Court Issues 'Urgent Warning' Over Jury Scams In Santa Clara County

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A jury duty scam circulating in the South Bay prompted the Santa Clara County Superior Court to issue a "critical public advisory" this week, urging residents to use extreme caution with unsolicited calls and messages.

Court officials warned the scams utilize sophisticated tactics to appear legitimate, including sending manipulated images that can appear official.

"In these scams, perpetrators often employ persuasive techniques, claiming to be court officials or law enforcement officers," the court warned. "They have been known to provide fake badge numbers and utilize photoshopped images to create an illusion of authenticity. One unfortunate consequence of these tactics is that individuals may genuinely believe they have missed a court appearance and owe money as a result."

Officials recommended residents be hypervigilant when with calls and texts related to jury or grand jury service, and shared three key ways to determine if the contact is legitimate:

1. Verification of Identity: Do not provide any personal or financial information to individuals claiming to be court officials or law enforcement officers over the phone. Official court personnel will never request sensitive information in this manner.
2. Immediate Action: If you receive any communication requesting personal information, contact the fraud unit of your local police department immediately. Additionally, reach out to the jury office of your local court to report the incident and seek guidance.
3. Official Contact: While official court personnel may contact you by telephone, they will never ask for personal information. If in doubt, hang up and independently verify the legitimacy of the call by contacting the court directly.

Officials ask that anyone who believes they received a scam call to contact their local police department and e-mail the court with the details.