Better Business Bureau warns of scammers posing as process servers

On Thursday, Jul. 13, 2023, Kingston Police issued a release in which the Better Business Bureau warned of cybercriminals posing as process servers.

Process servers are people who deliver legal documents, and cybercriminals are impersonating them to try to steal your sensitive information, police said in the release.

“In this scam, cybercriminals will call from a restricted number and impersonate a process server. They’ll claim that there is a lawsuit against you over unpaid bills and that you’ll have more legal troubles if you don’t act quickly,” Kingston Police stated.

“Typically, the cybercriminal will tell you that they can’t provide further details until they deliver the legal documents to you. Then, the cybercriminal will ask you to provide sensitive information, such as your birthday or Social Security number. If you tell the cybercriminal your sensitive information, they can use this to try and steal your identity.”

Police provided the following tips to spot similar scams:

• Before sharing sensitive information over the phone, ask the caller to tell you what information they have on file. If they can’t prove they are legitimate, hang up.
• Be cautious of scare tactics that play with your emotions. Cyberattacks are designed to catch you off guard and trigger you to reveal sensitive information impulsively.
• Confirm that the person you’re speaking to is actually who they say they are. Try reaching out to them using another form of contact, such as contacting them through their organization’s official website.