Charlotte Residents Alerted to Sophisticated Jury Duty Scams

Charlotte residents are being cautioned about a surge in jury duty scams targeting the area.

Scammers, posing as law enforcement officials, claim individuals have missed jury service and demand immediate payment to avoid arrest.

Mecklenburg County officials report that these fraudsters often use the names of real judges and may even spoof official phone numbers to appear legitimate.

They pressure victims into paying fines via gift cards or other untraceable methods.

It's crucial to recognize that in North Carolina, jury summonses are sent by U.S. mail.

Failure to appear for jury duty does not result in phone calls demanding payment or threats of arrest.

Legitimate court officials will never request sensitive information or payments over the phone.

If you receive such a call, hang up immediately and do not provide any personal information.

To verify jury duty obligations, contact the Mecklenburg County Clerk of Court directly.

Report any suspicious calls to the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office or the North Carolina Attorney General's Office at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM.

Stay vigilant and protect yourself from these deceptive practices.