerk of the court to find out if there truly is a warrant out for your arrest,” he said.
Kenyon said scammers may ask for thousands of dollars and use the name of real law enforcement agents or court employees.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho Josh Hurwit said there were some immediate red flags to look out for when talking to someone claiming to be from the courts.
“If they're asking you to resolve something through gift cards or cryptocurrency, or an online portal that doesn't appear to be linked to an actual government service, pause, hang up the phone, end the conversation, and go right to the source,” he said.
Hurwit added scammers prey on human psychology and people’s desire to resolve stressful situations quickly. They often create a sense of urgency, he said, so victims send money without having the time to think or get advice.
“People should not be embarrassed. We need to get rid of the stigma that's sometimes involved in these online criminal schemes,” he said. “We all need to recognize that there's nothing embarrassing about being victimized and that if you contact law enforcement, oftentimes there's something we can do to get that money back.”
When in doubt, officials say to come to a courthouse before making any payments. Kenyon said scammers sometimes meet people on the steps of the courthouse to appear legitimate so folks should make sure they speak to someone inside the building.
