While this isn’t really related to the Internet, my good friends over at ScamBusters have uncovered a brand new scam which is growing rapidly, and taking in a lot of people, as it’s so diabolical and simple.
The way it works is that someone (the scammer) calls you up on the telephone and tells you that you have missed jury duty, and boy are they upset. In some cases they tell you that there is a warrant out for your arrest!
Now, most people, upon getting a call like that, wouldn’t think to wonder if it were a scam – they would just be so worried that they would want to make it all better, asap!
That’s just where the scammer wants you. And often the target (you) will cry “but I never received a jury duty notice!” Aha! At which point the scammer asks you for certain ‘relevant’ information (you know, like “You *are* so-and-so, right? What is your address?”..and even..unh huh…”what is your social security number?” Bingo.)
Like I said, simple, and diabolical.
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For the full skinny on this disgusting scam, check out the article on the jury duty scam at ScamBusters.org.
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thanks for all the info “aunty”, it’s almost always interesting and useful. about the “jury duty” spam/scam, as you suggest i give out NO personal data over the phone or online, and in a case like this, where the caller is posing as an official, my answer would be “i don’t give that out on the phone, send a uniformed deputy sheriff over and we’ll straighten it out in person,” but i wouldn’t hold my breath waiting for the deputy to arrive.