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October 2, 2024Case Closed: Protecting Yourself from Court Scams
It’s unfortunate, but you must give it to them – scammers are creative. Just when you thought you’d seen every ploy in the book, a new wave of scams emerges that are hard to resist. Why? Because they threaten legal action right away.
Fraudsters are impersonating the courts, and their messages are very convincing. On top of that, it’s your curiosity and fear that drives you to follow their instructions. The best way to beat scammers and avoid their games is to understand how their schemes operate.
Understanding Court Scams
There are two common court scams making the rounds. First, there are jury duty scams that claim you missed your jury duty service date and are now facing penalties, fines, or jail time. While these scams can be convincing, most people know whether they were summoned for jury duty. However, it’s the second ploy that is making waves – fake court cases.
Fraudsters send emails and make phone calls impersonating the court system. They state that you are a defendant in a case and are being sued (usually for breach of contract). Their messages are vague but appear official. What makes these scams so effective is your fear and curiosity – what are you being sued for? It’s hard to resist clicking or calling to find out, and that’s exactly what scammers want you to do.
How Court Scams Work
These scams come in many forms, but they tend to follow the same structure:
- Scammers pose as judiciary officials, such as court clerks, and send communications stating that the recipient has an open court case against them, urging the recipient to act immediately.
- Recipients are often directed to click on a link or open an attachment to view the supposed case. However, the link or attachment is intended to install a virus or malware on the recipient’s device.
- The fraudulent messages also aim to collect personal information from the target. In some instances, the scammer may even demand money.
- To add a sense of urgency, the scammer will include threats of fines, prison time, or other legal penalties if the recipient fails to comply with their requests.
Jury Duty Scams
Though they have been circulating for some time now, scams related to jury service have not gone away. In these scams, targets are contacted by phone, email, or text message and informed they failed to comply with jury service and are facing prosecution and fines.
The scammer often impersonates a law enforcement officer and informs the target that they have an outstanding arrest warrant for missed jury duty unless the target pays a fine. In some instances, the scammer is only interested in collecting personal information to conduct fraudulent activity or identity theft. But in many cases, the fraudster hopes to collect the hefty fine and make off with your money.
Court Case Scams
Hearing that you’re being sued can send shivers down anyone’s spine. These communications are usually sent via email and appear to come directly from your state or local court system. It looks like an automated email from the court clerk with a fictitious case number and appearance date.
The communications are somewhat vague and usually state you’re being sued for a breach of contract. Then, they provide a PDF or link with official documents detailing your reason for being sued. Scammers know it’s hard to resist looking to see what you’re being sued for and are counting on you to click. These links and attachments usually contain malware designed to access your device or steal your personal information.
How to Verify If It’s a Scam
If you receive a court order or jury summons via email, you can rest assured it’s a scam. Local, state, and federal courts never send communications through email. They will always contact you via the mail, or, depending on the severity of the case, in person.
If you’re in doubt (these communications often appear convincing), contact your local courthouse or use the Federal Court Finder to identify the court in your area. Contact them directly by the phone number listed on their website – NOT the number that appears in the email or other communication.
Tips to Stay Safe
Follow these tips to help you avoid falling into the traps of court scams:
- Remember that courts and clerks will never send legal notices via email. Legitimate notices from the federal or local legal system will be delivered via the United States Postal Service.
- Communication from real court officials will never include requests for Social Security Numbers, credit card information, or other financial or personally identifiable information.
- Never click on a link or open an attachment in an email you aren’t 100% sure about.
- Do not call a phone number listed in a suspicious email. That phone number will have a bad actor on the other end who is perpetuating the scam.
- Do not give in to the pressure to take urgent action. Take a break to think things over calmly and carefully before acting.
- Never provide financial or personal information to someone you do not know.
How to Report a Court Scam
If you or someone you know has been involved with a court scam, please report it to the following:
We’re Here to Help!
The best way to avoid scams is to understand how they operate. By knowing the red flags to look out for and best practices to protect your personal and financial information, you can avoid falling into the traps of these fraudulent legal schemes.
If you suspect you were targeted by a scam or have been a victim of fraud, contact us immediately. Our team is here to support and guide you through any issues or concerns. Please stop by any of our branch locations or call 800-226-6673 today to speak with a Member Advocate.
Each individual’s financial situation is unique and readers are encouraged to contact PEFCU when seeking financial advice on the products and services discussed. This article is for educational purposes only; the authors assume no legal responsibility for the completeness or accuracy of the contents.