Maybe you’ve heard of the missed jury duty scam. A scammer pretending to be a law enforcement officer randomly calls someone and threatens them with arrest for disobeying a jury duty summons.

Now an updated version of this scam is popping up in several states, including Idaho. Idaho State Police (ISP) reported that residents were called and told that they or a family member had not received a DNA test as ordered.

The scam perfectly mirrors the jury duty scam. In most cases, the victim is told that he missed the mandatory DNA test and that an arrest warrant has been issued for him. When the victim becomes upset, the scammer tells them that the problem can be resolved with a payment.

Why DNA?

If using a missed DNA test as the basis for a scam seems odd, consider this: Many police departments across the country have programs to test the DNA of convicted felons for a sexual assault database. Idaho’s Sexual Assault Kit Initiative (SAKI) team is a federally funded program dedicated to legally collecting and profiling these DNA samples.

In addition to victimizing people, the ISP says these scams risk clouding the public’s understanding of DNA collection processes, discouraging cooperation and undermining trust in legitimate investigative efforts.

“Our SAKI team is committed to collecting legally required DNA samples to ensure justice, not to scare or threaten people over the phone,” said SAKI Field Coordinator Mark Denhardt. “These scammers are distorting our purpose, creating confusion, and undermining the public’s trust in important programs. If you receive a call like this, please do not contact. Verify by contacting us directly.

red flags

The biggest red flag of this scam is the offer to fix the problem with immediate payment. It doesn’t work that way.

Another red flag is the sense of urgency the scammer is trying to create; essentially “Pay up or go to jail.” If legitimate law enforcement has a problem with you, they will send you a letter via US Mail or, in some cases, send an officer to your home.

If you get one of these calls, just hang up.

Mark HuffmanCorrespondent

Mark Huffman has been a consumer news reporter for ConsumerAffairs since 2004. He covers real estate, gas prices, the economy, and reports extensively on negative option sales. He was previously an Associated Press reporter and editor in Washington, D.C., and a reporter for Westwood One Radio Networks and Marketwatch.

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