HALL COUNTY CLERK OF COURTS NEWS RELEASE:
“Hall County residents are being warned about a recent surge in scam phone calls involving fake jury duty claims.
According to Mark Pettitt, Hall County Clerk of Court, the scammers are impersonating law enforcement officers or court officials—sometimes even using real names of local deputies or court
personnel—to deceive citizens into paying fake fines.
“These scammers are calling residents and falsely claiming they’ve missed jury duty,” said Pettitt. “They
then threaten arrest unless the person pays a fine immediately, usually by purchasing a prepaid ‘Green
Dot’ card or similar gift card.”
This type of fraud has been reported across Georgia in recent years, but Pettitt warns that the latest
attempts in Hall County are especially convincing. In some cases, the scammers have used his own
name or the names of Sheriff’s Office command staff or court officials to appear more legitimate.
“The Clerk’s Office does contact jurors when necessary,” Pettitt explained, “but we will never demand
payment over the phone or instruct anyone to use prepaid cards or gift cards. That is a sure sign of a
scam.”
Victims are often caught off guard by the threatening tone and urgent demands, which is exactly how the
scam works. “They scare you first,” Pettitt said. “People panic and just want to resolve the issue quickly.
But this is not how the court system operates.”
In a recent Hall County case, the scammer demanded $1,500 via prepaid cards—money that, once sent,
is nearly impossible to recover.
If you receive a suspicious call about jury duty:
- Do not provide any personal or financial information.
- Take note of the caller’s number.
- Hang up immediately.
- Report the incident to local law enforcement.
For any legitimate questions regarding jury service, residents are encouraged to contact the Hall County Clerk of Court’s Jury Division directly at 770-531-7048, email [email protected], or visit the Clerk’s Office in person at the Hall County Courthouse.
“Protect yourself and your loved ones—don’t fall victim to these scams,” Pettitt added. “When in doubt, call us directly.”
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