Fake Jury Duty Scams via MoneyGram
How impostors posing as court officials direct victims to send 'jury duty fines' through MoneyGram money transfers.
Part of: Fake Jury Duty Scams
Last reviewed: 1 June 2026
In the MoneyGram variant of the fake jury duty scam, a caller impersonating a court or law-enforcement officer instructs the victim to pay a missed-service fine through a MoneyGram transfer at a nearby agent location. The money is framed as a fine or bond that will clear the supposed warrant.
MoneyGram transfers can be picked up quickly at agent locations worldwide and are difficult to recover after collection, which is why scammers favor them. No court collects jury fines through MoneyGram or any cash-transfer service.
How this scam works on MoneyGram
The caller delivers a convincing script: a badge number, a case number, and a warning that a deputy will arrive to arrest the victim unless a fine is paid immediately. They direct the victim to a pharmacy or supermarket that hosts a MoneyGram counter.
The victim is told to send the funds to a named recipient, sometimes in another city or country, and to call back with the reference number. With that number, the scammer collects the cash within minutes.
If the victim raises doubts, the scammer escalates with threats of public arrest at their workplace or home, and may demand a second transfer for an additional 'court fee.' The promised cleared warrant never existed.
Common red flags
- A caller demands a jury duty fine be sent via MoneyGram
- You are given a named recipient and asked to share the reference number
- Threats of imminent arrest are used to rush you to an agent location
- The recipient is in a different city or country than your local court
- A second transfer is requested for an added court fee
- The caller forbids you from hanging up or verifying independently
How to protect yourself
- Understand that courts never collect fines through MoneyGram
- End the call and contact the court directly using an official number
- Never share a MoneyGram reference number with a caller
- Refuse to send any transfer based on a phone threat
- If you sent funds, contact MoneyGram immediately to attempt to halt the pickup
- Keep the transfer receipt and reference number as evidence
How to report it
- Report to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov
- Call MoneyGram customer care to report fraud and attempt to stop the transfer
- Contact your local court clerk to confirm no warrant and report the impersonation
Frequently asked questions
Can MoneyGram stop a transfer before it is picked up?
Possibly, if you call MoneyGram's fraud line immediately and the funds have not yet been collected. Provide the reference number and recipient details. Because pickups can happen within minutes, act as fast as possible.