Many scams start with an intimidating phone call. A “debt collector” needs you to pay immediately. Or a “police officer” claims to have a warrant for your arrest. The latest variation involves a phony process server and a non-existent court case against you. BBB Scam Tracker has gotten numerous reports of this new twist. Here’s how to spot it.
How the scam works
You receive a call from an unknown or blocked number from a person claiming to be a process server. They might say there is a lien on your home or someone is taking you to court over unpaid medical bills. In other cases, 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, such as your date of birth and Social Security number. When you’re hesitant to give out this information, they stress the urgency of the matter – after all, you’re being taken to court! If you ask too many questions about who is making a complaint or what company the process server works for, the scammer will get angry.
Sometimes, the “process server” may be phishing for information about your family members. According to one target, “I received a call from some lady who… stated that my phone number was provided to them by my mother, and they wanted me to verify her Social Security number and date of birth. I refused and asked her what the phone call was about. She stated that there was a lawsuit pending against my mother, but she declined to state who the complainant was and said there would be a process server coming through to serve papers. They refused to provide my mother with any information regarding a lawsuit against her. We waited for a process server, and of course, none showed up.”
The people behind this scam don’t have any legal papers to deliver, they want to get their hands on your personal information to commit identity theft.
How to avoid phishing scams
- Be wary of…
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