Jury duty scam call alert

Orange County Commissioner of Jurors Molly O’Donnell and Orange County Sheriff Paul Arteta are warning residents about ongoing jury duty scam calls in which individuals falsely claim to represent the court system and demand immediate payment for missing jury duty.

Scammers often contact residents by phone, email, or text message, threatening arrest, fines, or other penalties for failing to report for jury duty. These claims are false.

“The Orange County Commissioner of Jurors Office will never call, email, or text anyone demanding payment of any kind,” O’Donnell said. “These scammers rely on fear and urgency to pressure people into acting quickly. Official jury duty information is provided only through the New York State Unified Court System at www.nyjuror.gov.”

“These calls are criminal scams intended to exploit the public and undermine confidence in our justice system,” Arteta said. “We urge residents not to engage with these callers and to report any suspicious activity to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office so we can investigate and help prevent others from becoming victims.”

Residents are advised not to send money, gift cards, wire transfers or cryptocurrency, provide personal r financial information or share social security, bank account or credit card numbers. Instead, hang up immediately if a caller demands payment related to jury service, report the scam to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office and verify jury information only through www.nyjuror.gov. Any non-emergency suspicious activity can be reported to the Orange County Sheriffs Office at 845-291-7929.

For questions regarding jury service, contact the Orange County Commissioner of Jurors Office at 845-476-3600 or by email at orangejury@nycourts.gov.