HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office urgently cautions the community to be aware of jury duty scams.
Residents are targeted by phone calls, emails, and messaging scams threatening prosecution for failing to comply with jury service.
The scammers threaten recipients with fines and/or jail time if they do not comply. These communications are fraudulent and are not connected with any Hillsborough County Court.
Persons receiving such a telephone call or email should not provide the requested information.
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- Federal courts do not require anyone to provide sensitive information via telephone or email.
- Most contact between a federal court and a prospective juror will be through U.S. mail, and any phone or email contact by real court officials will not include requests for any sensitive information.
- Jury duty is a vital civic responsibility and should be taken seriously by all citizens. However, it is a crime for anyone to falsely represent themself as a federal court official.
“I want to make it crystal clear that we will not tolerate any attempts to undermine the integrity of our justice system, especially through jury duty scams,” said Sheriff Chad Chronister. “These scams harm our community and erode the trust we place in our fellow citizens to serve as jurors. Your Sheriff’s Office stands ready to protect residents from these fraudulent schemes.”
If you ever find yourself the victim of a potential scam, call us at 813-247-8200 or file a report on teamHCSO.com under “Services,” and the Sheriff’s Office will contact you.
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