New id Scam

[cman]

(copy and pasted from a security inter-office email, taking out the local info)

I have received information from law enforcement sources in reference to a new scam being used to obtain your identity. This scam has been reported in 11 states.

The victim receives a telephone call from someone acting as if they are from the clerk of court's office. The caller informs the victim that they ignored a mailed request for the victim to appear for jury duty. When the victim denies ever receiving such a request the caller in a stern and rather forceful tone, advises that there has been a warrant issued for the victims arrest. They further advise that the victim needs to provide a social security number and a date of birth in order to cancel the warrant. In some cases they have even requested a credit card number to confirm the victims identity. Do to the strong tactics of the caller and everyone's fear of being arrested the callers have been very successful in obtaining the requested information. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Federal Court System have posted alerts on their respective web sites about this scam.

REMEMBER: NEVER GIVE YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION OUT OVER THE TELEPHONE ON INBOUND CALLS, UNLESS YOU ARE 100% CERTAIN OF WHO YOU ARE TALKING TO. IF YOU EVER RECIEVE A CALL FROM SOMEONE CLAIMING YOU HAVE AN ARREST WARRANT YOU CAN VERIFY THE VALIDITY OF THE WARRANT BY CALLING YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND HAVING THEM CHECK FOR YOU. IF YOU RECIEVE A CALL LIKE THIS, PLEASE REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY.

[Oakspear]

not new, but it is real:

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