NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Attorney General’s Office has issued a warning to consumers regarding two newly reported government imposter scams.
In the Jury Duty Scam, scammers pose as court officials or law enforcement officers, claiming that individuals have missed jury duty and are now subject to fines or arrest unless a fee is paid immediately. To deceive consumers further, scammers may use spoofing technology to display the name and number of a legitimate government agency on the caller ID. They often use threatening language and may provide personal information such as birthdays or current/former addresses. The scammers insist on payment through prepaid cards or direct victims to websites to input banking information.
The Customs & Border Patrol Scam involves scammers calling or leaving recorded messages alleging that illegal items, such as drugs, were shipped in the victim's name and intercepted. They claim there is a warrant for the victim's arrest and demand payment for more information using cryptocurrency, gift cards, wire transfers, or by obtaining banking account or Social Security numbers.
Consumers are advised to follow these tips from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to avoid falling victim to these scams:
- Do not wire money or use gift cards, cryptocurrency, or payment apps to pay someone claiming to be with the government.
- Do not give financial or personal information to anyone who contacts you via phone, text, email, or social media claiming they are with the government.
- Do not trust your caller ID as it can be faked.
- Do not click on links in unexpected emails, texts, or social media messages.
If you encounter a scam, report it to the appropriate agencies based on its nature:
- Local Law Enforcement: Report scams involving theft to local police departments or sheriff’s offices.
- Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): Report internet-related scams at https://www.ic3.gov/. This center is run by the FBI.
- Federal Trade Commission: Contact at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357) or visit www.reportfraud.ftc.gov.
- Identitytheft.gov: Report misuse of personal information at www.identitytheft.gov for help creating an Identity Theft Report and recovery plan.
- Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs: File complaints about business transactions at www.tn.gov/consumer.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB): Use BBB Scam Tracker to report scams circulating locally.
For those victimized by scams, guidance is available at "What To Do if You Were Scammed | Consumer Advice" on ftc.gov.