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News & Announcements: December, 2021

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.

Mon, 12/20/2021

The district court will be closed on December 23th, 24th, 30th and 31st.  If an emergency filing is needed, please call 716-202-8110 and leave a detailed message.  A member of the Clerk’s Office staff will call you back to discuss the filing.

Sun, 12/19/2021

The Court’s new case management system (NextGen) has been successfully installed. The system is now available for use. For more information, including how to link your PACER and CM/ECF account, please click...

Thu, 12/16/2021

The Court’s case management system (CM/ECF) will be shutdown starting at noon on Friday, December 17, 2021 for a planned upgrade.  The system will remain unavailable for electronic filing until testing is complete in the afternoon on Sunday,...

Wed, 12/15/2021

Chief Judge Elizabeth Wolford has signed General Order #151 addressing updates to the processing of CJA vouchers.  In an effort to avoid placing a financial burden on appointed CJA counsel, and pursuant to the Guide to Judiciary Policy, Volume 7...

Wed, 12/15/2021

The six-session series will provide an overview of all aspects of civil practice in Federal Court from the initiation of an action through trial. Session 1: "An Introduction to the WDNY and Federal Civil Practice" featuring an overview of the...

Tue, 12/14/2021

The United States District Court for the Western District of New York is amending its Local Rules of Civil and Criminal Procedure. The Court invites comments on the proposed amendments, which are available on the Court’s website at www.nywd....