Identity theft has victimized at least 25 people in Eagle County this year, authorities said.
One method of identity theft, involving a jury scam, has been reported in 11 states, including Colorado.
As part of the scam, a caller tells people who have answered their phone they’ve missed a jury duty assignment. When the victim protests the accusation, the caller asks for a Social Security number and date of birth to verify identity and to cancel an arrest warrant.
When victims surrendered their Social Security number to the caller, who identified himself as a “jury coordinator,” the information was used to steal their identity, according to the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office.
“As a rule, court officers never ask for confidential information over the phone and they generally correspond with prospective jurors via mail,” said Detective Brandon Beaudette of the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office.
People can minimize the threat of identity theft by:
Never giving a Social Security number, or partial number, over the phone or by mail unless they’ve initiated the contact or they positively know with whom they are dealing.
Remove Social Security cards and numbers from wallets and purses.
Shred personal information before throwing it in the garbage or discarding it.
People who suspect that they’re a victim of identity theft should contact local law enforcement.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
This article has been corrected in this online archive, to clarify the number of jury scam victims in Eagle County.
