The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) was advised that freelance interpreters and independent court reporters in several states, some of whom contract with the federal judiciary, received a scam email requesting money in exchange for being listed in the judiciary's National Court Interpreter Database (NCID), which is used by federal courts to locate contract interpreters.  This message, purportedly sent by AO Director James C. Duff, requested that interpreters wire money through Western Union to an individual in Iowa.  The email is fraudulent and not connected with the United States courts or with Director Duff.
 
The judiciary has never required that individiuals pay a fee to be listed in NCID.
 
The AO is working to make the relevant law enforcement agencies aware of this scam and we ask that you notify us at NCID_Help@ao.uscourts.gov if you receive this fraudulent email.
 
You are encoraged to share this information with others in the interpreting profession.