Jury Scams
(Cleveland) - The Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court has been made aware of a new scam that targets potential jurors.
These types of targeted scams, using bogus phone calls and emails to threaten citizens with prosecution for failing to appear for jury service, are, unfortunately, not new. In the calls and emails, unsuspecting people are pressured with threats of fines and jail time to provide confidential data, potentially leading to identity theft and fraud.
The current scam is much more advanced and convincing in its tactics. No Court or County employee would ever ask someone for money to avoid being arrested for missing jury duty. These calls are fraudulent and are not connected with the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court or the Cuyahoga County Sheriff’s Department.
“It is unfortunate that unscrupulous scammers would target people who believe they have missed a chance to perform their civic duty,” said Administrative and Presiding Judge Brendan J. Sheehan. “Jury duty is a vital civic responsibility and should be taken seriously by all citizens.”
Most contact between the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court and a prospective juror occurs through the U.S. mail, and any phone contact by legitimate court officials will not include requests for Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, or any other sensitive information.
Do not respond to calls or emails that demand personal information or payments. Report jury duty scams to the Cuyahoga County Scam Squad at 216-443-SCAM (7226).