By Ohio Attorney General Andy Wilson has warned of impostor scams involving fraudsters pretending to be a trustworthy source – often a government official – to deceive the public into sending money or providing personal information.
“Notably, there has been a recent uptick in impostor scams involving fraudulent court-related notices, which arrive via email, text or phone call,” said AG Andy Wilson.
Among the most common types:
- Jury duty. A “court or law enforcement official” claims that you missed jury duty and will be arrested unless you immediately pay an identified fine. Payment is often sought via gift card or cash deposit. The scammer may invoke the name of a real judge and/or real case details gleaned from public records – an effort to make the scam seem more credible.
- Warrant/arrest threats. Claiming that there is a warrant out for your arrest for failing to appear in court, these fraudsters pressure you into “posting bond” via a gift card or money transfer. They often spoof local phone numbers – making it appear as if the call is coming from the area code in which you live – to seem legitimate.
- Traffic or parking fines. You might receive a text message or an email alleging an unpaid traffic, toll or parking violation, complete with a fake case number, official seal or QR code. The official-like presentation is designed to trick you into clicking or paying unknowingly.
- “Zoom court” or other video hearing. Scammers schedule fake online hearings, sometimes with a “judge” on Zoom demanding immediate payment of a fine. It’s important to know that real courts wouldn’t make initial contact via a video call to ask for money.
- Bond for a family member. People with loved ones in custody may get calls or texts demanding bail or bond money. Scammers impersonate a sheriff’s office and tell you to wire money or send cash via a barcode-based system. Some scammers claim that your loved one is eligible to be released and monitored by ankle bracelet. They, too, demand money, but the loved one isn’t actually eligible for release.
Tips on identifying these scams:
- Be aware that real communications from courts or law enforcement will never demand payment via gift card, QR code, cryptocurrency or cash transfer.
- Know that legitimate jury duty notices are sent by mail, not by phone, text or email.
- Always verify questionable communications with official sources. Look up numbers or websites independently and never use the contact information provided in the suspicious message.
How to protect yourself against impostor scams:
- Never provide personal or financial information in response to unsolicited contact.
- Independently verify claims using official phone numbers and/or websites.
- Beware of untraceable or unconventional payment methods.
- Hang up on suspicious calls and delete suspicious texts or emails.
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