Reports of jury duty scams have surfaced in at least five Florida counties in the past year—two of those warnings coming in this month alone.
Scammers are calling targets claiming they missed a jury duty report date and must make immediate payment to avoid going to jail, even though failure to appear for jury duty is not grounds for immediate arrest.
Court officials will also never demand payment over the phone or ask that payment be wired or made through a gift card.
There are few civic duties as important to our judicial system as serving on a jury. As a former judge, I’m livid that anyone would exploit this honorable process to scare citizens into paying a ransom.
Below are several tips to guard against jury duty scams:
- Know that jury duty summons will only come by mail;
- If no jury duty summons is received, then ignore a phone call from anyone claiming to be calling about jury duty;
- Never give personal or financial information over the phone to a stranger, especially if the caller acts aggressively; and
- Be wary of Caller ID, as this can be spoofed, making a phone call look like it is coming from a real source.
By working together to spot fraud and stop scams, we will build a Stronger, Safer Florida.
In The News
Jury Duty Scams Emerge Across Florida, CBS 4 Miami
Fla. Attorney General Ashley Moody warns of jury duty scams, NBC 5 West Palm Beach
Jury Duty scams making their way around Florida, here’s what to watch for, ABC 9 Orlando
As fentanyl distribution rises, AG Moody calls on Biden administration to enforce existing immigration laws, The Center Square
Place of Hope Applauds Florida Attorney General Moody for New Human Trafficking Prevention Initiative, The Boca Raton Tribune
Florida is the most pro-law enforcement state in the nation, Villages-News.com
Protecting Floridians
Attorney General Moody Receives Security Briefing at Southwest Border, Joins Multistate Effort to Stop Unlawful Immigration Program
Attorney General Ashley Moody in Texas joined attorneys general from across the nation at the country’s southwest border. Attorney General Moody received a briefing from law enforcement officials about the dramatic overrun of the border brought on by President Joe Biden’s reckless immigration policies—the impact of which is resulting in public safety ramifications for citizens and taxpayers far beyond U.S. states that border Mexico.
Attorney General Ashley Moody said, “After seeing the chaos in person, it is even more clear to me now that Biden and Mayorkas are building their own illegal organization to transport illegal immigrants into and around our country—thumbing their noses at federal laws. I will not only work aggressively to stop these illegal acts, but I will continue to inform Floridians about what their federal government is actually doing, and the dangers associated with those decisions.” Read More
Events
This week, Attorney General Ashley Moody received a security briefing from law enforcement at the U.S. southwest border. The border crisis is allowing deadly fentanyl to pour into Florida and the rest of the country. Attorney General Moody is fighting in court to force the federal government to follow federal immigration laws—to protect Floridians.
Attorney General Moody on the Rio Grande River in Texas to see where many immigrants are entering the country illegally.
Victim Services Program Specialist Katie O’Rourke, a member of Attorney General Moody’s Office of Statewide Prosecution, being presented the 2022 Polaris Star Victim Advocate of the Year by Veraunda Jackson, Esq. of Kids Central Inc. at the 11th Annual Polaris Star Awards Ceremony. This is one of many awards given every year to people leading the fight against human trafficking through professional work or influence.
