Warning from the United States District Court

The United States District Court of the Western District of Virginia has issued a warning regarding a recent surge in criminal activities involving scams across the state. The court’s memo highlights that criminals are forging counterfeit arrest warrants to target unsuspecting individuals.

Targeting Victims

Reports indicate that these scammers accuse victims of missing jury duties, convincing them to pay penalties, typically via Bitcoin or gift cards. They employ authentic-looking court documents and use urgent threats to manipulate their victims.

Payment Methods

Once victims agree to pay the supposed penalty, criminals instruct them on paying through Bitcoin or other means. According to the statement, “The scammers demand payment by Bitcoin, gift cards, or bank account information to resolve the issue.”

Official Warnings

The West Virginia court urges people to be aware of these scams, clarifying that no arrest warrants are issued for missing jury duty unless there has been a previous summons. “United States District Courts do not issue arrest warrants for failing to appear for jury duty unless summoned,” the statement emphasized.

Contacting the court is advised if anyone receives suspicious calls regarding jury duty. The court warns, “If you receive an arrest warrant or any document from the United States District Courts demanding money, especially in Bitcoin or gift cards, please contact us immediately.”

Broader Context of Scams

This situation reflects a wider trend, as other states have reported increasing scams, particularly targeting the elderly. For example, con artists in Pima County, Arizona, are impersonating officers from the Pima County Sheriff’s Department. Detective Michael Wilson notes that these criminals threaten victims with arrest warrants for not attending jury duty.

To combat these scams, officials have begun educating the public and posting signs on Bitcoin ATMs to warn against sending money to these fraudsters. As Bitcoin ATMs proliferate across America, scams linked to them have also surged.

In September 2024, several Senators reached out to Bitcoin ATM operators, urging them to address the growing problem of scams targeting the elderly. Unfortunately, despite these efforts, the situation shows no signs of improvement.