SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

December 29, 2019

DENTAL SCAMS

Most dentists are both competent and ethical. Rarely will a dentist intentionally deviate from these standards. We trust our dentist because of his or her expertise.  A visit to a dentist’s office is routine. We usually receive the expected service.

Occasionally, however, something goes wrong. The National Healthcare Anti-Fraud Association estimates that dentists are cheating customers and insurance companies out of about $12.5 billion every year.

How can that happen?

Treatment or Services:

* Causing damage to teeth and gums in one procedure that later requires further costly work. This may be done accidentally or intentionally, but the result is the same: you end up paying more than necessary.

* Replacing silver fillings. This is a controversial subject. Silver-looking “amalgam” fillings contain tiny amounts of mercury as well as other metals. A dentist might claim the mercury, which is poisonous at certain levels, is leaking and requiring removal of the tooth.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), http://www.fda.gov, recommends replacing of amalgam only if the wearer is allergic to any of the metals.

If you’re worried about mercury in your fillings, see the FDA guidance: About Dental Amalgam Fillings.

* Upselling. In this case, the dentists outline the procedure and materials they plan to use, and then offer some sort of additional work which will considerably enhance the result, but cost more.

This is not strictly illegal, since the dentist is simple offering options, but you may feel under pressure to accept the “recommendation.” Some dentists have been accused of bullying patients into accepting more expensive procedures.

*A common trick is to tell patients their teeth need “deep cleaning,” which requires several visits to the dentist’s associated hygienist at extra cost. Unless you haven’t visited the office for a considerable time, deep cleaning is probably unnecessary.

4. Unbundling. This trick is aimed at insurers rather than patients. Complex dental procedures can normally be billed as a one-cost complete package. However, some unscrupulous dentists break the whole process down into its individual components and bill separately for each of them — which usually adds up to considerably more than the single bundled would cost. This process is regarded as illegal by the American Dental Association.

What to Do?

An important step is to check out the reputation of your dentist. Even if you’ve been seeing them for quite a while and they’re really nice folk, that doesn’t mean you’re not being ripped off.

Inquire of other people about your favorite dentist as well as any new dentist you’re considering using.

If you have dental insurance, your insurer may provide a list of approved and recommended dentists. Or you can use the search service offered by the American Dental Association at https://findadentst.ada.org.

You could also check with your state’s Board of Dentistry to learn if a dentist is officially licensed.  

If you’re unsure about a dental diagnosis, or whether you need the treatment that is being recommended, you can get a second opinion. You’re free to go to any other dentist (or one within your insurer’s approved list).

If you still feel uneasy, you can talk to your insurer, or if you don’t have insurance, file a complaint with your state’s Dental Board, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration http://www.fda.gov.

Attribution: scambusters.org

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

December 22, 2019

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SCAMS

Wheelchairs, walkers, braces and other devices prescribed by doctors are vital to help patients deal with an injury or chronic illness at home. US Medicare spends more than $6 billion a year on durable medical equipment for that purpose. That’s a boon to beneficiaries, but also a big draw for fraudsters who exploit older Americans’ health care concerns.

In a medical equipment scam, someone may reach out to you with an offer of a “free” (as in, “Medicare will pay for it”) brace, wheelchair or other device. You might get an unsolicited phone call, see an advertisement or be approached at a health fair or similar event.

Sometimes, it’s a garden-variety government impostor scam: Someone claiming to be from Medicare calls to say you’re eligible for a free knee or back brace, and they need your Medicare or Social Security number to process the benefit. If you fall for it, you may or may not get a brace, but the crooks get what they need to steal your identity.

Medicare fraud involves unscrupulous equipment suppliers ripping off Medicare on a grand scale, using telemarketing and hard-sell tactics. They lure you into ordering their wares, get your health care information, obtain bogus prescriptions (by paying kickbacks and bribes to doctors or by forging their signatures) and file false claims. They stick Medicare with the bill for costly devices that are not medically necessary, not properly prescribed or not delivered to patients at all. (DME fraud might also target Medicaid or private insurance companies.)

Watch out for the fraudsters who target you to help them defraud Medicare. Don’t let your health concerns make you an unwitting accomplice to fraud.

Watch for these warning signs:

*You receive an unsolicited call or other communication offering a free or low-cost medical device as a Medicare “benefit.”

*Someone claiming to be from Medicare asks for your Medicare or Social Security number. Medicare representatives almost never make unsolicited calls to consumers and do not ask for personal information by phone.

*Your quarterly Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) or an explanation of benefits (EOB) from your health plan lists medical equipment you did not order or receive.

Do’s:

Do hang up on unsolicited calls offering you a medical device that will be billed to Medicare.

Do carefully review MSNs and EOBs. Call Medicare (800-633-4227) or your insurance company if you see claims for supplies or services you don’t recognize.

Do be aware that if you accept an offer of medical equipment, you could be responsible for up to 20 percent of the Medicare-approved cost of the item.

Don’ts:

Don’t give your Medicare or insurance number to strangers. Share it only with trusted health care providers.

Don’t order durable medical equipment over the phone unless advised to do so by your physician.

Don’t accept delivery of medical equipment unless it was ordered by your doctor.

Don’t be swayed by scare tactics, such as claims by an equipment provider that you should get a device now because Medicare is running out of money. Charging Medicare for equipment for future use, before your doctor certifies it as medically necessary, is illegal.

AARP’s Fraud Watch Network can help you spot and avoid scams. Sign up for free “watchdog alerts,” review the scam-tracking map, or call the toll-free fraud helpline 877-908-3360 if you or a loved one suspect you’ve been a victim.Attribution: AARP

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

December 17, 2019

WORK AT HOME SCAMS

WORK AT HOME SCAMS

Home-based business and work-at-home opportunity scams rank very high on the list of the top types of Internet fraud.

                                                PART I

There are two basic types of Work-at-Home and Home-Based Business scams. Scammers using both types are aiming at folks who want to make money from home, either by:

1.– Having you work from home, doing envelope stuffing, craft assembly, or other tasks where you are (supposedly) paid by a company as an employee.

There are certainly some legitimate telecommuting jobs, but work-from-home jobs are often just big scams.

2.– “Helping” you start your own home-based business, as a mystery shopper, network marketer, or other businesses where the only money anyone sees is the money the scammer pockets.

Why Are These Scams So Successful?

It all comes down to psychology. Besides the “make money fast” dream that many Internet newcomers fall prey to, home-based “opportunities” scammers mooch off the following groups:

*The Sick, Disabled, or Elderly: If you are elderly, ill, or have a disability, you may have problems landing a traditional job.

*The Stay-At-Home Mother: Whether you have a spouse or you’re single, you may be looking to supplement or create an income while raising children.

*The Low-Income or No-Income Family: You or your spouse may have just lost your job, and you feel desperate and anxious to find work as the bills pile up.

*The Person Without Higher Education: You’re not stupid or dumb — you just didn’t go on to college or university.

To summarize, these scammers are often preying on people without a lot of money.

                                                PART II

Noted Work-At-Home Scams:

*Craft Assembly Starter Kits. This scam encourages you to assemble toys, dolls, or other craft projects at home with the promise of high per-piece rates. All you have to do is pay a fee up-front for the starter kit… which includes instructions and parts. Sounds good? Well, once you finish assembling your first batch of crafts, you’ll be told by the company that they “don’t meet our specifications.” The scammer company is making money selling the starter kits — not selling the assembled product.

*Medical Billing. In this scam, you pay $300-$900 for everything (supposedly) you need to start your own medical billing service at home. You’re promised state-of-the-art medical billing software, as well as a list of potential clients in your area.

What you’re not told is that most medical clinics process their own bills, or outsource the processing to firms, not individuals. Your software may not meet their specifications, and often the lists of “potential clients” are outdated or just plain wrong.

*Email Processing. This is a twist on the classic “envelope stuffing scam”. For a low price ($50?) you can become a “highly-paid” email processor working “from the comfort of your own home.”

Now… what do you suppose an email processor does? If you have visions of forwarding or editing emails, forget it. What you get for your money are instructions on spamming the same ad you responded to in newsgroups and Web forums!

* “A List of Companies Looking for Homeworkers!”: In this one, you pay a small fee for a list of companies looking for homeworkers. The only problem is that the list is usually a generic list of companies, companies that don’t take homeworkers, or companies that may have accepted homeworkers long, long ago. If you send money, don’t expect to get it money back with this one.

* “Just Call This 1-900 Number for More Information…”: Don’t spend too much time (or money) on this one. 1-900 numbers cost money to call, and that’s how the scammers make their profit. Save your money — don’t call a 1-900 number for more information about a supposed work-at-home job.   

                                                PART III

*Typing at Home: If you use the Internet a lot, then odds are that you’re probably a good typist. How better to capitalize on it than making money by typing at home?

Here’s how it works: After sending the fee to the scammer for “more information,” you receive a disk and printed information that tells you to place home typist ads and sell copies of the disk to the suckers who reply to you. This scam tries to turn you into a scammer!

 “Turn Your Computer into a Money-Making Machine!”:  Well, this one’s at least half-true. To be completely true, it should read: “Turn your computer into a money-making machine… for spammers!” Once you pay your money, you’ll be sent instructions on how to place ads and pull in suckers to “turn their computers into money-making machines.”

*Multi-Level Marketing (MLM):  If you’ve heard of network marketers (like Amway), then you know that there are legitimate MLM businesses based on agents selling products or services. One big problem with MLMs, though, is when the pyramid and the ladder-climbing become more important than selling the actual product or service.

If the MLM business opportunity is all about finding new recruits rather than selling products or services, beware. The Federal Trade Commission may consider it to be a pyramid scheme… and not only can you lose all your money, but you can be charged with fraud, too!

                                                PART IV

*Chain Letters/Emails (“Make Money Fast”): If you’ve been on the Internet for any length of time, you’ve probably received or at least seen these chain emails. They promise that all you have to do is send the email along plus some money by mail to the top names on the list, then add your name to the bottom… and one day you’ll be a millionaire.

Actually, the only thing you might be one day is prosecuted for fraud. This is a classic pyramid scheme, and most times the names in the chain emails are manipulated to make sure only the people at the top of the list (the true scammers) make any money.

*Envelope Stuffing:

This is THE classic work-at-home scam. It’s been around since the U.S. Depression of the 1920s and 1930s, and it’s moved onto the Internet like a cockroach you just can’t eliminate.

There are several variations. You are promised to be paid $1-2 for every envelope you stuff. All you have to do is send money and you’re guaranteed “up to 1,000 envelopes a week that you can stuff… with postage and address already affixed!”

When you send your money, you get a short manual with flyer templates you’re supposed to put up around town, advertising yet another bogus work-from-home scheme.

Any scam victim can report it to the US Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.

Attribution: scambusters.org

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provided free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

December 15, 2019

VETERANS SCAMS

Scammers are targeting US Veterans. Veterans who receive calls or recorded messages claiming to be from “veterans services” should have their guard up. Scammers may tell vets there is a new type of veterans’ home loan or other benefits.

The scammers often leave voice messages, following a script that goes something like this: “Your VA profile was flagged for two potential benefits to the changes in the VA program. These are time sensitive entitlements. Please call us back at your earliest convenience”.

The voicemail includes a fraudulent call-back number for “veterans services.” Potential victims who call the number are offered “benefits,” such as loan modifications to their mortgages, then asked for personal information, including social security numbers, dates of birth and bank account numbers.

Scammers who gain access to such information can use it to steal money from bank accounts or credit cards, or sell the information to other bad actors for use in identity theft fraud.

Other recurring phone scams preying on veterans include the “Update Your Military File” scam, the “Veteran Charity” scam and the “Veterans Choice Program”. Their purpose is the same. Obtain a veteran’s personal information—to steal the veteran’s money.

If you receive a call offering “services”, hang up immediately. If you receive a voice message, write down the callback number and contact law enforcement to report the scam. Also, help fight scammers by filing a complaint with the US Federal Communication Commission at www.fcc.gov.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

December 8, 2019

HOLIDAY SCAMS

Scammers love holiday seasons. They know we’re busy, maybe a little stressed, and tend to be in a charitable frame of mind.

They will take advantage of our lack of focus as well as our desire to help those in need. It is their opportunity to steal our money or our personal information.

Things you should know:

• Scammers will set up fake websites or mobile apps that mimic those of known and trusted retailers, and offer items at a fraction of the usual cost. Their hope is you won’t notice the red flags (misspelled words, unencrypted websites, lack of information on returns, etc.), and you’ll jump to share your payment information.

•Scammers send fake emails from delivery services about packages being held pending delivery. The email directs you to click on a link that asks for your credit card or other personal information. Since many of us expect deliveries this time of year, it’s easy to catch us off guard.

•Fake charities:

Many legitimate charities make a big push at year-end for last-minute annual donations. Knowing this, Scammers make their own end-of-year push to line their pockets. They’re banking on our not taking the time to verify that what they are offering is a scam.

•Gift card racks:

Thieves can hit store gift card racks, scan the numbers off the cards, and then monitor them. As soon as the card is bought and activated, the scammers drain the funds. By the time your gift recipient tries to use the card, the money is long gone. 

What you can do:

•When shopping online or on a mobile app, make sure the retailer is who you think it is. And if a deal sounds too good to be true, it may indeed be a scam.

•Avoid the gift card rack and, instead, safely purchase gift cards directly from the store clerk or buy them online directly from the retailer.

•If you receive an email from a delivery company, closely review it — check the sender information, look for misspellings or other red flags.  Also, request delivery companies to require recipient signatures for deliveries to stop thieves from stealing packages from doorsteps.

•Before donating this holiday season, check the charity at charitynavigator.org or give.org, and make sure the charity will use your donations for good.   

When it comes to fighting fraud, vigilance is our number one weapon. We have the power to defend ourselves and our loved ones from scams.

Attribution AARP

December 5, 2019

BITCOIN SCAMS ON THE RISE

Bitcoin is a form of cryptocurrency. It is a virtual currency. It is based on math and exists only as numbers on the internet. It has value based mostly on supply and demand.

Earlier, scammers tried to get you to wire them money. Then, they demanded payment with gift cards. Now, scammers are luring people into paying them with Bitcoin.

Here are ways scammers are trying to get you to pay with Bitcoin:

* Blackmail Scam. Someone says they know about an alleged affair, or something else embarrassing to you, and demands payments with Bitcoin or another cryptocurrency in exchange for keeping quiet.

* Online Chain Referral Schemes. This type of scam works like a chain letter: someone promises that you’ll make money if you pay into the scheme. But, in a twist, these scammers say you have to use cryptocurrency to pay for the right to recruit other people into the chain…so that you’ll then be rewarded with more cryptocurrency. Except you won’t be rewarded. Instead, you will lose money.

* Bogus Investment and Business Opportunities. Someone might offer you investment and business opportunities that promise to make big money for you, or give you financial freedom. You may be offered a guarantee to make money.  But remember, only a scammer will guarantee that you will make money — in dollars or in cryptocurrency.

From an investment perspective, there are actions you can take to avoid falling victim to a cryptocurrency scam:

*Don’t make investment decisions based on the word of someone online.  Work with a trusted financial adviser.

*Before you trade on a cryptocurrency exchange, check out their reputation. How long have they been operating as a legitimate entity?

*Check that there is a business plan for any cryptocurrency offering.

Scammers might use threats, intimidation, and high-pressure tactics to get you to pay right away. But, that’s not only a scam. It is also a criminal extortion attempt. Report it to the local police, the FBI, and the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

Attb: Federal Trade Commission

                                                            #

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

December 6, 2019

GOOGLE PLAY GIFT CARDS SCAM

Gift cards are popular targets for scammers. Many scammers specifically want payment via Google Play gift cards.

The scam may begin with a phone call purporting to be from the Internal Revenue Service. The caller’s voicemail may say that the victim owes the IRS and that, if not paid, their bank accounts and Social Security would be frozen—maybe threaten an arrest warrant.

With the holiday season approaching, it’s likely that scammers will ramp up their activity even more.

It is important to know that Google Play gift cards can only be used to purchase apps, movies, books, and other video game or app-related purchases through the Google Play store. Don’t be misled. If anyone ever asks you to pay them with a Google Play gift card, it’s a scam.

Five common Google Play gift card scam entry events:

*IRS and government agent imposter

*Tech support

*Family emergency

*Discounted goods or services

*Email requests

Protect yourself and your loved ones. Scammers may discourage you from speaking to or answering questions from store associates, colleagues, friends, or family members.

Scammers may dictate which store you should purchase Google Play gift cards from (e.g., Target, Walmart, CVS, etc.).

Don’t purchase gift cards and share the redemption codes with the requester over the phone or in writing. If you do, your money will likely gone.

You can report a scam to the Federal Trade Commission on its website www.ftc.gov, or directly with Google by phone at the toll-free U.S. phone number (1-855-836-3987).

The bottom line is that any time you are asked to pay someone with a Google Play gift card in exchange for goods or services, it is a scam. It is also a violation of Google Play’s Terms of Service to use Google Play gift cards to pay for anything outside of the Google Play Android app store.

Attribution: Fraud.org

                                                #