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Last updated on Thursday, February 13, 2014
(UNDATED) - Several Indiana trial courts have alerted the Division of State Court Administration and the Indiana Judicial Center to report a possible scam involving fake jury duty phone calls.
Court officials are alerting the public to use caution when answering phone calls.
Two Indiana judges reported residents have received calls making false claims that the caller failed to appear for jury duty and offered ways to resolve the situation by appearing in court or providing financial information to pay a fine.
According to police, Indiana courts never ask potential jurors for money.They also never call jurors or ask for specific banking information. In Indiana, all initial contact with potential jurors is conducted in writing through the mail.
Residents will receive a written jury summons or questionnaire asking information like name, age, occupation and marital status.
If a person fails to appear for jury duty the judge can send the sheriff to compel the individual to attend jury selection. A judge can hold an individual in contempt and require the individual to pay a fine for failure to appear.
However, none of these actions takes place over the phone.
Individuals who receive what appears to be a fake jury duty phone call should alert police.
There are about 1,400 jury trials in Indiana each year. Trial and appellate court judges want to take this opportunity to thank individuals who appear in court ready to serve and those who are selected for jury duty.
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