New York's courts and Tarrant County, Texas, say they do not call to collect jury fines or take payment by phone12. California's courts say officials will never ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, payment apps or wire transfers3. Federal courts do not ask for sensitive information by phone or email4, and New York's courts never ask for payment by phone or through payment apps for jury fines1. If you are unsure, hang up and call the court yourself.
A caller says there is a warrant because you missed jury duty, and you can pay a fine now to clear it.
Tarrant County says there is no warning call before a warrant, and courts do not let you pay a fine instead of serving2.
The court texted a link to confirm your details.
Texas's judicial branch warns about scam texts claiming to be from a Texas court (its example threatens a license suspension, not jury duty). Its advice: report them as spam and do not click the links5.
A real court officer may ask for your Social Security number by phone.
The Southern District of New York says no court personnel will call for Social Security numbers or other sensitive information6.
What the federal courts say:
Federal courts do not require anyone to provide any sensitive information in a telephone call or email. Most contact between a federal court and a prospective juror will be through the U.S. mail, and any phone or email contact by real court officials will not include requests for any sensitive information.
What to do
Do
How real courts contact you
| Court | What it says |
|---|---|
| Federal courts | Most contact is by U.S. mail4 |
| New York State courts | Never asks by phone for financial or family information1 |
| Harris County, Texas | Contacts jurors only by email or text about when and where to report8 |
| Eastern District of New York | Will never ask for personal information by phone or email9 |
| California courts | Never ask for gift cards, cryptocurrency, payment apps or wire transfers3 |
| DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court, Georgia | Will never call to request or demand payment over the phone (a general court-payment alert)10 |
Rules for more states are being added as their research is completed.
What to do next
Related
Sources
10 official sources, with the exact sentence each rule comes from
- Important Notice about "Scam" Emails & Fraudulent Phone Calls Claiming to be from the New York State Court System. NY Courts 'Be Alert: Scams' page."The NYS Court System never asks, by phone, for financial or family information from members of the public."
- Jury Scam, Tarrant County Jury Services (tarrantcountytx.gov). Tarrant County Jury Services scam notice."Tarrant County Jury Services would never contact you by phone to pay a fine for failing to appear for jury service. Typically, we would send a failed to appear notice before taking any action. If a warrant is issued for your arrest, there is no warning phone call. The courts do not allow citizens to pay a fine in lieu of jury service."
- Judicial Branch of California - Jury Scam Alert. Judicial Council Jury Scam Alert."Court officials and law enforcement will also never ask you to purchase gift cards, cryptocurrency, payment apps on your smartphone, or wire transfers as part of your jury service."
- Juror Scams | United States Courts. uscourts.gov."Federal courts do not require anyone to provide any sensitive information in a telephone call or email. Most contact between a federal court and a prospective juror will be through the U.S. mail, and any phone or email contact by real court officials will not include requests for any sensitive information."
- How to Report Scam Text Messages, Texas Judicial Branch (txcourts.gov). Texas Judicial Branch media page."If you have received this message or one like it, please report it as spam and DO NOT click the links within the message."
- Jury Duty Frequently Asked Questions | U.S District Court (SDNY). SDNY Jury Duty FAQ."No. Federal Courts do not require anyone to provide any sensitive information in a telephone call. Most contact between a Federal Court and a prospective juror will be through U.S. mail, and any phone contact by real Court officials will not include requests for social security numbers, credit card numbers, or any other sensitive information."
- Jury Duty Scam, Travis County District Clerk (traviscountytx.gov). Travis County District Clerk jury duty scam notice."The Travis County Sheriff’s Office or any Travis County Judges will never call residents regarding jury duty, nor with they ask for payment via wire transfer or gift cards."
- Harris County District Clerk - Getting Prepared (Jury Services page template). Harris County District Clerk, Jury Services page (Beware of identity thieves)."The District Clerk’s Office and local courts will only contact you by e-mail or text to let you know when and where to report for jury service as well as to remind you of your upcoming service."
- Jury Scam Warnings | US Courts - New York Eastern District. EDNY Jury Scam Warnings."If you receive a phone call or an e-mail from someone claiming to be a court official, DO NOT give them your social security number or credit card information. Our court will never ask for personal information over the phone or by e-mail."
- Clerk Alerts, DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court (dksuperiorclerk.com). DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court Clerk Alert."The DeKalb County Clerk of Superior Court's Office will NEVER call you to request or demand payment over the phone. As soon as a caller threatens you, or demands a phone payment by debit card, credit card, gift card, CashApp, Paypal or by any other fast transfer or money wiring, HANG UP. It’s a scam!! Even if the caller ID looks official."
Reviewed by Roger K. Neustadt, JD, attorney admitted in Georgia. Verified November 10, 2026.
Roger K. Neustadt is admitted in Georgia; pages about other states and federal courts are general information checked against official sources. How we check every rule: editorial policy. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
This page explains the law in general terms and is not legal advice. Jury Duty Explained is not affiliated with any court. Your summons and your court's instructions control, so check them first.