Courts around the country are reporting that scam artists are posing as police officers or officers of the court to perpetrate scams on the American public. The scams come in the form of emails and phone calls and are designed to manipulate people through fear. Scam artists claim that there is a warrant for your arrest or that you are involved in a court case.
Email Scams
The emails will often have a subject line that reads “Urgent Court Notice”. Opening any links or attachments in the emails can open you up to malicious viruses that can damage your computer (malware) or record sensitive information like bank account numbers and login information (spyware).
If you receive any emails saying that they are from the courts, play it safe and look up the court’s phone number (do not use any contact information from the email) and call the court to determine if the email is legitimate. If the email is a scam, report it to the courts.
Even if you have opted into receiving email communications from the courts you should be cautious. Double check that all emails come from a legitimate email address and be aware that scammers are getting better at making their email addresses look authentic. In our busy day to day lives, it can be easy to mistake a displayed name for an email address. Diligence is key.
Phone Scams
Phone scams can be very frightening. Imagine that the person saying that there was a warrant out for your arrest for skipping out on jury duty was telling the truth. You would want to clear the issue up right away. But no matter how urgently you feel the need to fix the issue, be smart and find out where the person is supposedly calling from and contact that entity directly.
Report Crime
Unfortunately, people who fall for these scams often leave the crimes unreported. The reason behind this is simple – it’s embarrassing, pure and simple. But the fact is that people from all walks of life and all education levels have been manipulated through fear, compassion and their own greed. If it has happened to you, reporting it will not only help to prosecute the criminals, but will also allow you to get past the shame and embarrassment.
If you are a victim of an email scam you are encouraged to report it to The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3). The IC3 is a partnership between the FBI and The National White Collar Crime Center. If you are a victim of a phone scam please report it to the Federal Trade Commission. Both types of crime can be reported to The Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force.
Report Scams
Even if you’re on top of your game and don’t get caught up by these scams, it is worth taking the time to report them if they try to get to you.
Stay Safe
Keep yourself safe by reviewing the FBI’s tips on avoiding many different types of scams and the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team tips for Recognizing and Avoiding Email Scams.
Reports of Court Scams
DeWine Warns Against Scam Emails Claiming To Be Court Summons
San Diego Superior Court Warns of Email Scam
Court Cautions Residents About Jury Duty Scam
Public Alert: Scam Emails About Phony Court Cases Carry Computer Virus
WARNING: Bogus Phone Calls on Jury Service May Lead to Fraud