Source: The Enquirer
Federal courthouses in Cincinnati and Dayton are getting complaints about an identity theft scam involving phony orders to appear for jury duty.

Court officials say the scam begins with a phone call from someone who demands personal information, such as a Social Security number and date of birth, as part of a requirement for jury duty. If the targets of the calls balk at the demand, the caller threatens them with arrest. “This is just an ugly stain on the whole system,” said U.S. District Judge Sandra Beckwith, the chief federal judge in Cincinnati.

Beckwith said the FBI has been notified of the scam, but a spokesman said there is no active investigation in the Cincinnati area. The scam is not unique to southern Ohio and has come up from time to time across the country. FBI spokesman Mike Brooks said many calls apparently originate far from the hometown of the people receiving the calls and often from overseas. “It’s not just here in Cincinnati,” he said.

He said sometimes the scam involves phone calls and sometimes e-mails. “It must still work because people are still getting them,” Brooks said. Susan Bridges, division manager of U.S. District Court in Cincinnati, said none of the complaints she has received were from people who actually provided their personal information.

But she and other court officials fear those who have fallen for the scam may not realize it or may be too embarrassed to report the call. “They’re scaring them and telling them they need personal information,” Bridges said. “Some people are giving it to them.” She said it’s easy to know the difference between a scam artist and the real thing: An actual notice about jury duty is done by letter, not phone. A call could be made if someone fails to show up for jury duty, but courthouse officials say all initial notices are sent via mail. At no time, they say, is personal information solicited by phone.