The U.S. District Court of the Western District of Virginia issued a public warning about a growing scam targeting individuals under the guise of missed jury duty. Scammers are using forged documents that closely resemble official U.S. District Court forms, attempting to deceive recipients into believing they have been issued arrest warrants for failing to appear for jury duty. The fraudulent documents falsely claim to originate from the Eastern District of Virginia, adding to the illusion of authenticity.

The scam’s perpetrators employ a tactic designed to instill fear and urgency. The counterfeit arrest warrants demand immediate payment to avoid arrest. Victims are instructed to send money in ways that are difficult to trace or reverse, such as through Bitcoin, gift cards, or bank account information. The urgency of the request, combined with the fear of potential legal consequences, leads many to panic and make payments.

The court’s official statement emphasizes that such actions are fraudulent and warns the public that the U.S. district courts do not issue arrest warrants for failure to attend jury duty unless an individual has genuinely been summoned and has failed to appear. This scam appears to exploit people’s fear of legal troubles, using the looming threat of arrest as a method to manipulate victims into complying with the demands.

The fraudulent documents are designed to appear as though they are legitimate legal notices, with the scammers often going to great lengths to make their fake arrest warrants appear official. In these documents, the perpetrators typically threaten to arrest the individual unless they pay a substantial fee immediately. They then instruct the recipient to send the payment in Bitcoin or through less traceable methods like gift cards or wire transfers.

Court officials have urged anyone who receives suspicious documents—especially those involving payment demands by Bitcoin or gift cards—to approach the situation with caution. The advice is clear: do not make any payments until the legitimacy of the document has been verified. Individuals who believe they may have received a fraudulent document are encouraged to contact the Western District of Virginia directly to confirm whether the notice is legitimate.

Moreover, the court stressed that legitimate legal notices will never ask for payments in Bitcoin or other unconventional forms of payment such as gift cards. Official channels will always provide clear instructions on how to resolve any outstanding legal matters, and payments will not be demanded in this manner.

The court’s warning comes at a time when similar scams have been on the rise across the United States. Fraudulent schemes involving fake legal notices are not new, but the use of cryptocurrency, specifically Bitcoin, in these scams has raised new concerns. As cryptocurrency transactions are difficult to trace, they provide a layer of anonymity that makes it harder for authorities to track the perpetrators.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant when faced with unsolicited legal threats. Scammers often use tactics designed to induce panic, which can cloud the victim’s judgment and lead to hasty, unverified financial decisions. The public is reminded to contact official channels directly to verify any legal document or threat before taking any action.

As the scam continues to affect victims nationwide, authorities and court officials are working to raise awareness and stop its spread. The best defense against such fraudulent activities is staying informed and cautious in the face of suspicious requests for personal or financial information.