Scammers are posing as federal officials, says U.S. District Court

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) - Oklahomans are being asked to be on the alert for the latest scam, according to the United States District Court in Oklahoma.

According to Federal officials, scammers are posing as Tulsa County Sheriff’s Deputies and other federal officials. Oklahomans are being reminded that Federal officials will NEVER request money or banking information from jurors or prospective jurors over the phone.

The latest scam from the Federal Court states in detail:

Scammers are posing as Tulsa County Sheriff’s Officers and federal court personnel.  These scammers will call trying to intimidate victims with threats of arrest and fines to get them to believe they failed to appear for jury duty.  It can be a frightening phone call to receive.  The scammers appear well-prepared.  They have the names and address of their potential victims.  They will try to convince victims that they missed jury duty by failing to report to court.  To avoid arrest they demand payment of a “fine” for not responding.  They request payment in cash, gift cards, or by providing debit/credit card information.  A courier may respond to pick up the cash or gift cards, or they will instruct you to drop off payment at a secondary location.  Failure to pay will result in “deputies” arresting the victim.  They provide the real names and addresses of judges, court personnel, and the name of the US Marshal for the federal district. 

United States District Court, Northern District of Oklahoma

Oklahoman are reminded, DO NOT PROVIDE ANY INFORMATION if someone calls claiming to be a judge, court officer, Deputy Marshal, or Deputy Sheriff and threatens fines or jail time for failure to comply with a jury summons. Assume it is a scam.  Do not pay them anything.  Federal officials will never request money or banking information from jurors. 

FACTS:

• The federal courts send jury summons exclusively via US Mail
• When federal court personnel contact prospective jurors by phone, they will NEVER request payment or banking information. 
• Fines are never imposed until after an individual appears in court and has the opportunity to discuss the jury absence with a judge.  If a fine is imposed, it will be in open court and not over the phone.