Florida Regulators Warn Residents About Jury Duty Scam
On January 25th, 2022, the Office of Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody put out an official news release warning state residents to beware of a new jury duty scam. State officials believe that scammers are calling people in Florida and falsely telling them that they failed to show up for jury duty. Scammers then demand an immediate payment to avoid further consequences, including potential arrest. In this article, our Miami deceptive & unfair trade practices lawyers highlight the key things consumers should know about the warning from state officials and their rights under Florida law.
Consumer Warning: Watch Out for Jury Duty Scams
Reports from a number of different local sources indicate that jury duty-related scams are surging across the State of Florida. Attorney General Ashley Moody is warning people to be cautious and to protect themselves from fraud. Here are three important things that state officials want people in South Florida to know about jury duty obligations and this jury duty fraud scheme:
- Jury Duty is Mail Only: You will not receive notifications regarding jury duty—or alleged missed jury duty—over the phone or by email. Jury duty is handled by mail only in Florida. All calls you receive saying that you missed jury duty and that you need to pay are from a scammer.
- Protect Your Personal Financial Information: Florida officials want consumers to protect their sensitive personal information and financial information. Do not give your information out to an untrusted or unknown source—particularly someone calling you and saying that you need to pay a fine because you missed jury duty.
- Report Fraud to State or Local Authorities: If you or your loved one was the victim of jury duty fraud in Florida, please be sure to take immediate action to protect your rights. Report the matter to state or local authorities. You may have options for getting your money back.
The FDUTPA Provides Strong Legal Protections to Consumers
Sadly, consumer fraud remains a serious problem in Florida. Fraud happens not just because of outright scammers, such as the jury duty scammers, but also because of the deceptive and unfair commercial practices of otherwise legitimate companies. There are options available for fraud victims. One of our most powerful state laws to get justice and compensation for consumer fraud is the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA). If you or your family member sustained financial harm due to an FDUTPA violation, an experienced South Florida consumer fraud attorney will help you navigate the claims process to seek justice and compensation.
Get Help From an FDUTPA Attorney in Miami
At Pike & Lustig, LLP, our Florida consumer fraud lawyers have the professional skills and legal experience to protect your rights under the state’s deceptive and unfair trade practices laws. If you have questions about the FDUTPA or consumer fraud claims in general, we are here to help. Contact us today for your confidential case review. Our FDUTPA lawyers represent clients throughout Southeastern Florida, including in Miami-Dade County, Broward County, and Palm Beach County.
Resource:
myfloridalegal.com/newsrel.nsf/newsreleases/CF61DFB71830385D852587D50057DBD5
