The Indiana State Police Lowell Post is warning Hoosiers of a jury-duty scam already reported in 11 states.

The scam begins with a telephone call from someone who identifies himself as a jury coordinator for that particular jurisdiction and advises the victim of his failure to appear for jury duty. When the victim replies that he was never summoned for jury duty, the caller asks for Social Security number and date of birth in order to cancel the arrest warrant issued after the victim’s “failure” to appear.

That personal information is subsequently used to steal the victim’s identity.

“This scam uses intimidation over the telephone by impersonating someone from the court system,” police said. “Never give out personal information over the phone.”

Tips for preventing identity theft:

•Release your Social Security number only when necessary.

•Do not have your Social Security number printed on checks.

•When you order new checks, have them delivered to your bank, not your home.

•Order your Social Security earnings statement to check for fraud.

•Cross-cut shred your credit card receipts, bills, and other financial information before disposing of them.

•Order your credit report once a year to check for inaccuracies and fraud.

•Do not leave envelopes containing bill payments in your mailbox.

•Do not carry credit cards, Social Security cards, birth certificates, and passports in your wallet.

•Do not create PIN numbers incorporating your home address, date of birth, or consecutive numbers.

Posted 11/5/2009