EDINBURG – Hidalgo County officials are warning about a new email scheme. It uses jury duty to trick victims into forking over their personal information.

Hidalgo County District Court Clerk Laura Hinojosa tells CHANNEL 5 NEWS someone who lives in the county called their office with a complaint about it Thursday.

She says when the office looked into it, they discovered it’s a national problem.

Criminals posing as clerks of the court email victims notifying them of a failure to appear for jury duty.

Victims are then directed to a website where they’re asked to provide personal information. Don’t do this.

Hinojosa says the county will never email you regarding a failure to appear notice or request personal identifying information via email.

If you have any questions about a jury notification you’ve received, you’re urged to call 956-318-2200 ext. 6277.