Attorney General Kelly Ayotte announced today that consumers should be aware of the newest in identify theft scams, the Jury Duty Scam.

With a new variation on what is now a recognized deception, this scam hits a vulnerable spot in consumers through the use of fear and intimidation. The caller tells the victim that he (or she) has failed to appear for jury duty and that there is a warrant for his arrest. The victim claims he has never received notification to appear for jury duty. The caller then asks the victim to verify his identity by providing his date of birth, social security number and, sometimes, other personal information. The victim is so caught off guard and frightened at this point that he gives up information without hesitation because he thinks he may have broken the law.

In the event that you receive a notice to report for jury duty and subsequently fail to report, a representative from the court will never ask you to give any personal identification information over the telephone other than your name. If you have doubts as to whether a notification for jury duty is legitimate, you can call the Clerk of Court’s office of the appropriate court for verification. You can obtain the telephone numbers for all New Hampshire courts by logging onto www.nh.gov/judiciary/courtlocations.

The Attorney General reminds you to never give out any confidential identification information over the telephone to anyone you cannot positively identify. This includes your social security number, your date of birth, your credit card numbers and your bank account numbers.

Attorney General Ayotte said “As consumers become more educated about identity theft, thieves will become more inventive about ways to get consumers to give them personal information. Our office remains vigilant in its efforts to protect New Hampshire consumers against these scams.”

Consumers with questions are encouraged to call the Consumer Protection Bureau of the Attorney General’s Office at 271-3641 or log onto our website at www.nh.gov/nhdoj.