rocknrod
09-08-2005, 06:36 AM
Alright, may have been posted before, I don't know (or care). Someone sent this to me and I thought it may help someone else:
Con artists are using the "Jury Duty Scam" to obtain your personal
information. Scam artists have added another con to their ever
increasing bag of tricks; the new trick con artists are using is called the Jury
Duty Scam. This is a real scam verified by
Snopes(http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp (http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp)).
Here is how it works: Scammers pretending to work for local courts
are calling potential victims with the news that they have failed to report
for jury duty and that a warrant has been issued for their arrest. These
callers will then ask victims for personal information, including Social
Security Numbers, birth dates, and credit cards for verification purposes. This is exactly the information scammers need to commit identity theft.
According to Security Products E-News (8-25-2005), the jury duty scam is only about three weeks old and has already been reported in nine states: Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.
In reality, court workers do not call potential jurors and ask for
their Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, and other personal
information. Contact between the courts and prospective jurors is
through U.S. Mail. Tips to protect you from the Jury Duty Scam:
Be skeptical if you hear any of the following:
"In order to avoid prosecution, you must act now!"
"Please provide your Social Security Number so we can verify your
information".
The caller refuses to send written information for your to review.
Be skeptical of callers who threaten to arrest you for missing jury
duty unless you provide them with specific personal information.
Do not comply with any request to "verify information" such as a
Social Security number.
Do not agree to send the caller any written information for review. If you are uncomfortable -- Hang up! Do not be afraid to be rude, even if the caller attempts to play on your fear of prosecution.
Report these scam calls to the Attorney General's Office.
Sources:
Security Products E-News (8-25-2005)
www.uscourts.gov/Press_Releases/juryfraud81805.html
http://phoenix.about.com/od/scam1/a/juryduty_p.htm (http://phoenix.about.com/od/scam1/a/juryduty_p.htm)
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp (http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp)
Con artists are using the "Jury Duty Scam" to obtain your personal
information. Scam artists have added another con to their ever
increasing bag of tricks; the new trick con artists are using is called the Jury
Duty Scam. This is a real scam verified by
Snopes(http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp (http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp)).
Here is how it works: Scammers pretending to work for local courts
are calling potential victims with the news that they have failed to report
for jury duty and that a warrant has been issued for their arrest. These
callers will then ask victims for personal information, including Social
Security Numbers, birth dates, and credit cards for verification purposes. This is exactly the information scammers need to commit identity theft.
According to Security Products E-News (8-25-2005), the jury duty scam is only about three weeks old and has already been reported in nine states: Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington.
In reality, court workers do not call potential jurors and ask for
their Social Security numbers, credit card numbers, and other personal
information. Contact between the courts and prospective jurors is
through U.S. Mail. Tips to protect you from the Jury Duty Scam:
Be skeptical if you hear any of the following:
"In order to avoid prosecution, you must act now!"
"Please provide your Social Security Number so we can verify your
information".
The caller refuses to send written information for your to review.
Be skeptical of callers who threaten to arrest you for missing jury
duty unless you provide them with specific personal information.
Do not comply with any request to "verify information" such as a
Social Security number.
Do not agree to send the caller any written information for review. If you are uncomfortable -- Hang up! Do not be afraid to be rude, even if the caller attempts to play on your fear of prosecution.
Report these scam calls to the Attorney General's Office.
Sources:
Security Products E-News (8-25-2005)
www.uscourts.gov/Press_Releases/juryfraud81805.html
http://phoenix.about.com/od/scam1/a/juryduty_p.htm (http://phoenix.about.com/od/scam1/a/juryduty_p.htm)
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp (http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp)