Ireland’s Court Service is warning the public not to reply to a spam email purporting be the organisation saying the person had not replied to a juror summons and needed to pay a fine of €500.
The email alleges the person has not answered a jury summons and asks for a response.
Answering the email causes a second one to be sent requesting bank details for the payment of a fine.
Courts Service spokesman Gerry Curran said the email was not sent by the organisation or its IT system, and should be ignored.
“It is a false instrument- designed to gather details about the recipient,” he said.
“We would never email a message such as this. Jury summonses are mailed via an Post.
“Other official communications are sent via either registered post or summons or warrants for fines etc by the gardaí.”
Mr Curran said the Courts Service would not ask for bank details through email and the return email address has never been used by the organisation.
He said the scam was reported to the gardaí on Monday.
Copy of the false email:
--- OFFICE OF JURY COMMISSIONER ---
--- FAILURE to APPEAR for JUROR SERVICE --- Date
Issued:27/05/2016
JUROR ID:#456-0023
Our records indicate that on the 20/05/2016 at the
COURTHOUSE, Ground Floor Jury Office, Dublin Criminal
Courts Office, Parkgate Street, Dublin 8 you failed to appear as scheduled for juror service. This is a violation of the law.
You must contact this office immediately to explain your absence and to reschedule yourself for another juror appearance date.
Failure to respond to a jury summons is a serious offence and could result in a criminal warrant being issued for your arrest by the court.
Offences Under the Juries Act, The following offences are punishable by fines:
“Failing to attend for jury service without reasonable excuse, or not being available when called upon to serve as a juror or being unfit for service by reason of drink and drugs.
“Making or causing to be made on your behalf false representations.
“ Serving on a jury knowing you are ineligible or disqualified.
“Giving false or misleading answers to the presiding judge regarding your qualification for jury service.
“Making or causing to be made on behalf of a person summoned as a juror any false representation to enable him or her to evade jury service. Changes to legislation, introduced in 2008, increased the fine for failing to comply with a jury summons to €500.
“If you dispute this action, You are required to contact us with the correct details”
Email all correspondence to:
dublinjurycourt@dublin.com
Ms. xxxx xxxxxxx Office Manager
Ground Floor Jury Office
Dublin Criminal Courts Office
Parkgate Street
Dublin 8.
