The Counter-deception Blog

Warning Issued On Jury Duty Scam

Courant Staff Report  September 7 2005

If you receive a phone call from a person purporting to be a court official who says a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you failed to show up for jury duty, you have plenty of reason to panic.

You're not in danger of losing your freedom, but your money and identity might be on the line.

U.S. Attorney Kevin J. O'Connor announced Monday that a "jury duty scam" that has been working its way across the country in recent weeks has touched down in Connecticut. Federal clerks in the state have recently received inquiries from concerned individuals who said they had gotten such alarming phone calls.

O'Connor said the scam works like this: The perpetrators call and inform the target of the scam that he or she failed to show up for jury duty and an arrest warrant has been issued. When the recipients of the call assert that they never received a jury duty summons, the scammers ask for personal information, such as the target's date of birth and Social Security number, for "verification purposes."

O'Connor is asking anyone who received such a phone call to report it to the clerk of the nearest federal court. Those who fear they have been victimized by the scam should immediately check their credit and bank statements and report any abnormal transactions to the financial institution and law enforcement officials.

Copyright 2005, Hartford Courant

posted by Dr. Frank Stech  # 3:53 PM