SAN ANTONIO – The Better Business Bureau is warning San Antonio residents to be aware of criminals running a jury duty scam.
The bureau said the scammers pose as court officials and contact people by phone. They will often provide names of federal judges, courtroom numbers and addresses to make their scam appear believable.
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During the call, scammers will accuse the victim of skipping jury duty and say the person must pay a fine or face being arrested.
The bureau warned that scammers may also ask for personal information, like a birthday or Social Security number.
Federal courts don’t require anyone to provide sensitive information by phone or email. Legitimate government agencies will only contact residents by mail.
The Better Business Bureau offers these tips if you receive a scam call regarding jury duty:
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Always protect your personal information. Anyone who receives these types of calls should report it by using the BBB’s Scam Tracker .
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People should never transfer money or purchase prepaid debit cards to pay for the unknown person on the other line. The bureau said those types of payment methods cannot be tracked, making them a good way for scammers to take off with your money.
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If you have doubts about the person on the other line, hang up and call your local county clerk’s office to verify if you have been summoned for jury duty.
People can also contact their local police department to report these types of scams.