Telephone fraud involving jury duty
Updated December 23, 2009
The FBI is again warning the public against an ongoing scheme involving jury service. Although this is not a new scam, recent cases have surfaced that prompt yet another warning. The public needs to be aware that individuals identifying themselves as U.S. or local court employees have been contacting citizens via telephone and advising them that they have been selected for jury duty. These individuals ask to verify the victims’ names and Social Security numbers and then request the victims’ credit card numbers. If the request is refused, citizens are then threatened with fines.
The judicial system does not contact people on the phone and ask for personal information such as your Social Security number, date of birth or credit card numbers. If you receive one of these phone calls, do not provide any personal or confidential information to these individuals. This is an attempt to steal or use your identity by obtaining your name and Social Security number to potentially apply for credit, credit cards or loans in your name.
If you have already been contacted and have already given out your personal information, please monitor your account statements and credit reports, and contact your local FBI office. Local FBI field office telephone numbers can be found in the front of your local telephone directory or on www.fbi.gov.
