Las Vegas Woman Loses $12,500 in Elaborate Jury Duty Scam: A Cautionary Tale

Las Vegas Woman Falls Victim to Jury Duty Scam, Loses $12,500

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — What began as a routine phone call about missed jury duty spiraled into a harrowing five-hour ordeal for Stefanie Clary, a Las Vegas resident who lost $12,500 to scammers posing as law enforcement officers.

On May 12, Clary received a call from someone claiming to be a lieutenant, who informed her that she had failed to appear for federal jury duty. Initially skeptical, Clary’s disbelief quickly turned to panic as the situation escalated.

“They kept harassing me and calling me back,” Clary recounted. “I went into survival mode.”

The caller threatened Clary with arrest, stating that police would come to her home if she hung up. The scammers seemed to have personal information about her, including her address, which added to the authenticity of their claims. They even used legal jargon, asserting that she was under a “gag order” and warning her not to discuss the matter with anyone, including her husband.

“They said you can’t tell anybody about this because it’s a court case that’s really, really hush-hush,” Clary said.

For over five hours, Clary remained on the phone with the scammers, who went so far as to spoof a real Clark County constable’s office phone number to lend credibility to their scheme. Eventually, they convinced her to pay fines to “clear things up,” directing her to an Athena Bitcoin ATM in downtown Las Vegas, where she deposited $5,000 in cash.

As the pressure mounted, Clary ended up depositing a total of $12,500. The scammers then instructed her to go to a government building downtown, where she believed she would meet officials to prove her innocence. However, upon arrival, she found no one there.

“My heart sank,” Clary said, realizing she had been duped.

Clary reported the incident to Metro police, the FBI, and the Federal Trade Commission. In light of her experience, KTNV discovered that the U.S. District Court for the District of Nevada recently issued a public warning about jury duty scams on its website, noting an uptick in impersonation cases.

“Individuals who believe they may have been targeted by one of these scams are encouraged to contact their local FBI office as well as their local Federal Trade Commission,” the court stated.

Further investigation revealed a lawsuit filed by the District of Columbia Attorney General against Athena Bitcoin, alleging that scammers frequently direct victims to cryptocurrency ATMs during fraud schemes. The lawsuit claims that during a five-month period, 93% of deposits at Athena machines in Washington, D.C., were tied to fraud. Athena has denied any wrongdoing.

For Clary, the emotional toll of the scam is heavy. “I blamed myself so many times. I was so mad at myself,” she admitted. Now, she hopes that by sharing her story, she can help others avoid falling into the same trap.

“Don’t trust these phone calls at all,” Clary warned.

The FBI and FTC have reiterated that law enforcement agencies and courts will never demand payment through Bitcoin ATMs, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. KTNV has reached out to Athena Bitcoin regarding a potential refund for Clary but has yet to receive a response.

If you have a story to share, contact Alyssa at Alyssa.Bethencourt@ktnv.com.