JURY DUTY SCAM ALERT…

This has been verified by the FBI, their link is also included below.

Please pass this on to everyone in your email address book. It is spreading fast so be prepared should you get this call. Most of us take those summons for jury duty seriously. A new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced. The caller claims to be a jury coordinator.  If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo, your identity was just stolen.

The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma, Illinois, and Colorado. This (swindle) is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system. The FBI and the Federal Court System have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.

FBI site: warns about the fraud.

http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm

Snopes site: says this is real fraud.

http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp

According to the Federal Trade Commission, Arizona has the highest per-capita rate of identity theft complaints among the states and that the Phoenix area holds that status among U.S. metropolitan areas.

Identity theft is something we should prepare for just like we prepare for all other emergencies.  If it occurs, it will happen when we least expect it and at the most inopportune time.  Thus, prevention is key!

Arizona had  6,832 identity theft complaints in 2003 or 122.4 per 100,000 residents.Tucson accounted for 973 of those cases, according to Citizen archives. In 2002, Tucson had 616. The Phoenix area had 5,042 of the 2003 cases, or 155 per 100,000 residents. 

Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas said "stronger penalties would protect the public by putting identity thieves behind bars for longer sentences and also by sending a deterrent message that Arizona is not the place to commit identity theft.  It would be a Class 3 felony, with a first-offense meriting a sentence of 3 1/2 years in prison. That compares with 2 1/2 years for regular identity theft, a Class 4 felony. "


11 Tips To Prevent Identity Theft NOW

Monitor Your Credit Report-FREE every 12 months from 3 national credit bureaus by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com
Read Your Statements monthly- someone else may charged your account, not you
Use Extra Caution with Wireless Connections -"hotspots" -like airports, hotels and restaurants-reduced security for ease of access
Be Careful What You Download -pop-up advertisement or download a "free" game or gadget.
Use a Security Token -a one-time pass-code that typically changes every 30 or 60 seconds
Use Your Own Computer -delete all of the your "Temporary Internet Files" and clear all of your "History" after you log off your account. 
Avoid carrying your Social Security card with you- ask that your SSN is NOT shown on your driver's license.
Don't use passwords that are easy to figure out- i.e birthdays or family names.
Call 1-888-567-8688 (1-888-5-OPTOUT)- to have yourself removed from lists to receive pre-approved credit offers.
Buy a crosscut shredder- use it to dispose of all documents containing personal details, including pre-approved credit offers received in the mail.
Never give out personal information to someone contacting you by phone or email- always ask for credentials if you're unsure. 

The FREE Report Outlines The Steps To Take If:

a) You LOSE a wallet or purse containing your credit cards, check book, or other identification. 

b) Someone has GAINED access to your credit card accounts or checks in an unknown manner.

CONTACT US FOR FREE 9 PAGE ID THEFT PREVENTION & RESTORING YOUR NAME.

This FREE Report Will Address... 

1) How do I prove that I'm an identity theft victim?
2) What are the fraud alerts (initial & renewals) procedure?
3) What is the victim statements procedure?
4) What should I do if someone has stolen or scammed my personal information or identification documents?
5) How do I get back money that was stolen from my debit card account or through other electronic fund transfers?
6) How quickly should I report the loss.
7) What do I do if my bank won't correct the fraud?
8) What do I do if the thief has obtained phone service in my name?
9) Should I apply for a new Social Security number?
10) Should I use a credit monitoring service?
11) Should I buy identity theft insurance?
12) Can a credit repair company clear up my record for me?
13) What would "ID Theft Affidavit" help me?
14) What should I do if I've done everything you've advised, and I am still having problems?

VICTIMS' STORIES

Keys Taken, Car Stolen, Later Found with 50 SSNs

"3 men were in my house at which time I noticed, after the men left, that my entire key chain was missing. Two days later, my car was stolen and later located in Glendale, Arizona and is now stored at a facility in Phoenix. There was a crack pipe and 50 social security numbers and a catalog of many credit card scores and credit card numbers in my car when I begged someone to check for any of my personal items. I was shocked that the man at the storage facility was going to "throw them away." I contacted the detective in Glendale Arizona who has since retrieved the catalog and paperwork but she told me that they are "just victims" on the paperwork. Two detectives at my local police department are unable to trace the person(s) who have been using my various credit card numbers and obtaining a Sprint cellular phone with my name and all other information. They said there are "no records" of the 3 men in my house on 3/11/04. It is now 5/26/04 and the ID detective said "everything leads back to me and he will stop the investigation" after he contacts Wells Fargo as someone has been paying the Victoria Secret purchases from an account that is not mine. "

Identity Theft Victim's House has Loans Against It, Rented out to Tenants

"I have been away from the United States since the past 4 years. Recently, I wanted to sell my house in California and contacted several real estate agents to discuss with them a listing for the house. I was informed by these Realtors that my house has been rented to individuals that I am not aware or have agreed to rent my house. Some one is collecting the rent amounts on my house, further more I have also found out that upon checking with our county records a certain individual has used my name and arranged to fake my signature , made a power of attorney in my name and received loans on my property, bought a business in my name and has accumulated a huge amount of financial burden on my name. "

Cell Phones and Student Loans and Civil Judgments, Oh My!

"I recently discovered that I have been a victim of ID theft for quite some time. I cannot believe that it has not come to my attention sooner. I received a phone call from Qwest wireless' fraud department. They informed me that someone has been using my Social Security number (SSN)l, but could not verify my city/zip and date of birth. He suggested that I file a fraud alert with the Credit Reporting Agencies (CRAs) and get a copy of my credit report. I have done so, and they arrived Saturday. The person has been using different permutations of my name and has several civil judgments against me, several cell phone debts, a student loan, and numerous leases that he has skipped out on. I am about to make a phone call to my local police to file a report, I have contacted the cell phone companies to notify them of my dispute, and don't know where to start. I have been told by an agent from the student loan company that I should go to a CRA and file paperwork on EACH line of my credit report disputing the bad info. I plan on doing that probably Friday. Where should I go from here? How do I make him stop using my info? Can I change my S.S.N.?? HELP!!! "

Source: www.privacyrights.org (Nov. 2005); Paul Davenport,  Associated Press Writer (Jan. 27th, 2005); www.idtheftcenter.org