LANSING, MI — Don’t freak out if you receive a call, text or email from someone claiming to be a court official saying you could go to jail for missing jury duty unless you hand over money or personal information.
It’s a scam, says Michigan State Court Administrator Chad Schmucker.
Recent news of a scam targeting Muskegon County residents led Schmucker to warn all Michiganders of the intimidating ruse.
Muskegon officials last week said they had received numerous reports of people getting phone calls or emails saying they had to pay $500 or face 30 days in jail for missing jury duty.
Other variations of the jury duty scam include phone calls requesting personal information like birth dates and Social Security numbers to avoid arrest, and a text message threatening arrest unless the person calls a phone number and pays a fine with their credit card. The scammers often say they’re from local courts.
"Don't fall for the scam, but report it to the police and to the court that the caller or message claims to represent," Schmucker said in a statement. "In addition to the attempt to defraud the victim, it's a crime for anyone to falsely pose as a court official."
Michigan court officials do not call people who have missed jury duty to get their financial information.
"Like a lot of scams, this operates by fear and intimidation. The thing for folks to keep in mind … anytime someone you don’t know contacts you and is pressuring you for personal information, you have to be very much on your guard," said Marcia McBrien, spokeswoman for the Michigan Supreme Court.
People who don't show up for jury duty may receive a notice in the mail from the court. That letter could include another summons to appear for jury duty at a later date, or a request to appear at a hearing and explain why the person missed jury duty.
"They're not going to simply have someone call from the court and say you have to pay $500 right now or you have to go to jail," said Grand Rapids attorney Todd Neckers.
You could still face fines or other penalties for missing jury duty without a good excuse.
"You are playing with fire if you choose to skip," Neckers said.
Fines aren't the only punishment. Judges have ordered offenders to write an essay on the importance of jury duty, McBrien said. She said she's not aware of anyone going to jail for missing jury duty.
Last April, a federal judge in Detroit ordered two men to pay $100 fines and serve 20 hours of community service for skipping jury duty, according to The Detroit Free Press.
Email Melissa Anders at manders@mlive.com. Follow her on Twitter: @MelissaDAnders. Download the MLive app for iPhone and Android.