Sheriff Warns About ‘Missed Jury Duty’ Scam Involving Bitcoin ATMs

Two Massachusetts women recently lost a combined $6,700 due to a "missed jury duty" phone scam that used Bitcoin ATMs, said Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick McDermott.

The sheriff reported an increase in calls from scammers claiming to work for local law enforcement and demanding money from residents who have missed jury duty. They threaten to arrest those who don't pay.

"The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office never makes calls like this, and neither do local police departments," McDermott said in a statement to CBS News Boston on Wednesday, Oct. 29. "Just hang up on anyone who is demanding money and acting like they are from our office, or another law enforcement agency, threatening you with arrest or detainment for things like 'missed jury duty' or an 'outstanding warrant.'"

According to CBS News Boston, both of the victims reported the crime to the sheriff's office after sending money to the scammers. 

One of the victims, a woman from Sharon, paid $5,250 via a Bitcoin kiosk. A woman from Dedham reported paying a $1,450 "bond" through a Roslindale Bitcoin kiosk. The scammer reportedly sent her a "fraudulent court document to back up his claims," the sheriff said, and threatened to arrest and detain her for 72 hours unless she paid right away. 

CBS News Boston reported that the city of Gloucester recently banned Bitcoin ATMs, expressing concerns that scammers could use the machines to prey on elderly victims. In Waltham this past summer, a police officer stopped an older adult from sending $12,000 to scammers via a Bitcoin machine. 

In August, the Federal Trade Commission warned that scammers posing as police were calling Americans and directing them to fake websites to pay fines for missing jury duty.