The Minnesota Judicial Branch has issued an advisory warning that scammers are messaging Minnesotans with phony arrest warrants for missing jury duty.
“A national scam in which individuals pose as law enforcement officers and falsely claim there is a warrant for the recipient's arrest is now happening in Minnesota,” the advisory says.
“The scam, which claims people are in imminent danger of arrest for missing jury duty, is designed to create panic and pressure victims into providing personal information or making immediate payments to avoid arrest.”
The threat actors attempt to scare people into handing over money or information in order to avoid being arrested.
“The Minnesota Judicial Branch became aware that scammers were targeting Minnesotans after the Duluth courthouse received a panicked call from a victim. The person told the court she received a call from someone claiming to be a police officer with an arrest warrant for her signed by a local judge. When the victim started asking the caller questions, the caller became belligerent and mean. The victim hung up and called the court, which informed her the call was a scam.”
The Minnesota Judicial Branch says users should be on the lookout for the following red flags:
- “Unsolicited Contact: Scammers call or email without any prior notification, claiming they are a police officer and that you have an arrest warrant for missing jury duty. In some cases, scammers “spoof” the telephone number so it looks like they are calling from the court or from a law enforcement agency
- “High-Pressure Tactics: Scammers use fear and urgency to compel you to act quickly, threatening arrest or legal action if their demands are not met
- “Request for Personal Information: Scammers may ask for personal information such as Social Security numbers, bank account details, or credit card numbers
- “Demand for Immediate Payment: Scammers may insist on immediate payment to avoid being arrested”
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