Jury duty isn’t just a civic obligation. Now it’s also at the center of a nationwide scam alert, affecting both federal and local courts.

Here’s how it works: Callers impersonate court officials, U.S. marshals or other law enforcement and claim you are about to be arrested for skipping out on jury duty. But they say you can avoid jail time by simply paying a fine.

The scammer knows your name, address, perhaps even your date of birth. He or she may give you the phone number of your local courthouse, the name of the judge where you were supposed to appear, and their own badge number. Your telephone may display the phone number of an actual courthouse or government agency, but it’s a trick.

The caller will seek immediate payment, typically through a cash app like Zelle, gift cards or prepaid debit cards. Don’t be fooled. That money is going to a crook, not to the courthouse. The more urgent the request, the more likely it’s a scam.

“We’ve seen a resurgence of jury scams in recent months where a caller demands that someone pay a fee or face arrest for missing jury duty. Let me be clear: these calls are fraudulent,” warns Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Corrigan of the Middle District of Florida. Similar warnings were issued by state courts in Maryland and Virginia. In North Dakota, the scammers even texted a fake arrest warrant to a victim.  

“If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be a judge or other court official, do not give them your credit card or other financial information,” Corrigan said. “The court appreciates those citizens who are called for jury service and always endeavors to treat them with respect.”

In reality, if you miss jury duty, you won’t get a phone call. Instead, you’ll get notification by U.S. mail. If you are fined, it won’t happen until after you appear before a judge, and it will be in writing. And no legitimate court takes gift cards as payment.

If you think you’ve been the victim of a juror scam, report it to the Federal Trade Commission,  your local FBI office if it involves federal court, or the local court where you were supposed to serve.