Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary Warns Public About Scam Calls

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Saipan, CNMI – The Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary is warning the public about a new scam being used in the United States in which callers pretend to be from the state judiciary’s supreme court clerk’s office.

In recent months, people in the United States have reported receiving calls from individuals falsely claiming to represent the Clerk’s Office. To make the scheme appear legitimate, the caller “spoofs” the Judiciary’s official phone number so that it appears on caller ID as though the call is coming from the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office. The scammer tells the recipient that they must report to the Clerk’s Office immediately or pay a fee to avoid arrest.

Scammers also impersonate as court staff to threaten people with arrest for failing to appear for jury duty or claim that individuals owed money for nonexistent traffic citations.

If you receive a call of this nature, it is not from the Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary. They are fraudulent attempts to intimidate people into paying money they do not owe.

Important facts to remember:

• The Northern Mariana Islands Judiciary does not call, email, or text to demand payment or personal information for court-related matters.

• The courts will never:

  • Ask for your Social Security number, credit/debit card details, or bank account information over the phone or by email.

  • Demand immediate payment using pre-paid debit cards, gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or online payment apps to avoid arrest or jail.

Protect yourself from scams:

• Hang up immediately if you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from the Judiciary. Do not answer questions or press any numbers.

• Delete suspicious texts or emails that appear to come from the Judiciary if you did not contact the Judiciary first. Do not click on links, open attachments, or reply.

• Do not trust caller ID. Scammers can “spoof” real phone numbers to make their calls look official.

• If you are unsure whether a call or message is legitimate, contact the Judiciary directly using the phone numbers listed on the official NMI Judiciary website: https://www.nmijudiciary.gov.

If you believe you are in danger or have been threatened by a scammer, call 911. If you have given personal information or sent money to a scammer, report the incident to the Department of Public Safety, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and/or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).

2025-PR-020

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 22, 2025

This press release has been prepared by court staff for the convenience of the public. For further information, contact the Supreme Court at Supreme.Court@NMIJudiciary.gov