Consider Yourself Scammed!
It seems we're always being told of new scams and here's another reason why: it's called the Jury Duty Scam. Imagine being called by someone claiming to represent the local court and tells you that you have failed to report for jury duty. He/she adds that there is a warrant for your arrest. The scammer is counting on you to be panic-stricken and offer any information they ask of you without thinking.
The scammer will ask for personal information for the purpose of "verification". Before you know it you've given them your Social Security number, birth date, and other sensitive information that will enable the scammer to steal your identity.
Workers for the courts will never ask for your private information and most courts follow up with jurors by U.S. Mail--NOT telephone. Verify that any follow-up notices are from the jury commissioner and even though you've heard it before, NEVER give out your Social Security number, credit card numbers and other private information over the phone.
Medical ID Theft: An ounce of prevention. Stealing someone's identity for medical care is another twist on identity theft, affecting about 250,000 Americans a year. If you're over 50, you're at the greatest risk because it's likely that you have some kind of government-issued insurance, such as Medicare or Medicaid. Scammers are drawn like a moth to a flame because the system is so large and automated that the government doesn't really issue medical insurance fraud alerts.
One example of how it happens is at the local health clinic. An established clinic is purchased and then staffed with phony (or corrupt) doctors to lure seniors in only to get their insurance and personal information. If something seems amiss, don't ignore your instincts.
Other identity thefts committed are by people who copy patient files after being hired (unwittingly) by legitimate medical offices. A scam artist can also get patient information by "dumpster diving" - or sorting through the trash outside medical offices. Or scammers will solicit victims' personal information by pretending to sell health products via the internet.
Take steps to protect yourself and your information. Ask your doctor(s) to make copies for you of everything in your medical file and you should keep these files up to date. Also, ask for an "accounting of disclosures". Such an accounting will show who has accessed your records. Make it a point to review all the correspondence you receive from medical insurers (including "This Is Not a Bill" statements). Examine statements for any treatment you did not receive.
And it never hurts to look for reports of medical debts when monitoring your credit report from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, the credit reporting bureaus.
