Police warn of jury duty scam

Newport Beach police Tuesday warned the public about a phone scammer who threatens victims with arrest if they don’t immediately pay up to settle a warrant.

Police said the caller contacted multiple Newport Beach residents this week and told them, using a fake name with an official-sounding title at the “Orange County Warrant Division,” that they failed to report for jury duty.

“This entity does not exist and is completely fabricated,” police said in a news release.

The scammer tells victims they must use a pre-paid debit card called a Green Dot Money Pak to settle a warrant or they’ll be arrested.

“They are virtually untraceable once money is loaded onto the card,” police said.

If residents are worried about their jury status, they can contact Orange County Jury Services at (657) 622-7000, police said.

— Jeremiah Dobruck

Twitter: @jeremiahdobruck