Scammers are forging arrest warrants for missed jury duty, demanding payment in bitcoin and gift cards. They use realistic court-style documents and urgent threats to exploit fear of arrest.
Court Warns of Forged Arrest Warrants Tied to Bitcoin Demands Over Missed Jury Duty
The U.S. District Court of the Western District of Virginia issued a warning on March 21 regarding a disturbing scam involving counterfeit arrest warrants related to missed jury duty. According to the court, individuals in the region are being targeted by scammers who are using fake documents that closely resemble official U.S. District Court forms, falsely claiming to be from the Eastern District of Virginia.
These fraudulent individuals are coercing their targets to make payments through methods that are hard to trace or reverse. The court explicitly stated that:
The scammers are demanding payment in bitcoin, gift cards, or bank account details to allegedly resolve the issue.
It is important to note that the United States district courts do not issue arrest warrants for failing to appear for jury duty unless an individual has actually been summoned for jury duty and fails to show up. This scam preys on people’s fear of legal repercussions by presenting them with counterfeit documents and pressuring them to make immediate payments to avoid arrest.
The court officials have advised anyone who receives suspicious documents, especially those that mention bitcoin, gift cards, or payments via phone, to reach out to the Western District of Virginia directly to verify the authenticity of the documents. The court cautioned:
If you receive an arrest warrant or any document claiming to be from the United States district courts that demands payment, particularly in bitcoin or gift cards with instructions for payment via phone, please contact the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia to confirm its validity.
As similar scams are on the rise across the country, authorities are continuously warning the public against sharing any financial information in response to unsolicited legal threats.