Manatee County Officials Warn Public About New Twist on Jury Duty Scam
Manatee County officials are alerting residents to a new variation of a persistent jury duty scam after a local resident reported receiving a call from someone impersonating a law enforcement officer. The callers claimed the individual had ignored a jury summons that had supposedly been signed for at their home, a detail added to make the scheme appear more credible.
In this updated version of the scam, the impersonators threaten arrest and demand immediate payment through gift cards or other untraceable methods. The tactic mirrors previous schemes in which callers falsely accused victims of missing jury duty to pressure them into sending money.
Officials stressed that jury summonses are issued only through the U.S. mail, do not require a signature, and never involve demands for payment or threats of arrest. Residents who receive suspicious calls are urged to hang up immediately and avoid sharing personal or financial information.
The Manatee Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller continues to remind the public to verify any jury-related communications directly with the clerk’s office using official contact information and to remain vigilant against evolving scam tactics.
