The United States District Court for the Western District of New York, the Erie County Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc., and JustCause are pleased to present:
Navigating a Federal Civil Appeal
...
You are here
News & Announcements
Jury Duty Scam
Citizens in the Western District of New York may receive various forms of false communication (scams) by phone or email. A recent scam involves jury forms with official-looking bar codes sent by email that ask for personal information such as date of birth, mother's maiden name, etc. For more information about jury scams, click here.
If you have received a phone call or email asking you to provide personal information and/or send payment to avoid arrest or other penalty, it is a scam.
The Court will NOT do any of the following:
1. The Court will NOT send or accept jury forms by email. The Court's official forms do not require personal information such as your mother's maiden name.
2. Serve a warrant by e-mail or fax. Valid warrants will always be served in person by a U.S. Marshal or other law enforcement officer.
3. Call, e-mail, or send a fax to tell you a warrant has been issued.
4. Demand the payment of money in lieu of being arrested.
5. Demand verification of personal information via email or phone call, such as bank account information.
Scammers, claiming to be a officer or attorney of the U.S. government, have been contacting citizens and demanding payment of money or verification of personal information in order for the subject of the scam to avoid arrest. Scammers have also been sending official-looking jury forms via email to citizens that ask for personal information (phishing). Calls and emails such as these are scams. Such emails may contain Trojan horses or viruses.
What Can You Do?
If you believe that you have been the victim of fraud or have received a scam phone call, phishing e-mail, or fax, contact your local police or sheriff department, the Federal Bureau of Investigation or the United States Marshals Service.
If you have any concerns about a communication that purports to be from the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York , contact us at 716-551-1721
Check this page, or the News and Announcements box on the homepage, for the latest official news and announcements released by the court. You can also access archived news and announcements from this page.
Thu, 04/20/2023
The Court has adopted General Order # 165, which addresses the use of video and teleconferencing for criminal proceedings under the CARES Act and public...
Tue, 04/18/2023
Public Notice
for
Reappointment of
Incumbent Magistrate Judge
The current term of office of United States...
Mon, 04/03/2023
The Court has adopted General Order # 164, which, pursuant to Section 15002(b)(1) of the CARES Act, extends the authorization for...
Mon, 03/27/2023
The Pro Se Assistance Program (“PSAP”) in Rochester re-opened for in-person consultation on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, between 11:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. It will be open each Wednesday thereafter at that same time until further notice. If you...
Fri, 03/03/2023
Overview of Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation. April 11, 2023 from 12-1p.m. via zoom. Featuring a substantive overview of Section 1983 law by Karen M. Blum, Professor Emerita, Suffolk University School of Law. Click...
Fri, 01/06/2023
The U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York has posted updates to the Court’s Local Civil, Criminal and Patent Rules of Procedure on the public web site. The updated rules are effective January 1, 2023. They can be located by...
Tue, 01/03/2023
The Court has adopted General Order #162, which, pursuant to Section 15002(b)(1) of the CARES Act, extends the authorization...
Mon, 12/12/2022
Chief Judge Elizabeth Wolford has signed General Order #161 on behalf of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New...
Thu, 12/01/2022
Congress has taken no action on the proposed amendments to the Federal Rules of Appellate, Bankruptcy, Civil, and Criminal Procedure adopted by the Supreme Court and transmitted to Congress on April 11, 2022. Under the Rules Enabling Act, 28 U.S...