Court does not make phone calls, demand payments for missed jury duty
Fort Wayne, Ind. – A persistent scam involving phone calls claiming that the recipient has missed jury duty and owes a fine have surfaced again in Allen County.
The calls have been reported this week and originate from a 260 area code telephone number. An individual claiming to be a police detective instructs the recipient that they have missed jury duty, a warrant has been issued for his or her arrest and that the person must purchase a reloadable debit card or pay a third party in order to satisfy a resulting fine.
“These calls do not originate from the Court or from any other legitimate source,” said Allen Superior Court Chief Judge Craig J. Bobay. “These callers are simply criminals trying to scare and defraud unsuspecting citizens. Prospective jurors who fail to respond have never – and will never – be pursued in such a manner. “
In Allen County, all legitimate contact with prospective jurors occurs in writing, beginning with a postcard requesting certain information to determine eligibility for jury service. Personal information, such as bank or credit card numbers, is never requested.
Should an individual fail to report for jury duty, they can be compelled to attend by the Sheriff. They can also be fined and held in contempt of court. None of these actions, however, are communicated over the telephone.
Anyone with questions about jury duty service, including questions regarding the legitimacy of an unsolicited contact, may call the Allen Superior Court Jury Management Office at (260) 449-7520 or (260) 449-7022.
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