The Department of Justice and Public Safety is warning the public of a phone scam offering jury duty exemptions.

The robocall claims to be made on behalf of the Department of Justice and makes a connection to the federal election before further stating that the call recipient’s Social Insurance Number was randomly selected. The scam then requests additional personal financial information as a way to be released from a jury summons.

A jury summons is a court order that requires selected persons to attend court on a specific day and time. Exemptions are only provided by the Office of the High Sheriff or a judge.

Anyone who receives a suspicious communication should immediately report it to the Anti-Fraud Centre of Canada at www.antifraudcentre-centreantifraude.ca or call 1-888-495-8501.

Information on the Office of the High Sheriff can be found at www.justice.gov.nl.ca/just/department/branches/division/division_sheriffs_office.html

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Media contacts
Lesley Clarke
Justice and Public Safety
709-729-6985, 699-2910
lesleyclarke@gov.nl.ca

Krista Dalton
Service NL
709-729-4748, 685-6492
kristadalton@gov.nl.ca