JURY SCAM Attorney General's Office Warns Of Jury Scam
Reported by: Jeff Morris
Web Producer: Jeff Morris
Reported: Aug. 22, 2012 9:54 AM EDT
Eyewitness News Photo
Charleston
, Kanawha County
, West Virginia
State consumers are being urged to be on the lookout for another telephone scam attempting to trick individuals into believing they have failed to show up for jury duty.
The scheme is slowly making its way around the state, according to a news release from the West Virginia Attorney General’s Office. Victims report that an automated message claims there is a warrant for their arrest, and threatens imprisonment for a failed jury duty appearance. The fraudulent phone calls claim to originate from a federal or state court, and say that consumers may avoid jail time if they pay a fine with their credit cards over the phone.
The Attorney General’s Office advises consumers to check caller ID on incoming calls and to avoid giving out personal information including policy numbers, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, credit card numbers or bank account information over the telephone or on the Internet, especially when speaking with strangers.
Issues or changes regarding jury duty are always handled by mailed letters, the Attorney General’s Office said. Federal and state courts do not notify the public of jury duty by telephone.
If you believe you may have been the victim of this scam, contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division immediately. To report a scam or file a complaint, West Virginians can reach the Attorney General’s Office online at www.wvago.gov. or by calling the Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-800-368-8808.
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Jeff Morris
