Alaska Court System warns public of phone scam

WASILLA — There is currently a phone scam going around.

According to a recent press release from the Alaska Court System, scammers are calling members of the public and impersonating police officers, claiming that a judge ordered an arrest warrant for failure to appear for jury service. During these phone calls, the bad actors try to squeeze money out of potential victims by stating they need to pay their fines through the purchase of gift cards to avoid jail time.

The scammers may also use a false threat of sending officers to their homes if they don’t pay immediately.

The Alaska Court system will never attempt to collect money from any person for failing to serve as a juror, and police officers will never be sent to private homes to collect unpaid fines.

Anyone who receives these types of scam calls is encouraged to contact their local police department and share the caller’s phone number if possible.

According to the press release, the Alaska Court System’s mission is to provide an accessible and impartial forum for the just resolution of all cases that come before it and to make decisions in accordance with the law, expeditiously, and with integrity.

For more information, visit courts.alaska.gov.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersmnan.com