• Font Size    
E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Warning: Don't Fall Victim To 'Jury Duty' ID Scam

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

   Print     Share +    Comments
Sep 13, 2007 7:00 pm US/Eastern

Warning: Don't Fall Victim To 'Jury Duty' ID Scam

Caller Preys On Your Fears, Tries For Your Personal Info

by Tony Aiello
WHITE PLAINS (CBS) ― A Dutchess County woman appears to be the latest victim in a long-running identity theft scam. It all starts with a frightening phone call, warning you may be in contempt of court for missing jury duty.

The Westchester County commissioner of jurors says the scam artist then asks you to reveal personal information, including date of birth and social security number.

It's all in an effort to steal your identity. The "Jury Duty" scam first appeared years ago, but seems to be making a comeback.

"They'll call and say you failed to report for jury duty, you may be in contempt of court," said Commissioner of Jurors Frances Tursi said.

In recent weeks a woman in Dutchess County got that scam phone call about jury duty and, unfortunately, gave up her personal information.

Kerry O'Brien, director of the Yonkers Consumer Protection Bureau, says the scam preys on people's fears about missing jury duty.

"They don't want to break the law or get into trouble so they're answering the questions," O'Brien said. "Unfortunately, these are the people who are falling victims."

Added Tursi: "They would give up information, and then call us afterwards to say they were nervous, after the call, realized they made a mistake."

It's a big mistake because court officials would never call to ask for personal information.

"We never ask that information and that should never be given over the phone," Tursi said.

Tursi says if someone calls to claim you missed jury duty, hang up and report the call to local police.

A recent study found that more than 800,000 New Yorkers are victims of identity theft every year.

(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Add Comment

here. here. Need a log in? Register here
  •  * Will not be displayed with comment
  •  * e.g. (http://www.mywebsite.com)
  •  
  • Click here to refresh with new letters

Show Comments (0)

Close Window Login


Close Window Flag Comment


loading...
You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Top Stories

Top News Stories

© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.