FORT BEND COUNTY, Texas – Fort Bend County residents are being targeted by a jury duty scam that has spiked in recent days, prompting county officials to issue renewed warnings and urge victims to verify any claims before sending money.
Fort Bend County District Clerk Beverley McGrew Walker said her office has been flooded with calls from anxious citizens who were told they missed jury duty and must immediately pay a fine to avoid arrest. “Our Fort Bend County citizens are being scammed,” Walker said. “They’re getting phone calls, we are being told by people who call our customer service department. Phone calls from people asking them for money to pay a fine because they have missed jury duty—and that’s not the way it works.”
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Bill Bobrick, a supervisor in the District Clerk’s customer service department, raised the alarm after being “in extreme shock” at how many people were calling each day about the same scheme. The increase is especially troubling, Walker said, because the office has been told some residents have already lost money to the scammers.
How the scam typically plays out
According to Walker, the calls often include threats that the sheriff will be sent to arrest the person unless payment is made immediately. The caller may ask for credit card details or instruct the victim to withdraw money and send it using whatever method the scammer demands.
“It’s very offensive,” Walker said, adding that scammers often prey on older residents or anyone unfamiliar with how jury service works.
Walker stressed that legitimate consequences for missing jury duty do not start with a threatening phone call demanding payment. “That’s not the way it works, where we would be calling you up asking you for your credit card information,” she said.
What actually happens if you miss jury duty
Walker said the normal process is far more routine—and starts with a letter, not a phone call.
“When you miss jury duty the law requires that we send you what we call a failure to appear notice and that’s a courtesy more so than than anything else. Just reminding you that you were scheduled for a particular date and you didn’t show up and then that letter says we know people are busy we know that they have their own lives can we reschedule for you so in other words we’re reaching out to you first asking for a rescheduling and at that point most people will reschedule,” Walker said.
Sheriff’s office has warned residents repeatedly
The Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office has issued scam alerts multiple times over the years, warning residents about callers impersonating law enforcement and pressuring people to pay “citation fines,” “bench warrants,” or other alleged violations.
The sheriff’s office said scammers may appear convincing—calling from local and non-local numbers, using employee names, and even referencing the Sheriff’s Office address (1840 Richmond Parkway, Richmond, Texas). The agency emphasized it does not call residents to collect payments “for ANY reason,” and urged people not to share personal information such as Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, or dates of birth.
The sheriff’s office also warned the scheme was becoming more aggressive, reminding residents that law enforcement will never demand payment over the phone and that only a judge can assign a fine. Any real legal action, officials said, would be handled through proper in-person procedures—not a high-pressure call demanding immediate money.
Walker said she and Sheriff Eric Fagan have issued joint-messages telling residents that threats of the sheriff “coming to pick you up” for missed jury duty are not legitimate.
What to do if you receive one of these calls
Walker urged anyone who receives a call and feels uncertain to pause and verify before taking any action.
“If you get a call and you feel that it’s urgent… call us first and ask us whether or not we called you before you submit to taking money from your bank to pay these scammers,” she said. “Let us be the first line of defense.”
Walker said residents can contact the Fort Bend County District Clerk’s Office at 281-341-4519 (or 281-341-4514) to ask questions and confirm whether any communication is legitimate.
She added that the scam works precisely because many victims want to do the right thing. When callers create urgency and fear—claiming police action is imminent—“they think that’s the case,” Walker said, and some people comply by withdrawing and sending money.
County officials are urging residents to hang up on suspicious calls, refuse to provide personal or financial information, and independently verify any claims through official phone numbers and channels.