Idaho Residents Targeted by Jury Duty Scam Claiming False Warrants

Idaho residents are facing a new wave of scams as con artists impersonate law enforcement officials to extort money by falsely claiming people have missed jury duty, authorities reported Wednesday.

The Idaho Supreme Court has issued a warning after receiving multiple reports of scammers calling residents and claiming to be sheriff’s deputies or court officials. During these calls, victims are told they’ve failed to appear for jury duty and now face arrest unless they immediately pay a fine.

“These scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their approach,” said Sara Omundson, Administrative Director of the Idaho Courts. “They often use actual names of local officers or court personnel, and they may even spoof their caller ID to make it appear as if the call is coming from a legitimate court or law enforcement number.”

According to court officials, the scammers typically demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or money transfers – payment methods that should immediately raise red flags for recipients of such calls. In some cases, victims report being kept on the phone for hours while they purchase gift cards or make transfers to avoid supposed arrest.

The scam has appeared in several Idaho counties, with variations of the same basic scheme. Some callers tell victims they must appear at a courthouse to resolve the matter, while others claim they can handle everything over the phone if payment is made immediately.

The Idaho Supreme Court emphasized that courts never call residents demanding immediate payment for missed jury duty. If someone fails to appear for jury service, they would receive official correspondence by mail, not a threatening phone call.

“Our courts do not operate this way,” explained Sheriff Mike Hollinshead of Ada County. “No legitimate court official or law enforcement officer will ever demand payment over the phone, especially through gift cards or wire transfers. These are hallmarks of a scam.”

This type of jury duty scam is not unique to Idaho. Similar schemes have been reported across the United States in recent years, with the Federal Trade Commission noting a significant uptick in jury-related fraud since the pandemic began. Scammers typically target older adults or recent immigrants who may be less familiar with how the U.S. judicial system operates.

Financial crimes experts note that these scams are particularly effective because they play on people’s fear of legal trouble and respect for authority. The threat of arrest creates immediate anxiety, leading victims to act quickly without taking time to verify the caller’s legitimacy.

“When someone claims to be a law enforcement officer and threatens arrest, it triggers a stress response,” explained Dr. Karen Wilson, a psychologist specializing in fraud victimology. “Under stress, people are more likely to comply with demands without critical thinking.”

For residents who receive such calls, authorities recommend hanging up immediately and contacting their local courthouse or sheriff’s office directly using the official number found on government websites—not numbers provided by the caller.

The Idaho Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division has also been notified of the scam and is working with law enforcement agencies to track down perpetrators. However, these cases often prove difficult to solve as scammers frequently operate from outside the state or even overseas.

Courts throughout Idaho are now implementing additional public awareness measures, including notices at courthouses and on official websites warning about the scam. Some counties have also established dedicated hotlines for residents to verify any communication they receive claiming to be from the courts.

“Public awareness is our best defense against these types of scams,” said Attorney General Raúl Labrador. “We want every Idaho resident to know that no legitimate court or law enforcement agency will ever demand payment over the phone for missed jury duty or any other court obligation.”

Residents who believe they’ve been targeted by the scam are encouraged to report the incident to local law enforcement and file a complaint with the Idaho Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the Federal Trade Commission.