Gage Goulding, Reporter, Houston, TX
Gage Divin, Photojournalist, Houston, Texas
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Gage Goulding, Reporter, Houston, TX
Gage Divin, Photojournalist, Houston, Texas
HOUSTON – A Houston woman lost thousands of dollars to scammers who used a sophisticated new variation of the classic jury duty scam, complete with falsified federal documents and a cryptocurrency payment scheme.
The victim, who requested anonymity, received what appeared to be a legitimate call from someone claiming to be a deputy, warning of arrest warrants for missing federal jury duty.
“They started with my full name,” the victim recalled. “They said, ‘I’m a deputy, I’m calling regarding some warrants out for your arrest.’”
What made this scam particularly convincing was the level of personal information the scammers possessed.
They sent official-looking arrest warrants via email containing the victim’s full name and even her parents’ address.
“I saw the documents and I looked them over and it looked legit,” she said. “They had like a postal service document that had a signature.”
Unlike traditional scams that request gift cards or bank information, these fraudsters directed the victim to make cryptocurrency payments at a specific location downtown.
The location, advertised as a “federal bonds location,” was actually a storefront with cryptocurrency ATMs.
“I feel so silly now, but it seemed so legit then,” the victim said, noting she didn’t notice red flags like CBD advertisements in the window until later.
The Harris County District Clerk emphasizes that legitimate court officials never call citizens to impose penalties. They advise anyone receiving such calls to report them immediately to law enforcement.
While the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) typically handles such scam reports, their reporting system is currently unavailable due to the government shutdown.
The victim’s advice to others is emphatic: “180 out of the building. 180. End the call, don’t do anything with it.”
Law enforcement officials recommend:
This sophisticated version of the jury duty scam comes as Americans faced more than six billion scam calls last year alone, highlighting the evolving tactics of fraudsters who combine traditional phone scams with cryptocurrency technology.
Copyright 2025 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved.
Gage Goulding is an award-winning TV news reporter and anchor. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, he comes to Texas from Fort Myers, FL, where he covered some of the areas most important stories, including Hurricane Ian.
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Gage Divin is a photojournalist at KPRC, where he’s always chasing the next big story — whether it’s on the field or breaking in real time. Gage is passionate about capturing moments that matter and telling stories that make a difference. His work has earned multiple honors, reflecting his dedication to both the craft and the communities he covers.
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