Released by: Gordon J. MacDonald, Attorney General
Subject: Consumer Alert-New Hampshire Supreme Court Telephone Number Being Spoofed In Jury Duty Scam
Date: November 18, 2020
Contact: Kate Giaquinto, Director of Communications
[email protected] / (603) 573-6103
Brandon H. Garod, Senior Assistant Attorney
Concord, NH – Attorney General Gordon J. MacDonald warns New Hampshire residents about multiple recent reports of scammers spoofing the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s telephone number as part of a new scam. Spoofing is when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your caller ID display in order to disguise their identity and make it appear that they are calling from a specific location.
In the last week, multiple New Hampshire residents have received calls that appear to be coming from the New Hampshire Supreme Court’s (603) 271-2646 phone number. In all reported incidents, the scammer identified himself as “Officer Edwards” and claimed that the resident had missed jury duty and would need to pay a fine to avoid a warrant being issued for their arrest.
The New Hampshire Supreme Court will never call potential jurors about missed jury service. The New Hampshire Judiciary will similarly never request payment over the phone for failure to appear for jury service. Any attempt to solicit money or personal information in order to avoid an arrest warrant being issued is a scam.
The Attorney General urges New Hampshire residents to be vigilant. Anyone receiving one of these calls should take the following steps:
- Do not engage with the caller;
- Hang up immediately;
- Do not provide money or personal information, including home address;
- Contact your local police department immediately, especially if you have lost money or other valuables, or made arrangements for the pick-up of money or valuables from your own home; and
- Report the scam to the Office of the Attorney General – Consumer Protection Hotline:
1-888-468-4454
E-mail: [email protected]
www.doj.nh.gov/consumer/complaints
Anyone looking to confirm the authenticity of a communication from the new Hampshire Judicial Branch may contact the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Information Center at 1-855-212-1234.
