San Diegans are targeted by a particularly convincing breed of scammers feigning to be judiciary officials. These con artists call unsuspecting residents to falsely inform them that they have missed jury duty and are on the hook for a fine or, worse, facing arrest. According to the San Diego Superior Court, these scammers have even gone as far as asking individuals to quickly report to a courthouse or some other official-sounding location.
In a devious twist, the scammers fine-tune their strategy to confuse their prey, citing specific addresses to add credibility. They weave a narrative of urgency, warning that law enforcement could come knocking at any moment or strategically mixing up jurisdictional duties between federal and state courts to trap their victims in a web of confusion. As per the San Diego Superior Court, these scammers have been known to adopt the guise of a court clerk, convincing the person on the line that an in-person cash transaction outside the courthouse or at a nearby kiosk is necessary to settle an outstanding warrant.
The Court's official response dismantles the scammers' facade. “We want the public to know that the Court does not make telephone calls to ask for money or threaten arrest,” Michael Roddy, San Diego Superior Court Executive Officer, emphasized, per the San Diego Superior Court. He clarified that legitimate Court affairs are resolved through written communication, not strong-armed phone tactics. Moreover, true fines or fees can be settled securely using various payment methods, including online transactions, a far cry from fraudsters' demands for gift card or money order payments.
