Your phone rings during dinner, and the caller ID displays “Virginia State Police” or a local sheriff’s department. You answer, and a stern voice informs you that you missed a court date or jury duty. Consequently, they claim there is an active warrant for your arrest.
Panic sets in instantly because you are a law-abiding citizen who would never miss court. Then, the officer offers a lifeline. You can pay a “civil penalty” or “bond” over the phone to clear the warrant. It sounds urgent and plausible, but it is a lie. This is the “Jury Duty Scam,” and it is stealing thousands of dollars from Virginians this month.
These scammers are professional and aggressive. First, they use “spoofing” technology to make their number look legitimate on your phone screen. Next, they often use the names of real deputies or judges from your county to build credibility. Ultimately, they rely on your fear to bypass your logical thinking. When you are terrified of going to jail, you stop asking questions. However, no police officer in Virginia will ever call you to demand money. The moment they ask for payment, you know it is a trap.
The “Active Warrant” Threat
The hook is always the threat of immediate arrest. Specifically, they will tell you that deputies are currently on their way to your home. This urgency is designed to make you act without thinking or verifying the information.
Furthermore, they might keep you on the phone, forbidding you from hanging up to call anyone else. This is an isolation tactic used by kidnappers and con artists alike. In reality, police do not warn you before they arrest you. On the contrary, if there were a real warrant, they would simply show up at your door. They would certainly not call you to negotiate a financial settlement.
The Payment Method Giveaway
The biggest red flag is always how they want you to pay. Typically, they will ask for a Green Dot prepaid card, a gift card, a wire transfer, or a cryptocurrency deposit. Then, they might direct you to stay on the line while you drive to a pharmacy to buy these cards.
This is absurd when you think about it logically. After all, the court system does not accept Applebee’s gift cards or Bitcoin as bail money. Instead, government agencies deal in checks, cash at the clerk’s office, or official online portals. Therefore, any request for untraceable payment methods is 100% proof of a scam.
What They Know About You
Scammers often buy data from the dark web to make their script more convincing. For example, they might know your full name, your address, and even your date of birth. However, do not let this accuracy fool you into believing they are real law enforcement.
Unfortunately, this information is publicly available or easily purchased by criminals. Just because they know where you live does not mean they are the police. Rather, it just means they did their homework to make the con more effective. Do not confirm any additional details for them.
How to Verify the Truth
If you are truly worried that you might have missed a jury summons, there is a simple way to check. First, hang up the phone immediately. Next, look up the official number for your local Circuit Court Clerk’s office.
Call them directly and ask if you have missed any dates. In most cases, you will find that you are in good standing. Verification is the enemy of the scammer. Essentially, they cannot survive once you talk to a real court employee.
Key Takeaway: Fear is the Weapon
This scam works because it targets your respect for the law and your fear of consequences. Sadly, the scammers are banking on you being too polite to hang up on an “officer.” Therefore, give yourself permission to be rude.
If someone demands money over the phone and threatens jail, hang up. Then, block the number. Also, tell your family members about this tactic, especially older parents who are prime targets. You are not under arrest; instead, you are under attack by a predator.
Have you received one of these “warrant” calls recently? Let me know what they said to you in the comments.
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The post Virginia Police: If You Get a Call About a “Missed Court Date,” Hang Up Immediately appeared first on Budget and the Bees.
