Hall County Clerk of Court Mark Pettitt is warning residents of scam phone calls involving fake jury duty claims.
According to Pettitt, scammers impersonate law enforcement officers or court officials, sometimes using the real names of local officials to trick residents into paying fake fines.
“These scammers are calling residents and falsely claiming they’ve missed jury duty,” Pettitt said. “They then threaten arrest unless the person pays a fine immediately, usually by purchasing a prepaid 'Green Dot' card or similar gift card.”
Pettitt warns that these scams are very convincing, with the scammers using Pettitt's name, the names of Sheriff’s Office command staff and court officials to appear legitimate.
“The Clerk’s Office does contact jurors when necessary,” Pettitt explained, “but we will never demand payment over the phone or instruct anyone to use prepaid cards or gift cards. That is a sure sign of a scam.”
The scam works because victims are caught off guard by the threatening tone and urgent demands.
“They scare you first,” Pettitt said. “People panic and just want to resolve the issue quickly. But this is not how the court system operates.”
A scammer recently demanded $1,500 via prepaid cards, which is nearly impossible to recover when sent.
If you receive a suspicious call about jury duty, do not provide any personal or financial information; take note of the caller’s number, hang up immediately and report the incident to local law enforcement.
“Protect yourself and your loved ones—don’t fall victim to these scams,” Pettitt added. “When in doubt, call us directly.”
For any legitimate questions regarding jury service, residents are encouraged to contact the Hall County Clerk of Court’s Jury Division directly at 770-531-7048, email [email protected], or visit the Clerk’s Office in person at the Hall County Courthouse.
