The FBI has verified, on their web site, that there is a "Jury Duty Scam". This is a phone related scam, so if you know anyone who doesn't use the Internet, especially older people, you should make sure they do not become a victim. The caller claims to be a court officer, and then accuses the victim of missing a jury duty appointment. After the victim is sufficiently worried about failing to report for jury duty, the caller then suggests that they verify if they have the correct person. It is at that point that they ask for ss number, birth date, and sometimes even credit information.
The caller works the conversation into a threat of a fine that can be paid over the phone by a credit card. What is amazing is that this has been going on in some form since early 2005! If you have one of these calls, or know someone who has, one thing to do is *69 after you hang up. This will give you the phone number that the call was made from. Then contact the FBI and report the incident.
You can also use *57 which records the phone call at the phone company as a "call trace". One web site says: "When you activate the Call Trace code (*57) immediately following the harassing call, the caller's phone number is recorded by the phone company." But *57 doesn't give you the phone number. The phone company has to get an authorization form before the harasser's phone number can be turned over to law enforcement and there may be a fee. Some phone companies charge you each time you use Call Trace and others have a monthly charge for an unlimited number of traces.
If the phone number is blocked, tracing the call may help the FBI or other law enforcement agencies gather enough information to go after the schemers even from the perspective of "Do Not Call" fines and penalties, especially if your phone is on the DNC list. In any case, don't get your identity stolen this way. Tell someone who might be a victim to be careful, too.
Heath Coker, Owner of Cape Group Real Estate
www.CapeGroup.com / capegroup@capegroup.com
508-548-8888 Licensed in MA
Its a beautiful day on Cape Cod!
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There is always someone trying to scam others and it's sad the older generation are often the victims.
Heath- Excellent information. We have alot of elderly that are not on the Internet. I will definitely pass it on. Thanks
Heath, this is one where I can see people falling for the scam. Thanks for the heads up.
Heath...
Stories like these make us sit back and wonder what has happened to our society. It really sucks that scammers have found a way to use jury duty this way. Thank you for providing a solution to the problem. I had no idea that *57 would record the call at the phone company. I'm thinking of all the other uses for *57. Such as harassing calls from bill collectors, lien holder's etc. Oh. And how about those telemarketers. We could tell them we're pressing *57. I wonder how they'd react to that one :)
TLW...ROAR!
Heath, I hadn't heard about this one. Thanks for the info on *57.
Heath,
I received a call that it was urgent to call a number that was supposedly the Massachusetts Department of Revenue. A 'case number' was cited. I called the nimber and got a message to leave my case number and Tax ID Number! This is a scam to harvest SS #'s so beware
When there's a will, there's a way. Too bad these guys don't spend that much time and energy making their communities a better place.
Appreciate the heads up. It's no wonder people don't trust each other anymore!! I suppose the message here is don't give anyone your ssn number - ever!
When the economy "tanks", every dirt bag in the world comes out of the woodwork to introduce new ways to cheat the public, especially the elderly. Very sad.
I will make my elderly parents aware of this scam. Thanks for the alarming scam. I wonder if *57 can be used on political campaign calls
Will wonders ever cease. It is amazing that if these criminals worked as hard at making an honest living they would be millionaires. Instead they want to steal it.
Great info, thanks for sharing. Never heard of the *57 before, thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the info. I will have to remember the *57 option in the future.
Unfortunately TLW, many REALTORS are telemarketers if they cold call. I personally don't (even though I concede that it does work) because I hate to recieve them so I have an issue with doing so myself but I know many still do.
Heath - It is really sad that we have to be suspicious of just about everything these days. Thanks for sharing this information. Hard to believe this has been going on since 2005.
Heath,
Thank you for posting this information and I will definitely pass it on.
Great! I didn't know about the *69 or the *57. Really glad you shared that with us.
That is interesting stuff. I'll have to remember the numbers!
Many of the residents in Florida are targeted by these scammers. Knowledge is power. Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention. This is worth a re-blog! Thanks.
It is just plain irritating that people are making money cheating others especially the elderly... thanks for a good way to try and catch some of them... I did not know wbout the 57 thing at all...good info
Hi Heath, Certainly seems well thought out and no doubt has resulted in many nice folks getting ripped ! May these dirt bags be brought to justice in front of a jury of their victims !
Hi Heath -- Older people tend to bear the brunt of these scams, so I hope everyone tells their elderelyparents, etc. I didn't know about *57 -- good to know, thanks.
Good information and post, I have not seen this where I am, but will be on the look out for it. Thanks
Man, it drives me crazy when these dirtbags target our senior citizens. Drives me nuts!
Yikes - that is scary - all of these tactics to scam people out of money. In this economy, more of this is to be expected. Thanks for letting us know about this.
Heath,
It seems that there are more scammers out there now than normally. This is solid info for everybody, in addition to those who get fake jury duty calls.
Wow Heath, that is TERRIBLE. Why does everyone target the elderly? These are truly sad times. Thanks for the warning.
Heath - What's next? Although nothing really surprises me these days. Thank you for the post!
I am glad this has been so helpful. I got very frustrated when my mom would get taken advantage of by people like this.
I've heard about this latest scam, Heath...thanks for putting it in a blog post that I can re-blog here! :)
Leilani