FBI warns of phone scam regarding jury selection

An FBI agent said courts contact potential jurors by certified mail.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A nationwide identity-theft scam involving jury service has made its way to the Mahoning Valley, said John Kane, supervisor in charge of the local FBI field office.
Kane said the FBI has issued a warning nationally about the ongoing telephone scam, and the local office has been aware of the scam activity in the area for several weeks. The bureau said individuals are calling people and telling them they have been selected for jury duty and the court needs to verify personal information.
The callers ask for names, Social Security numbers and credit card numbers, and if the citizen refuses, they are threatened with fines, the FBI reported. The scam is an attempt to steal or use identities by obtaining names, Social Security numbers and credit card information, Kane said.
What to do and not do
Anyone who is contacted in such a way should call the FBI or any law enforcement agency immediately, Kane said. He stressed that people should not give any personal information to anyone over the phone, and should not be intimidated into doing so.
Kane said the courts notify citizens of potential jury service by certified mail, not by telephone. He said nationally the FBI has reported the callers claim they represent U.S. courts, but they could claim to be from any court, including local county and municipal courts, Kane warned.
The FBI advises anyone who may have already surrendered this information to not only contact the FBI or local law enforcement, but monitor account statements and credit reports.
More information is available on the FBI Web site, www.fbi.gov, and on the U.S. Courts Web site at www.uscourts.gov. The article on the U.S. Courts Web site is on the "newsroom" link under press releases: "WARNING: Bogus Phone Calls on Jury Service May lead to Fraud."
Local FBI agents may be reached at (330) 965-2940.