ShooFlyMissed Jury Duty Scam
A text or call says there's a warrant for your arrest for missing jury duty unless you pay a fine today. Courts don't do this: it's a scare to make you pay fast, often by gift card or wire.
What It Looks Like
Court notice: a warrant has been issued for missed jury duty. Pay the fine today to avoid arrest: [link removed]
The wording, amounts and company change, but the pattern stays the same.
How to Tell It's Fake
- Courts don't text warrants or take fines by text link.
- Threats of arrest are meant to scare you into paying fast.
- Call your county court's published number if you're worried.
How to Check for Real
Call your county court at the number on its official website. Never use the link or phone number in the message.
If You Already Tapped or Paid
- Call the number on the back of your card and say it was used on a scam site. They can cancel it and send a new one.
- Watch your statements for charges you don't recognize, and dispute them.
- Don't pay any “fee” the site asks for again, and ignore follow-up texts.
Acting in the first hour gives you the best chance of stopping charges.
Report It
- Forward the text to 7726 (SPAM). It goes to your phone carrier, who uses it to block the sender.
- Report it to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Then delete it, and block the number.
Not Sure About a Text?
ShooFly checks any text, letter, link or caller in seconds, right on your phone, and tells you what to do next. It also sends scam texts like this one to Junk before you see them. Free.