Phishing Alert - Jury Duty Scam
Jury Duty Phishing Scam
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Identity thieves are masquerading as court officers to steal
victims' personal information, according to the FBI.
Scammers call claiming to work for local courts and tell victims
they have failed to report for jury duty. They claim a warrant
has been issued for the victim's arrest and ask for confidential
information, including Social Security number, birth date and
sometimes credit card numbers and other private information.
When victims say they never received notice for jury duty the
thieves graciously offer to clear up the problem if the victim
will give his or her birth date and social security number.
Warnings about this crime have been posted in 11 states,
including California. |
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Identity theft scams are nothing new, but the FBI
says the bold simplicity of this crime is what makes it unique. By
first scaring victims with the threat of arrest and then dangling a
solution in front of them, scammers put victims on the defensive and
then reel them in.
In some instances, thieves have told their victims the warrant can
be taken care of by paying a fine over the phone by credit card.
With enough information, identity thieves can empty a victim's bank
account and sign up for credit cards in the victim's name. Sometimes
they simply sell the information on the black market.
Phishing Alert - Veteran's Military Scam
Veteran's Email Phishing Scam
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Scammers have been taking
advantage of a data breach recently announced by the Department
of Veterans Affairs.
The most common scam is an email phishing scam,
in the form of a message which appears to be from the VA or
other related companies. The phishing email warns the recipient
that personal information has been lost due to the recent VA
data breach, and as result, the veteran's own information has
been used by identity thieves. The scam email includes links
that supposedly lead to additional information and help sites
from the government. They are not, and as you give your personal
information in an attempt to clear up the identity theft you
have been notified about, you will then be scammed and will
become the victim of the identity theft fraud. |
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Other similar scams have come as result of telephone
calls to veterans from various agencies, giving notification of the
data breach and identity theft, and then claiming to offer identity
recovery services. Again, this is another attempt to collect
personal information in order to commit identity theft fraud.
The VA began sending letters this week and has set up a
special Web site and telephone system to answer questions -
www.firstgov.gov, or (800)
FED-INFO (333-4636). The telephone system will be manned by live
operators from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mountain time Mondays through
Saturdays.
The Department of Veterans Affairs does not send
important messages via e-mail. No legitimate related organization
will attempt to scare you into giving out additional information.
Phishing Alert - IRS Refund Scam
IRS Issues 'Phishing' Warning
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The Internal Revenue Service,
noting an escalation in identity theft scams, is raising alarms
about e-mails designed to dupe taxpayers into revealing personal
financial information.
IRS and Treasury Department officials have noticed an increase
this winter in the frequency and sophistication of "phishing"
schemes that use the tax agency's logo to lure victims. The
Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration found 12
separate Web sites hosting such "phishing" schemes operating in 11
different countries, from the United States to Aruba to Korea.
The e-mails announce that recipients have a refund
pending or they are being investigated by the agency. |
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Recipients are given a Web link, which leads to a phony
IRS site. Victims are asked for information including passwords,
account numbers, Social Security numbers and credit card numbers.
irs refund scam email |
