Fake Jury Duty Scams via Gift Cards
How callers impersonating court officers threaten arrest for 'missed jury duty' unless a fine is paid in gift cards.
Part of: Fake Jury Duty Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
Fake jury duty scams rely on the fear of arrest. A caller claims to be a sheriff's deputy or court officer and says the victim failed to appear for jury service, resulting in a warrant or a fine. To avoid jail, the victim is told to pay the fine immediately using gift cards.
Real courts never call to demand payment of a fine in gift cards, and they never threaten immediate arrest by phone over jury duty. The gift-card demand is the unmistakable signal that the call is a scam, no matter how official the caller sounds.
How this scam works on gift cards
The caller often spoofs a local court or sheriff's office number and uses a real-sounding name and badge number. They state that the victim ignored a jury summons and now faces a 'failure to appear' charge, but that the matter can be resolved quietly with a fine paid today.
The victim is instructed to drive to a store, buy gift cards in specific amounts, and read the codes back over the phone. The caller insists the line stay open and warns that hanging up will trigger the arrest, keeping the victim isolated and panicked.
Once the codes are read, the value is gone. If the victim hesitates, the scammer may transfer them to a fake 'judge' or 'supervisor' to reinforce the threat and extract additional card payments.
Common red flags
- A caller says you missed jury duty and now face arrest or a fine
- You are told to pay the fine in gift cards to avoid jail
- The caller insists you stay on the line and not hang up
- Spoofed caller ID shows a court or sheriff's office number
- You are pressured to buy cards immediately and read the codes
- A 'judge' or 'supervisor' is brought on to escalate the threat
How to protect yourself
- Know that courts never demand gift-card payment or threaten arrest by phone
- Hang up and call the actual court using a number from its official website
- Never buy gift cards or read codes to resolve a supposed legal matter
- Do not let a caller pressure you into staying on the line
- If you paid, contact the gift-card issuer immediately to try to freeze the balance
- Tell a family member or friend before taking any action
How to report it
- Report to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Contact your local court clerk's office to confirm no warrant exists and report the call
- Report the gift-card fraud to the card issuer's fraud line
Frequently asked questions
Could there really be a warrant for missing jury duty?
Genuine failure-to-appear matters are handled through mailed notices and in-person court processes, never by a phone call demanding gift cards. If you are unsure, hang up and call the court directly using a verified number. A gift-card demand always means it is a scam.