Consumers Receiving "Jury Duty Scam" Phone Calls Again, Missouri AG Nixon Warns

September 28, 2007 -- Jefferson City, Mo. — Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon says his office is getting new reports from consumers about a popular identity theft trick - the jury duty scam. Consumers this week complained of phone calls from individuals posing as officers of state and federal courts in an attempt to steal personal information.

Law enforcement across the nation has reported the scam for the past two years. Typically, a con artist calls a consumer claiming to work with a federal or state court and inform the intended victim that he or she failed to show up for jury duty. After threatening arrest, the caller then asks for confidential information — such as a Social Security number, date of birth and credit card number. Consumers are often so frightened by the call that they divulge the information the caller requests.

"All these ‘phishing’ scams have one thing in common - they try to scare consumers into giving out their personal information," Nixon said. "Missourians need to remember, never give personal information to people who contact you, whether it’s by phone or e-mail. Only provide those things when you have initiated the contact. "

Courts usually contact potential jurors by mail — not by telephone. Courts do not ask for — nor do they need —an individual's Social Security number or credit card number. Nixon says if Missourians receiving this phone call believe they may indeed have an issue with jury duty, they should hang up and call their county courthouse directly.

Consumers with questions or complaints can call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-392-8222 or visit at ago.mo.gov.

Source: Missouri Attorney General

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