Scammers often try to fool the public with fraudulent letters, emails, or phone calls that appear to be from the New York State court system. It has recently come to the attention of the New York State court system’s Fifth Judicial District that scammers are fraudulently using the name or title of a judge, clerk, or other court employee.
The Fifth Judicial District includes Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego counties.
In the most recent scam, someone claiming to be from the courts and/or a law enforcement organization calls residents in the Fifth Judicial District stating that the call recipient has failed to appear for jury duty and must pay a fine or be arrested. The caller requests payment over the phone, by wire service, or with cash delivered to a specific address.
The New York State court system NEVER asks for financial or family information from members of the public by phone or email. The Court System suggests you never give this type of information to anyone claiming to represent the courts, and please report all suspicious jury-related communication to your local Commissioner of Jurors Office.
For more information on fraudulent jury schemes, you may visit www.nyjuror.gov under “Be Alert To Scams.”
