Technology

Jury duty phone scams on the rise as fraudsters impersonate local officials, threaten arrest

Published

4 months ago

September 1, 2025

Jury duty phone scams on the rise as fraudsters impersonate local officials, threaten arrest

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Scammers are constantly finding new ways to trick people. While older tactics like phishing emails and impersonating government agencies to steal credentials are becoming easier to spot, bad actors are now turning to more alarming methods. One of the latest involves impersonating local authorities.

People have reported receiving phone calls claiming they missed jury duty and now face a warrant for their arrest. This kind of impersonation scam is harder to spot because it’s highly personalized, but that doesn’t mean you’re defenseless. Let’s break it down.

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DON’T FALL FOR THIS BANK PHISHING SCAM TRICK

Scammers impersonating local authorities are on the rise, telling victims they missed jury duty and must pay to avoid legal trouble. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What jury duty scam victims need to know

Scammers posing as court officials are targeting individuals with false claims about missed jury duty, prompting warnings from law enforcement. The fraud typically begins with a call from a blocked or unknown number, alleging that the recipient has missed jury duty and is facing an arrest warrant. The scammers then demand payment, usually through wire transfers or gift cards.

A key warning sign is being asked to pay money to avoid arrest or legal trouble. It is important never to give money or personal information to unknown callers.

These scams often target older or more vulnerable individuals, although younger people have also reported close calls. In one example, a person received repeated calls from an unidentified number before answering. The caller, claiming to be from a local sheriff’s department and equipped with the individual’s full name and address, insisted they had failed to appear for jury duty and faced multiple citations.

HOW FAKE MICROSOFT ALERTS TRICK YOU INTO PHISHING SCAMS

Victims can spot jury duty impersonation scams by verifying suspicious calls before taking action and reducing their digital footprint. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

How to spot jury duty impersonation scams

No jury duty arrest warrants: Missing jury duty doesn’t lead to criminal citations or warrants.
Blocked or spoofed numbers: Real law enforcement won’t hide their identity.
Unusual payment methods: No government agency will ask for gift cards or crypto.
Aggressive threats: Threats of arrest or contempt of court are a scare tactic.

Legitimate jury summonses are delivered by mail, not through threatening phone calls.

6 ways to protect yourself from jury duty scam calls

If you get a suspicious call about missed jury duty, don’t panic. Follow these steps to stay safe and protect your personal information.

1) Don’t trust calls from unknown numbers

This might sound obvious, but don’t trust any unknown caller, especially if they demand money. Legitimate authorities will never ask for payment over the phone, especially not through gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency. If someone threatens you with arrest or legal action unless you pay immediately, it’s almost certainly a scam. Hang up and call your local court or police department using an official number.

HOW TO HAND OFF DATA PRIVACY RESPONSIBILITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS TO A TRUSTED LOVED ONE

2) Verify suspicious calls before taking action

If you receive a suspicious call, take a breath and fact-check. Court summonses are always delivered by mail, not over the phone. Even if the caller has personal information like your name or address, that doesn’t make them credible. Scammers often use leaked or publicly available data to appear convincing.

Be extra cautious, even if the scam comes through text messages or email. Do not click on any suspicious links, as they can install malware on your device and steal your personal data.

The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices. This protection can also alert you to phishing emails and ransomware scams, keeping your personal information and digital assets safe.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

3) Reduce your digital footprint to stop scammers

The truth is, your data is already out there, from old social media profiles to past breaches. That’s often how scammers get enough personal details to sound legitimate. Investing in a data removal service can help reduce your digital footprint by scrubbing your information from people-search sites and data brokers.

While no service can guarantee the complete removal of your data from the internet, a data removal service is really a smart choice. They aren’t cheap, and neither is your privacy. These services do all the work for you by actively monitoring and systematically erasing your personal information from hundreds of websites. It’s what gives me peace of mind and has proven to be the most effective way to erase your personal data from the internet. By limiting the information available, you reduce the risk of scammers cross-referencing data from breaches with information they might find on the dark web, making it harder for them to target you.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com.

Victims of jury duty phone scams can block and report suspicious numbers to local law enforcement or fraud reporting agencies. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

4) Block and report scam numbers

If you receive a scam call, report it to local law enforcement or your country’s fraud reporting agency. After hanging up, block the number on your phone and report it to:

FTC (USA): reportfraud.ftc.gov
Local police or sheriff’s office
Your phone carrier’s scam call reporting option

Many carriers allow you to forward scam texts to 7726 (SPAM).

5) Use call screening or spam protection apps

Apps like Truecaller, Hiya, and built-in features like Google Call Screen or Silence Unknown Callers on iPhones can detect and block fake calls automatically.

Pro Tip: Enable your phone’s “silence unknown callers” feature for extra protection.

6) Talk to vulnerable family members

Older adults are frequent targets. Sit down with your parents, grandparents, or neighbors to explain how these scams work and what to watch for. A simple heads-up could stop a costly mistake.

What this means for you

Scammers are getting bolder and more convincing, but you can stay a step ahead. Knowing the signs of a jury duty phone scam, using smart tools like antivirus and call blockers and limiting your digital footprint can dramatically reduce your risk. Empower yourself and your loved ones with this knowledge.

Kurt’s key takeaway

Instead of relying on faceless phishing emails, scammers are now using hyper-personalized and emotionally charged phone calls. By impersonating local authorities and referencing civic duties like jury duty, they exploit both fear and a sense of responsibility. What makes this especially dangerous is how plausible it sounds, drawing on real processes that many people don’t fully understand.

Do you think law enforcement and government agencies are doing enough to educate the public about these scams? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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Technology

Surprise, surprise: Silksong wins Steam’s Game of the Year

Published

8 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

Surprise, surprise: Silksong wins Steam’s Game of the Year

Valve has announced the winners of the 2025 Steam Awards and, unsurprisingly, Hollow Knight: Silksong, took home the Game of the Year honors. It was also given the “Best Game You Suck At” award, which, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or not. Given the relentless fawning over Silksong since its release in September, an event that nearly brought the entire digital video game distribution system to its knees, that it would win Game of the Year felt like something of a forgone conclusion.

The Best Game on Steam Deck was awarded to Hades II (an award we’d already unofficially granted it). The mechanics of Hades lend it to being played in short bursts, and the stylized graphics scale down well. Silent Hill f won the Outstanding Visual Style award and, while there’s no denying it’s a gorgeous title, I can’t help but feel like Dream BBQ, with its uniquely hallucinatory visuals, got robbed. Check out the full list of winners and nominees here at the Steam Awards 2025 landing page.

Technology

University of Phoenix data breach hits 3.5M people

Published

8 hours ago

January 4, 2026

Press Room

University of Phoenix data breach hits 3.5M people

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The University of Phoenix has confirmed a major data breach affecting nearly 3.5 million people. The incident traces back to August when attackers accessed the university’s network and quietly stole sensitive information.

The school detected the intrusion on Nov. 21. That discovery came after the attackers listed the university on a public leak site. In early December, the university disclosed the incident, and its parent company filed an 8-K with regulators.

The scope is large. Notification letters filed with Maine’s Attorney General show 3,489,274 individuals were affected. Those affected include current and former students, faculty, staff and suppliers.

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DATA BREACH EXPOSES 400,000 BANK CUSTOMERS’ INFO

The University of Phoenix data breach exposed sensitive personal and financial information tied to nearly 3.5 million people. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What happened and how attackers got in

According to the university, hackers exploited a zero-day vulnerability in Oracle E-Business Suite. This application handles financial operations and contains highly sensitive data.

Based on the technical details shared so far, security researchers believe the attack aligns with tactics used by the Clop ransomware gang. Clop has a long track record of stealing data through zero-day flaws rather than encrypting systems.

The vulnerability tied to this campaign is tracked as CVE-2025-61882. Investigators say it has been abused since early August.

What data was exposed

The university says the attackers accessed highly sensitive personal and financial information. That includes:

Full names
Contact information
Dates of birth
Social security numbers
Bank account numbers
Routing numbers

This type of data creates a serious risk. It can fuel identity theft, financial fraud and targeted phishing scams.

700CREDIT DATA BREACH EXPOSES SSNS OF 5.8M CONSUMERS

Stolen University of Phoenix records could be used by criminals to launch targeted phishing and identity theft attacks. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Nearly 3.5 million people affected

In letters sent to affected individuals, the university confirmed the breach affects 3,489,274 people. If you are a current or former student or employee, watch your mail closely.

These notifications often arrive by postal mail, not email. The letter explains what data was exposed and includes instructions for protective services.

We reached out to the University of Phoenix for comment, and a rep provided CyberGuy with the following statement:

“We recently experienced a cybersecurity incident involving the Oracle E-Business Suite software platform. Upon detecting the incident on November 21, 2025, we promptly took steps to investigate and respond with the assistance of leading third-party cybersecurity firms. We are reviewing the impacted data and will provide the required notifications to affected individuals and regulatory entities.”

Free identity protection is now available

The University of Phoenix is offering affected individuals free identity protection services. These include:

12 months of credit monitoring
Identity theft recovery assistance
Dark web monitoring
A $1 million fraud reimbursement policy

To enroll, you must use the redemption code provided in the notification letter. Without that code, you cannot activate the service.

This attack fits a larger Clop campaign

The University of Phoenix breach is not an isolated case. Clop has used similar tactics in past campaigns involving GoAnywhere MFT, Accellion FTA, MOVEit Transfer, Cleo and Gladinet CentreStack.

Other universities have also reported Oracle EBS-related incidents. These include Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania.

The U.S. government is taking notice. The U.S. Department of State is now offering a reward of up to $10 million for information linking Clop’s attacks to a foreign government.

Why colleges are prime targets

Universities store massive amounts of personal data. Student records, financial aid files, payroll systems and donor databases all live under one roof.

Like healthcare organizations, colleges present a high-value target. A single breach can expose years of data tied to millions of people.

MAKE 2026 YOUR MOST PRIVATE YEAR YET BY REMOVING BROKER DATA

Affected University of Phoenix students and staff should act quickly to monitor accounts and protect their identities. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

Steps to stay safe right now

If you believe you may be affected, act quickly. These steps can reduce your risk.

1) Watch for your breach notification letter

Read it carefully. It explains what data was exposed and how to enroll in protection services.

2) Enroll in the free identity protection

First, use the redemption code provided. Because Social Security and banking data are involved, credit monitoring and recovery services matter. Even if you do not qualify for the free service, an identity theft protection service is still a smart move.

In addition, these services actively monitor sensitive details like your Social Security number, phone number and email address. If your information appears on the dark web or if someone tries to open a new account, you receive an alert right away. As a result, many services also help you quickly freeze bank and credit card accounts to limit further fraud.

See my tips and best picks on how to protect yourself from identity theft at Cyberguy.com

3) Use a data removal service

Because this breach exposed names, contact details and other identifiers, reducing what is publicly available about you matters. A data removal service can help remove your personal information from data broker sites, which lowers the risk of targeted phishing or fraud tied to the stolen University of Phoenix records.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web: Cyberguy.com

4) Monitor financial accounts daily

Check bank statements and credit card activity for unfamiliar charges. Report anything suspicious immediately.

5) Consider freezing your credit

A credit freeze can stop criminals from opening new accounts in your name. It is free and reversible. To learn more about how to do this, go to Cyberguy.com and search “How to freeze your credit.”

6) Be alert for phishing attempts and use strong antivirus software

Expect more scam emails and phone calls. Criminals may reference the breach to sound legitimate.

Get my picks for the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at Cyberguy.com

7) Secure your devices

Keep your operating systems and apps up to date, as attackers often exploit outdated software to gain access. In addition, enable automatic updates and review app permissions to prevent stolen personal data from being combined with device-level access and causing further harm.

Kurt’s key takeaways

The University of Phoenix data breach highlights a growing problem in higher education. When attackers exploit trusted enterprise software, the fallout spreads fast and wide. While free identity protection helps, long-term vigilance matters most. Staying alert can limit damage long after the headlines fade.

If universities cannot protect this level of sensitive data, should students demand stronger cybersecurity standards before enrolling? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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Technology

LG announces new UltraGear evo gaming monitors with AI upscaling

Published

6 days ago

December 28, 2025

Press Room

LG announces new UltraGear evo gaming monitors with AI upscaling

LG unveiled a whole new line of gaming monitors ahead of CES on Friday. The UltraGear evo line are all high-end monitors covering a range of technologies, but united by 5K resolution and AI upscaling.

The three flagships under the new branding are the 39GX950B, the 27GM950B, and the 52G930B. The first number in the model name indicates the size. The rest of the letters and numbers, well, I’m sure they mean something to someone.

The 39-inch GX9 is an ultrawide 21:9 5K2K dual-mode OLED screen. It can run at its full resolution at 165Hz, or jump to 330Hz for fast-twitch games at WFHD. The 27-inch GM9 uses “New” MiniLEDs, which promise to deliver brighter images compared to OLED, without the blooming often associated with MiniLEDs. Lastly, the 52-inch G9 is an absolutely massive curved display that delivers a 12:9 panoramic view at 240Hz in its native 5K2K resolution.

The GM9 model is particularly interesting since LG makes the panels for Apple’s Pro Display XDR, and word is that the monitor is finally getting a long-overdue update in the near future.

All three monitors will be on display at CES next month, but there’s no word on pricing or availability just yet.