Latest news with #juryDuty
New York Times
a day ago
- New York Times
The Hidden Trauma of Jury Duty
Chloe Beck was excited by the prospect of jury duty when she was called to serve on a trial in early 2018. It could be a much-needed break from work, she thought. But the case turned out to be a gruesome trial that would change Ms. Beck's life for years to come. A nanny had been charged with stabbing two children to death in the bathtub of their family's Upper West Side apartment. As an alternate juror, Ms. Beck, then an administrator at New York University, sat alongside the rest of the trial's jurors as they listened to devastating testimony from the children's parents and examined grisly crime scene photos. 'To this day, I still see those images,' said Ms. Beck, now 38. 'The little orange toothbrush hanging on the wall, covered in blood.' But throughout the seven-week trial, Ms. Beck had little to no support, bound by the restriction that she couldn't discuss the case until it was resolved. 'They just pluck you out of your normal life, show you these horrible things — and then tell you not to say a word about it,' she said. 'All I could do was go to the movies after the day ended, sit in a dark theater and cry,' she added. After the trial ended with a conviction, Ms. Beck was still haunted by what she saw. She used to take baths to relax, but the tub became something to avoid. So did her kitchen knives. Perhaps most unsettling, she said, the case 'continues to be a factor in whether or not I decide to have children.' The thought of needing to have someone else watch her child terrified her. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
FTC warns of dangerous new twist on phone call scams; hang up immediately
Scammers are pretending to be law enforcement officials accusing you of missing jury duty so they can steal your personal information, the Federal Trade Commission says. The scam calls sound like they're from an officer in your local police department who claims that you've missed jury duty and will be arrested unless you pay a fine on a website they send you, according to the FTC. The website may look legitimate at first glance — the URL sounds official and the site itself is adorned with fake government seals. Once there, you'll be prompted to enter your date of birth and Social Security number to 'look up how much you owe.' The prompt may ask you to pay upwards of $10,000 in fines, which can only be paid in cryptocurrency. The FTC offers these guidelines to recognize when a call like this is a scam: Real law enforcement officers won't call to say you'll be arrested or threaten to arrest you if you hang up. Even if the caller ID looks like it's coming from your local police department. (Scammers can fake it.) Only scammers say you can only pay with cash, gift cards, a payment app, cryptocurrency, or a wire transfer service like Western Union or MoneyGram. If you receive one of these calls, hang up immediately. Afterwards, report the call at the FTC recommends. More News Mass. State Lottery winner: Player claims $1,000 a week for life prize Housing costs are out of control. In Boston, experts offer the 4 fastest ways to fix it VIDEO: See how Mass. Environmental Police captured runaway 4-foot lizard Legendary late-night TV talk show host's former wife dies at 93 Chelsea man admits to robbing 3 banks at gunpoint, making death threats Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
CBS News
02-08-2025
- CBS News
North Texas sheriff fights surge in fake jury duty scams
Collin County Sheriff Jim Skinner says a wave of scams involving fake jury duty threats is "out of control," prompting a new public awareness campaign aimed at protecting residents and recovering stolen funds. Victims are often contacted by phone or mail and pressured to pay large sums of money under false claims that they or a loved one is facing arrest. The scammers use personal information and convincing tactics to appear legitimate. Skinner said his newly formed cyber crimes unit has executed 800 search warrants and recovered $1.5 million in recent months. The unit is targeting fraudsters who use fake warrants and fabricated legal threats to extort money. One 26-year-old Collin County man was told he was under investigation for credit card fraud. The scammers knew his passwords and demanded his entire savings — $4,000. Flyers are being distributed at convenience stores across Collin County, especially those with cryptocurrency ATMs. Skinner said these machines are often used by victims to deposit money directly into scammers' accounts. Store owners are being asked to monitor transactions and watch for elderly customers who may be vulnerable to fraud. Skinner said he was once targeted himself. "I got a call from someone claiming to be Sheriff Jim Skinner," he said. "They said I missed jury duty and had a warrant out for my arrest. I told them, 'I am Sheriff Jim Skinner — and I promise you, you'll end up in my jail one day.'" Skinner said law enforcement officers will never call to demand money. He emphasized that victims often feel embarrassed, but raising awareness is key to stopping the scams. "These are sophisticated, tech-savvy criminals who have no respect for their fellow man," Skinner said. "The more we talk about it, the harder it becomes for them to succeed."
CBS News
04-07-2025
- CBS News
Waterford police warn of scammers impersonating officers, claiming victims missed jury duty
The Waterford Police Department is warning residents of a scam where the caller claims to be an officer and tells the victim that they missed jury duty. Police say the scammer would use the name of an actual police officer in the department and instruct the person to call 248-814-2780. Authorities say the scammer would have the victim's name, address and other personal information. "Fortunately, we are not aware of anyone calling that number or what the rest of the scam may have entailed," police said in a news release. "The Waterford Police Department does not contact anyone regarding jury duty, for any reason. No law enforcement agency or court will communicate by phone regarding jury duty, outstanding warrants, fines or fees owed, or any other court matter." Police advise anyone who receives a similar call to hang up and not engage with the scammer. Residents should also delete any text messages and emails that they are not familiar with and spread the word to family members, specifically elderly people.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Don't fall for this scam: Caller impersonates St. Joseph County officer asking for money
Police warn residents against a scam that falsely told people to pay money to avoid legal issues for missing jury duty or having an outstanding warrant. The St. Joseph County Police Department was told by at least five people that a caller, impersonating Officer Steven Metcalfe, instructed people to deliver $8,000 to the department's Civil Division to avoid legal trouble, police said June 13. Similarly, last summer, police warned residents of a fake court order that asked people to pay money to avoid arrest from missing jury duty or from an outstanding warrant. St. Joseph County Police will never ask residents for money to resolve legal issues, they said. All matters are handled by the court, police said. "Legitimate notifications regarding jury duty or legal matters will always come by official mail, not by phone," the department said. If a person receives a call similar to this, they should hang up, county police said. Email Tribune staff writer Camille Sarabia at csarabia@ This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Police warn against scam asking for money for missing jury duty
