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.

Wed, 08/06/2025

The Court has recently become aware of a telephone scam in which calls purporting to come from the Court seek payments to end or avoid investigations.  These calls are fraudulent and not from the Court.  For more information, click...

Fri, 08/01/2025

The United States District Court for the Western District of New York announces publication of the Court's annual Pro Bono Honor Roll, recognizing members of this...

Tue, 07/29/2025

The Pro Se Assistance Program will resume in-person consultations in Buffalo and Rochester beginning in September 2025.   For additional details, please click here.

Fri, 07/18/2025

Chief Judge Debra Ann Livingston of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit announced today that the Court of Appeals will appoint Sheryl P. Giugliano as a
United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Eastern District of New...

Fri, 05/16/2025

The U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York is pleased to co-sponsor the 2025 Pro Bono Work to Empower and Represent (POWER) Act Virtual CLE/Webinar.  Please click...

Fri, 05/09/2025

On June 10, 2025, the WDNY and ECBA Volunteer Lawyers Project, Inc., will present a Zoom Webinar entitled “Section 1983 Civil Rights Litigation: An Overview of Recent Caselaw Developments.”  For further details and registration information, click...

Wed, 05/07/2025

John G. Roberts, Jr., Chief Justice of the United States, will headline tonight’s WDNY 125th Anniversary Dinner Event, which will include a Fireside Chat with U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo.  For the press release, click...

Mon, 04/28/2025

The WDNY announces the finalists in its 125th anniversary essay contest and mock argument competition.  For the press release, click...

Tue, 04/15/2025

The Judicial Conference of the United States has authorized the appointment of a full-time United States Magistrate Judge for the Northern District of New York at Syracuse, New York.  Applications for the position must be received by the Clerk of...

Thu, 04/10/2025

Federal Public Defender Vacancy - [Extension of application period until April 30, 2025] - The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit invites applications from qualified candidates for the position of Federal...

Pages