Apparently this scam is becoming more and more pervasive. My friend has asked me to forward it to as many people as I can.
I hope FReeRepublic doesn't mind me forwarding it to all my FRiends.
I heard about this about a year ago.
According to snopes. it’s the real deal.
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp
“If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant.”
If you are dumb enough to give out your SSN over the phone...you deserve what happens.
(from the “stupidity should hurt” files)
Thanks Clint for the heads up.
Is this back again? Its amazing how something like this will cycle a few times before people get wise. And some scams never seem to die. I think the one where they “found” some money and need some of your money as a guarentee before they share it with you dates from 10,000 BC originally was done with goats. :)
BTW, that is the coolest picture of President Bush on your home page - I thought about turning my monitor sideways so I could use it as wall paper.
Its not just happening with jury duty. I am a college student and got a phone call a few months ago talking about unpaid student loans and when I told them I was sure I didn’t have any they asked for my social security number and birthdate along with couple other questions I can’t remember.
I told them I didn’t give that kind of information out over the phone and I politely told them goodbye on the chance that maybe they were legit.
It had to have been someone local to me trying to pull that scam I guess because who else knows that I go to school and knows my phone number. I guess it can be bought online but still.
Clever scam ping.
Your FBI friend isn’t giving out the whole scam. The scammers are using Vonage-like VOIP internet phones to makes these calls.
This matters because some of the smaller firms’ internet phones allow the owner to program in the desired Caller ID name/number of their choice.
Of course, the scammers take advantage of that “feature” to choose insidious phone numbers and names.
So you’ll get a call from the “Montgomery Courthouse” or “Judge Wapner’s Office” or whatever on your Caller ID, making the scam appear even more “legit” in appearance.
BUMP!
Heck..., I haven’t seen my mail in two years. I might have one of those there...
By the way, many insurance companies now offer a rider to homeowners’ polices to insure against identity theft. My agent called and told me about it and I signed up.
Just one more example of why we don’t answer the phone at home unless we recognize the number via caller ID.
if we don’t, you can talk to the box.
Finally, a thread where my tagline fits right in...
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
It is the real deal. I work for a financial institution and it is one of the scams that is posted in hard copy all over the place and in our electronic message board of scams to watch out for.
Here is an easy one to fall for at a hotel; phone rings in your room, saying it is the front desk. Your credit card has been declined. You have to leave immediately, unless of course you have another credit card you would like to use. Luckily, they can take that info right over the phone...