The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office is warning residents that a familiar hoax has made its way back to our area: The jury duty scam, which resurfaced in Feb. 2025. This scam, long-running, continues to con people into giving up their hard-earned long-running authorities continue to warn everyone about this kind of fraudulent program and how to avoid becoming a victim.
How the Scam Works
The jury duty scam often starts with a phone call. The scammer impersonates a law enforcement officer or a court official who informs the victim that they did not show up for jury duty. The caller said a warrant had been issued for the victim’s arrest and demanded payment right away to avoid jail.
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Here’s how the scam unfolds:
The Call: The con artist calls the target, frequently using a spoofed phone number that looks like it’s coming from a legitimate government agency.
The Threat: The caller alleges the victim skipped jury duty and needs to pay a fine right away to stay out of jail.
The Demands: The scammer instructs the victim to pay in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency, which is hard to trace.
The Pressure: The scammer creates a sense of urgency threatening legal action if the victim doesn’t comply immediately.
Why This Scam is Dangerous
The jury duty scam is especially malignant precisely because it plays off how fear-inducing the legal world is. The callers often threaten victims with fines if they do not make a payment immediately, and in many cases victims panic and pay the supposed fine without verifying the identity o,f the caller. Scammers frequently use official-sounding language and fake badge numbers to bolster their claims.
In Calcasieu Parish, some residents reported those calls in recent weeks. No one has been victimized yet, but reporters are treating the many reports seriously and are working to get the word out.
How to Protect Yourself
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office released the following tips to protect residents from this scam:
Hang Up: If you get such a call, hang up immediately. Government agencies will never call and demand payment over the phone.
Verify If so it’s not sure, call the Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court or sheriff’s office directly to verify the calculation.
Never Share Personal Information: Never give personal or financial information over the phone, especially if the call is unsolicited.
Report the Call: Suspicious calls can be reported to the Sheriff’s Office or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
What Authorities Are Doing
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office can work with local and federal entities to find the scammers. They are also using social media and community outreach programs to educate survivors on the scam.
“It’s important that we stay informed,” Sheriff Tony Mancuso said. “Scammers are always trying to find new ways to defraud people, but being aware is our best defense,” he said. “If you understand how the scam works, you’re less likely to get scammed.”
Real-Life Examples
There have been no recent financial losses to the scam in Calcasieu Parish, but similar schemes have resulted in significant losses in areas of the country. In one instance, a Texas retiree lost $5,000 after she was told she had failed to show up for jury duty. In a separate case, a college student in Florida was scammed out of $1,500.
These narratives are a sobering reminder that to be targeted is not a question of age or background.
What to Do If You’ve Been Scammed?
If you’ve already been a victim of the jury duty scam, it’s best to act quickly:
Contact Your Bank: If you used a credit card or paid by bank transfer, reach out to your financial institution to see if the transaction can be reversed.
Report It: The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office and the FTC can be notified of the scam.
Monitor Your Accounts: Regularly check your bank and credit card statements for unauthorized transactions.
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Conclusion
Scammers are always looking for new ruses to prey on people, and the return of the jury duty scam to Calcasieu Parish serves as a reminder that these criminals are never far away from the public consciousness. With these tips from law enforcement and by being a good informer, you can avoid the risk of getting harmed by this scam.
Remember, government agencies will never demand payment by phone. Strangely if you get such a call, you must hang up and then report it. Together, we can derail scammers and protect our community.