• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Crime / Courts / Telephone scam warns of fines for failing to show for jury duty

Telephone scam warns of fines for failing to show for jury duty

August 8, 2012 By Matt Kelley

A telephone scam is cropping up in several eastern Iowa counties which threatens those who skip out on jury duty with arrest and a fine. Victims of the scam are told in a recorded message they’ve missed jury duty and an arrest warrant is being issued.

Judy Carlin, the clerk of district court for Cedar and Scott counties, says the call is bogus, but it sounds authentic enough to send people into a panic. Carlin’s office in Davenport is getting multiple calls a day about the scam.

Carlin says, “They’re calling our office, saying, ‘Somebody called us and said there’s a warrant out for our arrest because we didn’t serve on jury duty. I called this 700-number and they say if you want to pay $500, press one…'”

Carlin says court clerks in other Iowa counties are getting the same calls from worried people. She says if people were to listen to all of the options on the recording, they’d realize they’d been had. “It’s a joke, it’s like a prank thing,” Carlin says.

“The last option, four, is ‘If you can give us five of your friends with their phone numbers…’ so, it’s all a joke.” While the call is a prank, Carlin says it’s no joke that jurors are needed.

“The government gets a bad enough name for itself and this is just something that has nothing to do with us,” Carlin says. “We need jurors to come in and it’s just one more thing to deter that. We put out a press release warning, this is not us.”

If you’re summoned, she says it’s your duty to serve. Those who ignore the real summons could face a contempt charge and a fine, but it’s not administered over the phone.

Carlin says the Iowa Attorney General’s Office has been made aware of the scam but it’s unclear if any charges will be pursued.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Crime / Courts, News

Featured Stories

Iowa Supreme Court overturns ruling creating constitutional abortion right

Iowa’s governor launches $100 million school safety plan

Urbandale teacher crowned Miss Iowa

DOT taking input on proposed electric vehicle charging network

Glidden man cleared in poaching case, questions DNR tactics

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

AJ Green signs with Milwaukee

Iowa to host Georgia Tech in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

Iowa State adds a defensive back

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/20/22

Radio Iowa/Baseball Coaches Association High School Poll 6/13/22

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 ยท Learfield News & Ag, LLC