URGENT: Michigan AG Issues Warning About Jury Duty Phone Scam

Jury duty is already a pain, and now scammers have found a way to make it even more unbearable. Michigan Attorney General (AG) Dana Nessel is warning residents about a growing scam, most recently in West Michigan, where fraudsters pretend to be from the Kent County Sheriff's Department.

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Their claim? You missed jury duty and face serious charges—unless—you pay a fine immediately. Their goal? To pocket your hard-earned cash.

How to Avoid Getting Scammed

Here's the deal: Michigan's government agencies DO NOT CALL demanding payments. If you had really skipped jury duty, you'd have received a letter, not a phone call.

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Fear can motivate people to do things they'd typically not, like sending wire transfers, gift cards, or crypto (because law enforcement totally uses Bitcoin) to someone they think is a sheriff's deputy.

If you do receive a similar call, here's how the Michigan Attorney General's office recommends you handle it:

1. Hang up and verify: If you get a call like this, don't answer. Instead, look up the real number for your local court or sheriff's office and call them directly.
2. Know the signs: No real government agency demands immediate payment, especially not through gift cards, crypto, and Venmo.
3. Google the number: A quick search will often reveal it's a scam.
4. Warn others: Tell your family, friends, and coworkers who still fall for phishing scams.

Getting called for jury duty in Michigan is annoying enough; don't let scammers make it worse. If the government really wants your money, it will do it the old-fashioned way: with paperwork, bureaucracy, and endless waiting.