Whenever I am told that there is a scam out there, I check with Snopes.com. In fact, I refuse to forward anything that sounds spectacular or amazing without checking Snopes. I go to Google, type in a few words from the amazing story, type in "hoax," and click. Usually, the story is a hoax. The Snopes site is close to the top of the Google page.
This story is true.
Scammers are always after people's Social Security numbers. This number is the key to identity theft.
The scammer phones you. He claims to work at the local courthouse. He says that a warrant is being issued for your arrest for failure to show up for jury duty.
You of course protest. You were never informed of jury duty. The moment you start protesting your innocence, he's got you talking. When you start talking, it's difficult to stop.
The scammer then asks you for confidential information for verification purposes.
The fear of being issued a warrant disorients people. They give out information that they would not otherwise provide.
Rule: Never, ever provide such information to anyone who initiates a contact over the Internet or the phone.
Snopes comments:
On 22 August 2005, the Minnesota Judicial Branch issued a warning about the bogus calls. The Minnesota Judicial Branch points out its courts always use the mail to send jury service summons, communicating by telephone only after prospective jurors have returned completed summons information forms.
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