Beware the jury duty scam
Filed under: Fraud, Identity Theft
So you get a phone call from your local courthouse, and it turns out that you've missed jury duty.
And there is now a warrant out for your arrest.
You protest, of course, that you never received a summons in the mail, and this must be a mistake. Puzzled, the sympathetic but still-stern voice on the other end asks you for your social security number and your date of birth, so they can verify who you are, and check to see if a jury summons was actually sent out. If it wasn't, they'll cancel the arrest warrant.
But hopefully you haven't even heard that last part, since you should have already hung up the telephone -- in order to call the police and report that you're being scammed. It bears repeating: NEVER give out your social security number of other sensitive data over the phone.
The scam has been reported lately across America, in at least 11 states, including Indiana, Hawaii, South Carolina and South Dakota -- the con artists apparently are picking people at random across the nation and trying to dupe them out of information that they can use to steal their identity.
It's a scam that's been going on for at least a couple years now, evidenced by this page that the FBI put up almost three years ago, but these calls have been resurfacing in recent weeks. So don't fall for it.
On the other hand, if you get a phone call like that and actually did skip out on jury duty, it's probably best to just wait at your house, let them pick you up and go quietly.
And there is now a warrant out for your arrest.
You protest, of course, that you never received a summons in the mail, and this must be a mistake. Puzzled, the sympathetic but still-stern voice on the other end asks you for your social security number and your date of birth, so they can verify who you are, and check to see if a jury summons was actually sent out. If it wasn't, they'll cancel the arrest warrant.
But hopefully you haven't even heard that last part, since you should have already hung up the telephone -- in order to call the police and report that you're being scammed. It bears repeating: NEVER give out your social security number of other sensitive data over the phone.
The scam has been reported lately across America, in at least 11 states, including Indiana, Hawaii, South Carolina and South Dakota -- the con artists apparently are picking people at random across the nation and trying to dupe them out of information that they can use to steal their identity.
It's a scam that's been going on for at least a couple years now, evidenced by this page that the FBI put up almost three years ago, but these calls have been resurfacing in recent weeks. So don't fall for it.
On the other hand, if you get a phone call like that and actually did skip out on jury duty, it's probably best to just wait at your house, let them pick you up and go quietly.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-21-2009 @ 3:14PM
Paula said...
Just give them the date of birth and SS# of a long dead relative and let them figure it out!
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 7:47PM
kat said...
I wouldn't even do that. I've heard of ppl using dead ppl's info for different things before.
2-21-2009 @ 3:26PM
d said...
If you are to that stupid then you deserve what you get.
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 3:31PM
barbara said...
Tell callers like these that you do not have time to talk at the moment. Tell them to give you their name and you will call them at the main number of their company or government office, which you will look up for yourself. Do not take a number or extention they give you!!!!
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 7:04PM
Doug said...
I agree with You 100%.
Doug
2-21-2009 @ 3:40PM
Johanna said...
Getting very tired of this ever shrinking world, full of devious schemers who are now just a phone call, an e-mail, or a text message away, on a daily basis. And........they call all this technology progress, now that a big joke! Let me have my father's day, where privacy was real and everyone was not privy to any of your personal business, ever, as everyone's right to privacy was so very much revered and protected!
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 4:18PM
Aw said...
To all you scam artists out there,
Shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaammmmeeeeee Ooooooonnnn Yoouuuuuuu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET A LAW ABIDING TAX PAYING JOB!!!!!!!!!!
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 5:07PM
Ro said...
Tell them you are from mexico and don't have a ss#.
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 5:09PM
Charles Manson said...
Man you people are weak, you are sheep walking down the steel
corridor to stick your head through the hole only to find a 9 pound
hammer on the other side. Someone calls you and says "I'm the man and
I'm going to screw you if you don't give me my propers" and you bow
down and give them your life. Stupid and weak people are rescued by
laws that make it illegal for nature to thin the herd as it was
intended. First people getting mortgage loans that can't afford to
pay cash for a happy meal and now this? I'm glad I'm on the inside,
you can't blame me for this.
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 5:11PM
LovePhishers said...
I LOVE telemarketers!!! I interupt them repeatedly with extremely intimate questions about their sex life? I tell them as long as they are engaging me in a survey or trying to sell me something I too would like to utilize my time efficiently. Be persistent. If they are younger they will become hostile....stick with it and ask them if they use this kind of language in the bedroom. Gaurantee this conversation will end before your tea goes cold.
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 6:13PM
mdvk said...
That's fantastic!!
2-21-2009 @ 5:15PM
gus said...
25 years mandatory jail sentence to everyone who tries to scam people and you will see how fast they will stop
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 5:27PM
Recce1 said...
Charlie, you sound like the type who enjoys preying on the weaker. May you receive the same compassion you show others.
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 5:26PM
judicook said...
The biggest scam out there is the auto warrenty cards and calls. they make it sound like they are doing you a favor by telling you your auto warrenty is about to expire and you need to call right away before it does. Its a scam. Most never had a warrenty or got one when they bought their car. Also web sites about people who did geta warrenty and its not honored because of exclusions.
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 10:52PM
Pam said...
I get those auto warranty calls all the time! And I don't even have a car!
2-21-2009 @ 5:42PM
nick said...
Where is Obamas when I need iot.
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 5:52PM
willy billy said...
Shame on all of you----scam artist have a right to make a living too---these folks are probably from acorn or some other racist group who need our money---if you can't give it to them one way---then they have to resort to these phone calls.The white house and congress are full of scam artist so why should we be shocked when they start calling our homes.
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 6:04PM
The G said...
Is there anyone who is honest in this society anymore, or is everything just a big con?
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 6:08PM
mitch said...
will obama go to jail for the stimulas scam he made against the usa?
Reply
2-21-2009 @ 6:48PM
Bob said...
Will you go to jail for voting twice for the tratior, and war criminal Bush? Just because you are stupid.you should. Besides what have you "EVER "done for your country? Have any purple hearts, I doubt it.