Scams We've Been Alerted To:

What is SMiShing?

Smishing is a phone scam in which fraudsters send a text message to every cell phone within one area.  The text message is written in a manner that creates a sense of urgency and tries to convince the recipient that there is something wrong with a financial account or card.  An 800 number is provided with instructions to call.  This is not an authentic text from your financial institution.  It's called SMiShing because text messages are sent through SMS (Short Message Service) and it's an attempt to fish personal information from victims.

Never respond to a text message, voice message, or email that asks you to call and give out confidential information such as Account Numbers, Expiration Dates, PIN Numbers, or Passwords.

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Fake Android Smartphone Apps

1st Community Credit Union has learned that fraudsters have begun developing rogue Android Smartphone apps that are designed to look like mobile banking apps.  These apps try to gain access to a consumer's financial information.  Droid09 launched a phishing attack from the Android Marketplace and has since been removed.  If you downloaded the Droid09 app, please take the necessary steps to ensure that it is completely removed from your phone.

1st Community Credit Union has not developed a mobile banking app.  Mobile phone users may securely access their 1st Community Credit Union account from their phone's secure web browser by going to 1stccu.com/m

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1st Community Credit Union recently learned that a consumer in our area received a phone call from someone claiming to be employed by 1st Community Credit Union.  The man indicated that he had a check for the consumer.  The consumer had been a victim of fraud in the past and continuously hung up on the caller, but he kept calling back.  This call did not come from 1st Community Credit Union.  If you receive a suspicious call that claims to be coming from your credit union, hang up and dial the credit union's phone number so we may verify that the call is not coming from our offices, and so that we may warn others to be wary of similar phone calls.

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Watch For These Common Scams During The Holidays:

• Fake charity websites
• Fake delivery invoices
• Fake "New Friend Request" emails on Facebook
• Holiday ecards laden with computer viruses
• Unsecured, public area computers
• Fraudulent holiday-related websites
• Job-related email scams
• Auction site fraud
• Password theft  (change your passwords frequently)
• E-mail scams asking for verification of personal info (phishing, vishing, smishing, etc)

Be aware that fraudsters are especially busy during the busy holiday season, as they are hoping that consumers are too caught up in the holiday rush to practice fraud & identity theft protection.

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1st Community Credit Union has learned that a citizen of the Sparta area received a phone call from someone claiming to represent a Money Recovery Program. The phone number was blocked and the female caller had a foreign accent.

The caller claimed that four years ago someone had fraudulently taken over $600 from the citizen's checking account and that they had successfully recovered the money. All they needed was an account number and they would promptly deposit the funds back into the account. Of course, the citizen knew this was a scam and told the caller that four years ago there was no checking account in his/her name, so it would have been impossible for a fraudulent withdrawal to have occurred. The caller became insistent, stating that the money belonged to the Sparta citizen and it HAD to be returned. The citizen suggested that if this were legitimate, the funds could be mailed in the form of a check; however, the caller insisted that an automatic deposit was the only way to return the money and asked again for an account number...finally asking for a friend or family member's account number to which the deposit could be made. The Sparta citizen ended the call.

If an account number had been given, any funds in the account would have most likely been fraudulently withdrawn. And the scammer would have undoubtedly attempted repeat withdrawals over the coming months in hopes of gaining access to available funds (such as a tax refund or paycheck).

During these difficult economic times, receiving this type of phone call can become more common. Scammers are looking for victims. The best practice is to immediately hang up the phone. Please inform friends and family members about phone scams and the importance of keeping account information secure.
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Some U.S. consumers have recently been falsely notified by e-mail that their Visa card may have been compromised. The e-mail provides official-looking information about Visa's commitment to fighting fraud, along with a false "Case ID Number" and a directive for cardholders to verify their identity online. This e-mail is fraudulent and is an attempt to obtain sensitive information.

If you have encountered a similar e-mail and you have followed the link and entered your account or personal information, please contact the credit union and speak to a Member Service Representative to discuss your options for protecting your funds.
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Scam that targets users of CraigsList:

Upon listing an item for sale, the consumer receives an offer for purchase along with notification that the buyer would like to make payment by sending a I-Versa Check or other electronic check. The 'buyer' gives instructions for purchasing special paper/magnetic ink for printing the check and then asks the consumer to cash or deposit the check.
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If you receive a phone call from a company called "Economic Relief", do not give out any information. This phone scam has been going on for a few months - the callers inform you that they can lower the interest rate on your credit card, then they ask for your credit card number. Never give out card numbers or account numbers to unsolicited callers. It is safest to simply hang up the phone.
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Text Messaging Scams

Members should be aware that scammers are using text messages to "phish" for account information or personal information to commit fraud. If you receive an urgent text message claiming to be from your credit union and asking you to verify information on your credit card, debit card, or credit union account, delete the message. The message may claim that your account is in default. Please be aware that this scam does not involve a breach of information, as the text messages are being received by consumers all around the nation, both credit union members and non-members alike.

The text usually gives instructions to call a toll-free number. Most of the time, the phone number given in the text message isn't a toll-free number, and victims who have called the number have heard a recorded message asking them to use their phone to enter their account number or credit card number.

1st Community Credit Union does not sent text messages or emails asking members for account information. During these troubled economic times, scammers will most likely increase their efforts to gain personal information. Always use extreme caution, and contact a Member Service Representative at 1st Community Credit Union if you feel that you may have already given out sensitive information that could jeopardize your accounts.
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REMINDER:

During tax season members should also beware of emails and phone messages claiming to be from the IRS. The IRS does not contact consumers by email or phone asking them to give out Social Security Numbers or financial information.
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It is a good idea to review your statements and notify your credit union of any suspicious transactions. Even small transactions, such as mysterious charges for 25 cents, should be brought to the credit union's attention.


Many credit card holders around the nation are seeing a charge of around 25 cents on their credit card. There are two possible scenarios: Someone is trying to find out whether an illegally obtained credit card number will work before making a bigger charge, or they're trying to rip off tiny amounts from tons of people, because it's easier to steal $1 from a million people than $1 million from one person.

If you see a small charge on your 1st Community Credit Union statement, don't ignore it. Contact the credit union so steps can be taken to protect you from incurring a loss due to fraud.
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The recent hardships caused by economic uncertainty have resulted in an increase in scams

Lottery, Sweepstakes, Grant.....no matter what it is called in the letter you receive with the cashiers check, we call it a scam. Citizens in our area have received large checks in the mail, along with a letter that claims they are the winner of a larger monetary prize. The check is supposedly for financing legal and processing fees, or to pay non-resident taxes. The check is phony, and we urge everyone to spread the word to friends and family not to fall for this scam. Today's technology makes it all too simple for criminals to copy, alter, or counterfeit such checks; and anyone from college students to the elderly can become a victim. If the victim does deposit the check to their account and wire money to the individual named in the letter, they are legally obligated to repay those funds when the check is returned as a bogus check. Some victims in other areas of the country have been known to deposit the check and go on a shopping spree to celebrate their winnings; when the phony check bounces they must pay it all back. Victims may even end up taking out a loan for the entire amount of their loss to pay it back, with interest, a little at a time. Don't become a victim - if you receive a check along with an announcement that you are receiving a payoff for a lottery, sweepstakes, or grant, please consult your financial institution or report it to the proper authorities.
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Two recent phone phishing scams

Beware of the following attempts to get personal information:

1) Text messages are being sent to cell phone customers requesting they call a financial institution in the area and reactivate their debit cards. Callers to the number were prompted to provide personal information, such as debit card numbers or PINs.

2) Customers of one utility department in another state have received automated calls requesting payment and a late fee for a utility bill. Customers were required to provide card information over the phone for payment. These calls were also a scam.

1st CCU would like to remind consumers to be diligent about protecting their personal and financial information. Never respond to voice mail, text, or email messages that ask you to provide sensitive information. If you feel that you have been a victim of a scam, alert your financial institution and request assistance in protecting your funds. You may wish to place password protection on your accounts or close existing accounts and transfer the funds to new accounts. You may also wish to order a free credit report to review recent activity and identify inaccuracies; go to www.AnnualCreditReport.com by clicking on the Credit Report button on our home page or call 877-322-8228.
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Lottery Scam Letters are making their return; these letters are usually mailed to potential victims along with a fraudulent check which the letter claims is for paying a "Clearance Fee Tax". The letter advises the consumer to use any Western Union or Money Gram transfer to remit the Clearance Fee Tax to an agent. The check that accompanies the letter is counterfeit, stolen, altered, or otherwise fraudulent. These sorts of letters are sent out by the thousands in hopes that someone with fall for this scam and actually wire the funds. Don't fall for lottery scams.

Participating In Foreign Lotteries Is Against Federal Law

The Federal Trade Commission has this advice for consumers who are thinking about responding to a foreign lottery or other potential cross-border scams:

If you are a US citizen and you play a foreign lottery through the mail or by phone, you are violating federal law.

If you buy one foreign lottery ticket, expect more bogus offers for lottery or investment " opportunities. " Your name will be placed on " sucker lists " that fraudulent telemarketers buy and sell.

Keep your Social Security, credit card and bank account numbers to yourself. Scam artists often ask for them during an unsolicited sales pitch.

Do not fall for a promise. Solicitations that require an upfront fee for prize promotions are against U.S. law.

The bottom line, the commission says, is to ignore all solicitations for foreign lottery promotions. If you receive lottery material from a foreign country, give it to your local postmaster or contact your state attorney general's office or the FTC.
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Credit Card Phone Call Scam

1st Community Credit Union warns consumers of a scam in which victims receive a phone call with an offer of a lower interest rate on their credit card. The automated message assures you that you can get your credit card interest rate lowered to 6.99 percent or that their agency can cut your rate in half if you simply press 1 to continue with a live operator or 3 to stop receiving the phone messages.

Pressing 1 results in a live person picking up and identifying themselves only as being with a generic credit service. They claim to be able to lower your interest rate if you share some basic information. Never give personal information such as PIN number, account number, or Social Security number over the telephone. Credit card companies and legitimate financial institutions will not call with offers of lowered interest rates and ask for personal information over the telephone.
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Fraudulent E-mails

1st Community Credit Union has learned that area citizens have recently received emails that claim to be sent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Anti-Terrorist and Monitory Crime Division. These emails claim that the consumer is entitled to receive an inheritance from another country, and payment will be loaded onto an ATM Card. The email asks that $260 be forwarded to the "agent" handling your case, and the ATM Card will then be sent by mail. This email mentions the Central Bank of Nigeria and contains numerous grammatical errors. Obviously this email is a scam. Emails of this nature should be deleted without responding in any way. Always use caution when receiving emails from unknown sources; emails that ask you to send money and that claim to be from financial institutions or government agencies should always be considered suspect.
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Warning: E-Ticket Spam Contains Malware

1st Community Credit Union has learned that a member of our community was the victim of spam email that contained a Trojan horse virus. The email claimed to be from an Airline E-Ticket service. Several airlines have issued warnings that bogus e-mails posing as ticket invoices contain malware. The public is urged to immediately delete these messages. Airlines that issued warnings include Delta, Northwest, Sun Country, and Midwest. The emails, which thank the recipient for using a new online ticket service, claim that the victim's credit card has been charged an amount usually in the $400 range. The email urges the victim to view the attached invoice. The attached .zip file actually contained a Trojan horse that attacked the computer. A Trojan horse steals information, including keystrokes, from the infected computer and transmits the data to a server, usually hosted in another country.
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Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes Scam

An organization posing as Publishers Clearing House has been sending fraudulent certificates to consumers, congratulating them on winning the $1 Million Sweepstakes. A check for over $5000 is enclosed and victims are instructed to contact a representative before depositing the check. Upon contacting a representative, victims receive further instructions for sending a portion of the funds via wire. Be aware that these certificates are not sent from the real Publishers Clearing House, and the check is counterfeit.
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Don't fall for economic stimulus scams
Be on the lookout for an e-mail from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) encouraging you to submit a form to make sure you get your economic stimulus check. Why? The e-mail is not from the IRS, and if you click on the link, it's likely you'll be the victim of a scam, according to the Credit Union National Association's (CUNA's) center for personal finance.
The e-mail urges the reader to click on a link in the e-mail, fill out a form, and submit the form for a speedy refund. The end of the message acknowledges that you may have received the e-mail in your spam folder "because of the large amount of e-mails we are sending out or because of the restrictions implemented by your ISP (Internet service provider)." Don't fall for it, delete it. The message is a ploy to redirect you to the crook's website to obtain your personal information and commit fraud.

The IRS never asks for account information by phone or e-mail. If someone calls you or e-mails you claiming to be from the IRS and asking for personal, sensitive information, hang up or delete the message. Additionally, if you receive an e-mail alert that you are being audited and you are instructed to click on the link provided and provide personal information, delete the e-mail. It is a phishing scam.
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Increase In Car Warranty Scams

1st Community Credit Union has learned that Car Warranty Scams are increasing in our area. A Warranty Scam, whether it is attempted by postcard or phone call, attempts to pressure the victim into buying an expensive extended car warranty. The caller (or postcard) urgently warns the victim that their warranty is about to expire and uses high-pressure sales tactics to convince consumers to renew their warranty automatically by providing their account number for an automatic withdrawal of funds. This scam has been especially targeting senior citizens, but anyone can become a victim to the intimidation these scammers use. Follow these tips:

Beware of phone calls and mailings that appear to come from your automobile manufacturer or local dealership offering extended warranty coverage.
Beware of pre-recorded phone calls that ask you to use your touchtone phone to enter personal information
Never give out personal financial information like your account number, or your Social Security Number over the phone
Many victims that have received these offers say their car warranty expired long before they received this call; If you are considering an extended warranty, find out the terms of your current warranty, deal directly with live people at the dealership or manufacturer, and always get information in writing before you agree to anything. Do not respond to unsolicited offers to extend your warranty.
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"Relay Scams" are increasing in our area. Relay is used by Hearing Impaired and Speech Impaired individuals to conduct business by telephone. (A Relay Service operator communicates through TTY or internet connection and relays the text conversation to the hearing person on the other end of the phone, then types back what the hearing person says). Relay is a valuable service to the deaf community, giving impaired individuals equal access to America's telephone network.

If you have never received a Relay phone call before and you suddenly receive one, use common sense and be cautious. This valuable service can occasionally fall victim to unscrupulous scammers who abuse the service to con consumers and business owners. Fraudsters in foreign countries have discovered that the internet-based Relay (known as IP Relay) service is free, thus they can place a free long-distance call, order merchandise using stolen credit card numbers, receive the merchandise shipped from the victim, and resell it on the black market. The Relay operators must pledge complete secrecy and are prohibited from engaging in conversation other than relaying messages between parties, even if they suspect that the person on the other end is conducting a scam.

If you receive a call in response to an ad that you have placed in a newspaper, trade magazine, or on the internet (such as when you are selling a motorcycle, boat, or car), use common sense to avoid becoming a victim. Ask the same questions that you would ask any hearing caller. Never give out personal, sensitive information such as account numbers or Social Security numbers, etc. And never ship an item until you have proof that payment has cleared. This may take several weeks.

If you own a business and receive a purchase order by relay, use the same common sense and safe business practices that you use for any telephone orders. The FCC (Federal Communications Commission) encourages businesses that accept orders by telephone to take steps to ensure that, when they receive a relay call, the credit card is valid and the purchaser is authorized to use the particular credit card, just as they would do with any other telephone order. The FCC also reminds businesses that, if they accept telephone orders from the general public, they cannot refuse to accept them from persons with hearing or speech disabilities calling through a relay service. AT&T cautions that if multiple sets of credit cards are attempted for billing, be skeptical, as this is the most common practice used during the relay scam.

*It is not the intention of 1st Community Credit Union to discourage members from accepting Relay calls. This information is posted strictly to increase awareness of secure practices for our membership.
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1st Community Credit Union has learned that there have been several victims of fraudulent account charges lately, particularly charges between $29 - $40. These charges show up in checking accounts and are most frequently made by Market Billing "on behalf of" other companies. Market Billing is reportedly based in Cyprus.

One method of scamming money from unsuspecting consumers is to make a small charge to a victim's account and wait to see if the charge is disputed. If the small charge remains undisputed, the scammer will make larger fraudulent charges to the same account over the course of a few weeks, ending just before the next statement comes out. By then the victim has lost a great deal of their hard-earned funds.

1st Community Credit Union takes the security of your funds very seriously. It is a good idea to check your monthly statements or view account activity online to make sure that nothing suspicious has been fraudulently charged to your account. Use extreme caution when dealing with any company or online source that you are not familiar with. Look for security features on websites such as a padlock in the bottom right-hand corner of your browser. You should not give any personal information over the telephone, nor should you confirm information if a caller is asking for verification of certain personal identification.
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Child Fraud: Warning Signs

Child fraud happens when someone steals your child's identity. It can happen with social security numbers or birth dates. It can happen by someone you don't know. It can happen by a relative or family friend who has credit problems of their own. Once your child's information is stolen, it could be used to open credit cards, take out loans, or even be claimed by others on taxes. In essence, someone else could completely take over your child's identity.

Some warning signs exist. Watch for these possible indications of child fraud.

* Is your child receiving pre-approved credit card offers in the mail?

* Is your child receiving bank, credit card or other financial statements in the mail? These mailings do not include any accounts you hold jointly with your child.

* Is your child receiving phone calls or letters from collection agencies?

If one of these warning signs or others has you concerned, it is important to contact one of the three major credit bureaus to look into whether child fraud is occurring.
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Warning: Holiday-Related E-Mail Containing Virus

Use extreme caution with your e-mail, as an e-mail containing a link or attachment and a holiday-related subject line could possibly possibly infect your computer with a worm or virus if you click on the link. This Trojan reemerges during holidays, with holiday-related subject lines. Clicking on the link takes the victim to a web page that triggers the download of a Trojan horse onto the user's computer. For more information, and to view the complete list of Subject Lines used in this malicious e-mail so far this year, go to snopes.com and search for Valentine's Day Storm Worm.
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Phishing Scam

Phishing scams are emails that try to convince you that your account or card has been deactivated and that you must click on a link and enter personal information in order to reactivate access to your account or your card. The email tries to convince you that this is an urgent situation and your immediate response is critical. Don't fall phishing emails. Don't click on the think, don't respond, just delete.

Here is additional information: Vishing is the term used to describe phishing scams that go out over the telephone. They use an interactive voice system with a recording that asks you to give out your account number, social security number, or card number with the expiration date and the ATM pin number with a confirmation. It then tells you you've been validated, thanks you and hangs up. The voice sounds like it's pulled from a text-2-speech program.

If you receive this recording on your phone, do not respond in any way, just hang up.
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Job Offer Scam

The following email is a scam. Victims of this scam are asked to receive Cashiers Checks, deposit them into an account, then immediately wire the funds to three different addresses in Africa. The Cashiers Checks are counterfeit, and subsequent emails become more threatening. Don't fall for this 'Work At Home' scam. The following example is typed complete with grammatical and punctuation mistakes from the original email:

Subject: ***Part Time Job Offer***

WE HAVE A JOB OFFER AVAILABLE FOR YOU IN RESPONSE TO YOUR INITIAL REQUESTING THE JOB SEARCH DIRECTORY IS FOR USA/CANADA ONLY.WE BASED IN UK.WE HAVE BEEN RECEIVING ORDERS FROM NORTHERN AMERICA, WHICH WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PROCESS COMPLETELY SINCE WE DO NOT HAVE A PAYMENT RECEIVING PERSONNEL IN THESE AREAS.WE HAVE DECIDED TO RECRUIT PAYMENT OFFICERS ONLINE HENCE WE WILL BE NEEDING A REPRESENTATIVE TO PROCESS OUR PAYMENTS IN THESE AREAS.if interested get back with this information

FULL NAME AND ADDRESS STATE,CITY,ZIPCODE,PHONE NUMBER.

GOD BLESS YOU/PEYTON WILLIAMS

A victim of this scam shared with us the email that was received when the check was verified to be fraudulent and there were no funds wired to Africa as emails had instructed. Again, the email example is typed with errors intact:

Subject: IF YOU LOVE YOURSELF

Dear Representative,

Greetings to you,I don't know what you are up to,with your sudden silence over the payment you receive from our client,i mailed you more than 2-3 times but you never reply back,if you know that you are not ready to work you should have not given down your details to the company and am sure you are aware of the fact that you can never abscond with the company's funds and if your intention is to made away with the company's fund,you will face the penalty and will be sue to court.So i will urge you to get back to me within 48 hours if only you don't want to face the penalty,your response is needed urgently concerning this payment and I need you to get back to me as soon as possible.

I will await your urgent response within 48 hours or else your details will be forward to the FBI and I can bet it with you that you can never made away with the company funds.

Have a nice day and do expect the FBI visitation if you fail to comply with my instructions.

Name:PEYTON WILLIAMS
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Survey with Monetary Reward

Email claiming to be from your financial institution. Offers to deposit $80 into your account just for taking a quick online survey. After you fill in the survey you are asked to fill in your account number and personal information 'so they can deposit your reward'.
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Grant Scam

Phone call informing you that you have been selected to receive a large grant. Asks for your account information so the grant can be deposited and the 'small fee' can be deducted directly from your account. If you have not applied for a grant and this call is coming out of the blue, do not give out any information, no matter how convincing the caller sounds.
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Money Order/Cashiers Check Scams

You receive a money order or cashiers check in the mail from someone you've chatted with over the internet, with a request that funds be deposited to your account and then wired to a foreign country (various reasons given); please be cautious. Upon investigation, it is always discovered that these items are counterfeit.
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Remember these tips:

1. Assume that any unsolicited check or money order may be fraudulent until proven otherwise

2. Do not respond to unsolicited e-mails

3. If you are selling an item over the internet and you receive a cashiers check made out for more than the purchase price of the item, assume that something is not right with the check and proceed with caution. Bring the check to your credit union for verification before shipping the item, and let the member service representative know the circumstances. Your credit union will be happy to assist you in finding out whether the check is fraudulent or not

4. Never assist a 'friend' you met in a chat room by depositing a check or money order and wiring funds

5. Never give out personal financial information

6. Never click on a link provided in an e-mail you believe may be fraudulent

7. Do not be intimidated by an email or phone call in which sender/caller suggests dire consequences if you do not immediately provide or verify financial information

8. If you believe the contact to be legitimate, go to the company Website by typing in the site address directly or using a page you have previously bookmarked, instead of using a link provided in the e-mail

9. If you fall victim to an attack, act immediately to protect yourself. Alert your financial institution. Place fraud alerts on your credit files. Monitor your credit files and account statements closely. Your credit union Member Service Representatives will be happy to assist you and provide contact information for the three major credit bureaus.
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Credit Card Scam

You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Credit Card number, because they already have it. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card, and they ask you to give them the number, "to verify that you are in possession of the card". Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation.
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Mystery Shopper Scam:

You receive a letter (sometimes in response to posting your resume on a job website) and the letter offers you a job as a Secret Shopper or Mystery Shopper. The first probational training task is to pose as a customer to an assigned place of business, do a wire transfer, and evaluate the performance of the person waiting on you. A Cashiers Check is enclosed with the letter and you are instructed to wire by Western Union and/or Money gram. There is promise of this becoming a weekly employment opportunity.

BUT:

The cashiers check is fraudulent

You would be required to pay back the full amount of the fraudulent check, including all of the funds that were wired out

There is no way to trace where the letter came from – phony names and addresses

The phone number is no longer valid by the time the check is discovered to be fraudulent
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Billing Scam

Victims receive a $126.50 charge on their telephone bill for 'operator service provider charges'. A previous phone call asking to verify name, address, and phone number results in this charge being placed on the phone bill. Don't verify information for unknown companies.
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Invoice Scam

Victims receive an official-looking invoice from CRS - Central Registration out of New York for a 'standard registration via hosting service' (web domain name)....total due between $900 - $1000. THIS IS A SCAM....do not pay this invoice.
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Phone Scam:

You receive a phone call from someone claiming to represent a company that 'works in partnership' with your financial institution to protect against fraud. The caller tells you that someone has tried to access your account. Caller asks you to read off the numbers on the bottom of your checkbook (for verification purposes), and also asks for the next check number. The caller is very persistent, creating a sense of urgency. If you receive a phone call similar to this, refuse to give any information and hang up. If you are concerned that the call may be real, call your financial institution directly and ask them to check for suspicious transactions.
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Another Phone Scam in our Area:
In this scam, the elderly person is told that Medicare is sending out new cards and the caller needs financial and personal information.
Medicare will never ask for financial information over the phone. Anyone receiving such a phone call should end the conversation and call the Delmarva Foundation at 1-877-772-3379.
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Beware of Jury Duty Phone Scam:

The scammer calls claiming to work for the local court and claims you've failed to report for jury duty. He tells you that a warrant has been issued for your arrest. The victim will often rightly claim they never received the jury duty notification. The scammer then asks the victim for confidential information for "verification" purposes. Specifically, the scammer asks for the victim's Social Security number, birth date, and sometimes even for credit card numbers and other private information, exactly what the scammer needs to commit identity theft. Protecting yourself is simple: Never give this info out when you receive a phone call.