It’s a new take on an old scam: You receive a call, or several calls, from an unknown or blocked number, with a person claiming you owe someone money.
Only this time, it’s not a fake debt collector, or a police officer saying they have a warrant for your arrests. Instead, it’s a phony process server with a non-existent “case” against you.
The Better Business Bureau last week issued a warning saying it’s getting a significant number of reports about the phishing scam, which is designed to extract personal details and then steal identifies for the purpose of committing financial fraud.
“They might say there is a lien on your home or someone is taking you to court over unpaid medical bills or another matter,” says the BBB.
“The caller may also claim you or a family member are a ‘person of interest in an important matter that requires immediate attention,’ and federal law prohibits the caller from sharing any additional information.”
Similarly, in other cases, says the BBB, the scammer may be secretive, saying they can’t reveal details until your papers are served.
Next, they’ll ask you to “confirm” sensitive personal information about yourself, such as your date of birth, address, or Social Security number.
“When you’re hesitant to give out this information, they stress the urgency of the matter – after all, this is a court matter,” says the BBB.
“The caller may also try to scare you further by asking if you will be home or at work within the next hour since they will be arriving soon to serve you papers, get your signature on legal documents, and demand to see your ID.”
The BBB says to be wary of scare tactics and unsolicited phone calls. “Scammers love to threaten people with legal action or hefty fines, scaring them into giving up their personal information and money.”
The BBB also advised people to check their local court website. “If you think there’s a chance someone has filed a lawsuit against you, check your local court’s website. Search your name to see if any lawsuit has been filed. If nothing comes up, you’re in the clear.
