Residents in the Northern District of Georgia are being targeted by a scam involving fraudulent phone calls and emails. The scammers claim that the recipient has missed jury duty in federal court and faces an arrest warrant or other consequences. To avoid these penalties, victims are instructed to make a payment, often through pre-paid cards like Green Dot or gift cards.
The fraudsters use convincing tactics, such as real information about the victim, authentic court addresses, and names of actual law enforcement officers, court officials, and federal judges to lend credibility to their scheme. Additionally, they may manipulate caller ID to display what appears to be a legitimate court or government agency number (e.g., 404-215-1600). Some victims have also reported receiving fake arrest warrants or appearance bonds via email that resemble official documents.