Linn County Sheriff: Scam calls claiming missed court fees growing more common

Scam calls asking for payment of non-existent court fees have been growing more common, and scammers are finding more ways to appear legitimate, including using the names of actual law enforcement officers and telling victims they missed jury duty, according to the Linn County Sheriff’s Office.

The office has received calls from several victims of scam callers who claim the person receiving the call missed jury duty and must pay a fee in order to avoid arrest. The person is often asked to pay in gift cards or through a crypto currency kiosk, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s Office.

“The easiest and most successful way to prevent (these scam calls) is to simply hang up,” Sheriff Brian Gardner said in an email. “Once the scammers have your money, it is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to get it back and/or find/charge the scammers.”

If there is ever any doubt about whether you are speaking to an actual law enforcement agent, the best option is to hang up and call the agency directly, according to the release.

A real jury summons will come via letter in the mail. If you have missed jury duty, you may be required to appear in court to explain why you should not be punished for contempt, but you will never be contacted and asked to pay a fine, according to the Iowa Judicial Branch website.

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