Beware: Jury Scam
A fraud scheme appears to be growing in scope locally and nationally. Fraudsters are bilking residents for thousands of dollars by claiming they missed jury duty.
The charlatans can be convincing, but there is a telltale sign that it is a scheme—the Franklin County Municipal Court and the Franklin County Common Pleas courts do not fine residents for failing to appear.
The callers can also claim they have a return receipt from certified mail showing a jury notice had been sent. That is another telltale sign. The Municipal Court does not send notifications through certified mail.
The callers claim they are a Franklin County Sheriff’s Deputy or a U.S. Marshal and that there is a warrant for the resident’s arrest for not appearing for jury duty. The residents are told they must pay a fine or turn themselves in.
Sometimes, a case number is also provided. The case number is fake but adds to the illusion of legitimacy. This scam has evolved over the years, and the number of residents affected is unknown. However, the Municipal Court Jury
Commissioner receives multiple weekly calls from residents wanting to verify whether the calls they have received are legitimate.
If anyone is targeted, they are asked to notify their local law enforcement. If possible, relay the phone number used in the scam, the reported name of the deputy or marshal, and any additional details. For example, some fraudsters ask to meet in a law enforcement parking lot so “residents can pay their fine.”
If a resident legitimately fails to show up for jury duty, the Municipal Court sends a notice in the mail asking them to call 614-645-7726 to reschedule. Residents can also email the Municipal Court Jury Commissioner at jury@franklincountymunicourt.org.
The Municipal Court is proactively trying to educate citizens. Here are two such news stories from 10TV and WOSU.
Many other courts communicate proactively as well. The Franklin County Common Pleas Court has also issued a warning about these scams, and the federal court system has as well.
Scammers representing the Franklin County Common Pleas Court have mirrored the scams said to be coming from the Municipal Court. Common Pleas officials add that the number of phone calls has increased to the point that they get one or more daily calls.