A New Jersey couple, Mr. and Mrs. Smith (names changed for privacy), recently fell victim to a jury duty scam, losing over $25,000. The scammers, posing as law enforcement officers, convinced Mr. Smith that he had missed federal jury duty and faced arrest and fines if he didn't immediately pay. They kept him on the phone for hours, directing him to withdraw cash and deposit it into cryptocurrency ATMs at various locations.
The scam began with a convincing phone call, followed by texts with what appeared to be legitimate legal documents and threats of severe penalties. Mr. Smith, under immense pressure and fear of arrest, followed instructions to deposit thousands of dollars in multiple transactions. The scammers even used sophisticated tactics, such as spoofing official phone numbers and instructing him to make payments at specific gas station ATMs, to maintain the illusion of legitimacy.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of jury duty scams that have proliferated across the United States. Authorities in Wake County, North Carolina, and Fayette County, Georgia, have reported similar cases where victims were coerced into paying thousands via crypto ATMs. The FBI reported that Americans lost nearly $389 million to cryptocurrency ATM scams in 2025 alone, indicating a significant rise in this type of fraud.
Law enforcement agencies, including the North Carolina Attorney General and the San Antonio Police Department, consistently warn the public that they will never demand payment over the phone for missed jury duty or other legal issues, nor will they instruct individuals to use cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers for such payments. Victims are advised to hang up immediately, verify any suspicious calls with trusted sources, and report incidents to local law enforcement.
