Mich. Attorney General Issues Alert About New Identity Theft Scam

Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox is warning consumers to be aware of a telephone scam in which phony information is transmitted through Caller ID as a ruse to con individuals into providing illicit callers with sensitive personal information. Cox also released a Consumer Alert that provides tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of telemarketing scams.

“Many people rely on Caller ID as a way to shield their privacy,” Cox said. “Unfortunately, scammers are taking advantage of this protective technology as a way to make bogus phone calls appear to be coming from legitimate sources.”

Today’s warning comes in response to reports of a recent scam in which residents of the Washington, D.C. area received information over Caller ID stating that calls they were receiving originated from a District Courthouse. In this particular scam, the identity thieves tricked individuals by telling them that they had failed to report for jury duty and that they could face fines or arrest for their failure to have served. In an attempt to prove their innocence, several victims of the scam provided sensitive personal information to the callers.

“It is necessary to issue this warning before a similar Caller ID scam hits Michigan. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of never providing sensitive personal information to a stranger who calls you over the telephone,” said Cox.

Cox also encourages consumers to take advantage of two complimentary identity theft prevention measures: the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Do Not Call Registry, and Free Annual Credit Reports.

A copy of the Consumer Alert on telemarketing fraud and additional information on Identity Theft are both available from the Consumer Protection Division by calling 1-877-SOLVE-88 (1-877-765-8388) or by accessing the Attorney General’s Web site, httpwww.michigan.gov/ag.
Source: Michigan Attorney General’s Office