If you recently got a call claiming you missed jury duty, that’s (likely) not the case.
Fairfax County officials have received an uptick in reports about a scam claiming that residents have missed their jury duty assignments, according to Circuit Court spokesperson Camila Alfonzo Meza.
“Unfortunately these types of scams are common, but this week we received over 50 phone calls from Fairfax county residents and non-residents about this current scam,” Alfonzo Meza told FFXnow on Friday (Oct. 25).
Residents have reported being contacted by scammers via phone and email, who allege that they failed to appear for jury service and are subject to penalization, according to a bulletin distributed by the Circuit Court.
The scammers threaten victims with arrest, claiming that citations or warrants have already been issued. The only way to avoid penalty, the scammers claim, is to re-schedule your jury service and pay a fee while doing so.
The court has been in contact with local law enforcement officials about the issue, Alfonzo Meza said.
“Fairfax Circuit Court will NEVER ask for money or any type of monetary fees when re-scheduling jury duty,” a court spokesperson said in the bulletin. “We urge everyone to remain vigilant and to verify any such communications they receive regarding jury duty.”
Residents targeted by such scams are encouraged to do the following, according to the court:
1. Do Not Respond: Avoid providing personal information over the phone or via email. Do not click links or open attachments from unknown sources.
2. Verify Communications: Contact the official Fairfax County court offices directly if you have doubts about your jury duty status. Fairfax Circuit Court’s Jury Department can be reached by calling (703) 246-2292 or visiting www.fairfaxcounty.gov/circuit/Jury/general-information.
3. Spread the Word: Share this information with friends, family, and neighbors to help protect our community from these scams.
