Beware Of 'Jury Duty' Scam In NJ, FBI Says

The FBI is warning residents in New Jersey of a phone scam that involves callers impersonating law enforcement officials who demand money, telling the intended victim they failed to appear for jury duty.

According to the FBI's Philadelphia and Newark divisions, the scammers say they’re with one of several law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service or a county sheriff’s department.

They accuse the call recipient of failing to appear for federal or local jury duty and warn that an arrest warrant has been issued. They tell the intended victim they need to pay a fine through a prepaid debit card, then tell them to provide them with the card information, according to information from the FBI.

"Recent reports indicate these scammers have been targeting New Jersey residents; variations of the 'jury duty' scam have been documented in numerous other states, as well," the FBI said.

The FBI offered the following tips to avoid being victimized by this scam:

• Never give money or personal information to someone with whom you don’t have ties and did not initiate contact
• Trust your instincts: if an unknown caller pressures you, or says things that don’t sound right, hang up
• If concerns remain about the caller’s claims, verify the information with the appropriate law enforcement agency or court officials

If you are a victim of a phone or online scam, you should file a complaint here.