Fraud Alert: From Emmett Schwarsow/EOEA

Linda Slota, Director
Webster Senior Center

Elder Affairs received a call today from a nurse of an elder living in Norwood. This elder received a call from someone claiming that a court summons was being issued for her because she had missed her scheduled jury duty. The elder became nervous and gave this caller her social security number before becoming suspicious and ending the telephone call.

Citizens from around the state have received calls from people claiming to be court officials chasing scofflaws who have missed jury duty. When the target protests that they knew nothing of the supposedly missed jury duty, the caller demands personal indentifying information, such as social security numbers and dates of birth, to confirm that the target is not at risk of fine or arrest.

"This is a particularly ingenious scam because it preys on people's fears and indignation at being falsely accused of breaking the law," says Pamela J. Wood, Jury Commissinoer for the Commonwealth. "The scam artist will often pose as a sheriff or court officer, and state that you or someone close to you such as you child or spouse, has missed jury duty and will be fined or arrested if they don't report to the court immediately.  Because the caller is not selling something or directly asking for personal information, the target often doesn't recognize the scam and is only too eager to offer information to persuade the caller that they have made a mistake."

The telephone call is a clear indication that the call is bogus. Neither the Office of Jury Commissioner nor the courts ever contact jurors by telephone regarding their jury service. While skipping jury duty will lead to reminder notices and eventual prosecution if not resolved, all communications are sent through the mail. A person who has missed jury duty will be instructed to call the Office of Jury Commissioner, but only after receiving written notice by mail with detailks about the date and place of their missed jury service. The Office of Jury Commissioner offers the following guidelines to anyone who gets a call about missing jury duty:

• If you receive a telephone call claiming that you or someone you know has missed jury duty, under no circumstances should you give the caller any personl information about yourself or anyone else.
• Hang us and call The Office of Jury Commissioner at 800-THE-Jury (843-5879) or send an e-mail to JurorHelp@jud.state.ma.us requesting confirmation of your juror status.

Don't be victimzed by someone trying to take advantage of your sense of civic duty.

For more information on identity theft, how to avoid it, and what to do if you have been victimized, contact:

Massachusetts Attorney General's Consumer Hotline:       617-727-8400