Scams going around · Phone calls

Jury duty arrest warrant scam call

Pretends to be a U.S. Marshal, police officer or other government official. A caller says you missed jury duty or a court date and there is now a warrant for your arrest. They want you to pay a "fine" right away, and may text or email you a fake warrant to make it look real.

An example of what it can look like

Not a real message: the details are made up.

Caller ID: U.S. MARSHALS (202) 555-0147
This is Deputy Mark with the U.S. Marshals, badge number 4471. You missed jury duty, and a judge has signed a warrant for your arrest. To avoid arrest today, you must pay your fine right now. Do not hang up or tell anyone. I am texting you a copy of the warrant. If we get cut off, call me back at (202) 555-0147.

How to tell

They say you'll be arrested for missing jury duty or a court date. Real officers don't call to say they'll arrest you.
They want you to pay with gift cards, a payment app (like Venmo or Cash App) or a wire transfer (like Western Union). Some ask for cryptocurrency (digital money) or send a courier to pick up cash. Only scammers say you must pay these ways. Courts, police and other government agencies never call to demand payment.
You get a text or email with a document that looks like an arrest warrant. Real law enforcement never texts or emails a warrant.
Caller ID shows your local police or the U.S. Marshals, and the caller may know your name and address. That doesn't make the call real.
They tell you to stay on the line and not tell your family or your bank.

What to do

Hang up. You don't owe the caller an explanation.
Don't pay anything, and don't give out personal information like your Social Security or bank account number.
Don't call back a number the caller gives you, and don't tap links in a text or email about a warrant.
Look up your local court's or police department's phone number yourself, and call them to ask.
Tell a family member or friend about the call.

If you already tapped, paid, called or replied

Stop all contact, and don't answer if the caller tries again. Call your bank or credit union right away. Use the number on the back of your card.
Paid with a gift card? Call the card company at the number on the back of the card. Ask for a refund. Keep the card, and the receipt if you have it.
Paid with a payment app (like Venmo or Cash App) or a wire transfer company (like Western Union or MoneyGram)? Contact that company right away. Ask for your money back.
Paid with cryptocurrency (digital money), maybe by putting cash into a cryptocurrency ATM? Contact the company that runs the ATM, or the exchange where you bought it, right away. Ask them to reverse the payment and refund your money.
Gave out your Social Security number? If someone has used it, report it at IdentityTheft.gov. If it hasn't been used, or you aren't sure, go to IdentityTheft.gov/databreach.

How to check for real

Don't use any number the caller gives you. Look up your local court's or police department's public phone number yourself. For a federal court, find the Clerk of Court's office with the Federal Court Finder on uscourts.gov.

Where to report it

The FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
The Clerk of Court's office at your local U.S. District Court (find it with the Federal Court Finder on uscourts.gov)
Your local police department, if you lost money (including cash handed to a courier) or gave out personal information
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov, if you lost money or gave out personal information

Free guides that go with this

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Where this comes from

Written from these official warnings, checked 2026-09-25. Lantern is not part of any organization named on this page.