Fake Jury Duty Scams via Bitcoin
How impostors posing as court officers direct victims to pay 'jury duty fines' at Bitcoin ATMs to avoid arrest.
Part of: Fake Jury Duty Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
In the Bitcoin variant of the fake jury duty scam, a caller claiming to be a court or law-enforcement officer says the victim missed jury service and must pay a fine in cryptocurrency to clear a warrant. The victim is directed to a Bitcoin ATM and given a wallet address or QR code.
Bitcoin transactions are irreversible and pseudonymous, which is exactly why scammers use crypto for fine demands. Courts never collect jury fines in Bitcoin, and any such request is fraudulent.
How this scam works on Bitcoin
The caller uses a convincing script with a case number and badge name, then claims a deputy is en route unless a fine is paid immediately. They send the victim to a Bitcoin ATM and instruct them to scan a QR code or send to a wallet address.
The funds route directly to the scammer's wallet. Because of machine limits, the victim may be told to make several deposits over a period of time.
The warrant never existed, and the Bitcoin is unrecoverable once sent. Additional 'court fees' may be demanded in more crypto if the victim hesitates.
Common red flags
- A caller demands a jury duty fine be paid in Bitcoin
- You are sent to a Bitcoin ATM and given a QR code or wallet address
- Threats of imminent arrest are used to rush you
- You are told to make multiple deposits due to machine limits
- The caller forbids you from hanging up or verifying
- Additional crypto is demanded for added court fees
How to protect yourself
- Know that courts never collect fines in Bitcoin
- Never scan a QR code or send crypto at a caller's direction
- Hang up and call the court using an official number
- Treat any crypto fine demand as a guaranteed scam
- If you sent crypto, report it immediately though recovery is unlikely
- Tell a trusted person before taking any action
How to report it
- Report to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Report to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov
- Contact your local court clerk to confirm no warrant and report the call
Frequently asked questions
Why would a court ask for Bitcoin?
It would not. Scammers use Bitcoin because it is irreversible and hard to trace to them. Courts handle jury matters through official mail and in-person processes, never by demanding crypto at an ATM. Hang up and verify with the court directly.