The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri has issued a warning about possible phone scams and emails. Some citizens have been targeted with threats of criminal prosecution for failing to comply with juror requirements. When these calls are received, citizens are pressured to provide confidential data, which would likely be used later for identity theft.
Jury duty is a vita civic responsibility that should always be taken seriously, but no federal court will ever require someone to provide sensitive information by phone. Most contacts from federal court will occur through your attorney, or by US Mail. Even in the unusual situation where court personnel may call you directly, they would never requires your Social Security number, credit card numbers, or other sensitive information.
If you receive a suspicious telephone call or email, do not provide the information requested. Instead, you should immediately contact the Clerk's office of the US District Court in your area (for Howard County, contact the Central Division in Jefferson City at (573) 634-3293).