Scam alert
Via local blogger Jay Ovittore comes word that some scammers are at work getting sensitive personal information out of people by posing as court officials and calling to tell people that they face arrest for having skipped jury duty.
Via the urban-legends online reference Snopes.com, we find that this is an actual scam, reported incidents of which date at least as far back as 2001.
In North Carolina, as in most other states and as in most federal court districts, communications with prospective jurors take place primarily by mail, and you will never be required to provide sensitive information over the phone.
And anytime you get a call from someone purporting to have a legitimate need for your private information, always refuse until you have had a chance to hang up and call the caller's ostensible employer to confirm what's going on. If the call is legitimate, the company or agency will be happy that you are security-conscious.
