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

April 30, 2020

 

COSTCO CENSUS SCAMS

 

The coronavirus scammers are still at it! They have discovered more new ways of tricking people into either giving them money or letting them into their systems to wreak havoc.

 

Among the latest COVID-19 scams, they are exploiting uncertainties and confusion over the current US Census as a cover for their tricks.

 

Now the crooks are pretending to be Census workers, claiming they need personal information from victims as part of a coronavirus data gathering exercise. Emails posing as official inquiries from the US Census Bureau are using the same trick.

 

The Census does not involve questions about the disease. If you receive one, ignore it and politely dismiss whoever is at your front door asking the question.

 

You can also safely ignore any fake “COVID-19 stimulus package” message purporting to be from major retailer Costco. The scam will likely come in an email or text proclaiming “$110 Goodies from Costco.”

 

Costco isn’t offering any such deal. Period.

 

Recipients are then asked to click a link to complete a survey, which may then either download malware or steal confidential confirmation.

 

You can report any experience with scammers using this trick to the US Federal Trade Commission, www.ftc.gov

 

Attribution: scambusters.org

 

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

April 27, 2020

U.S. CITIZENS LIVING ABROAD SCAMS

Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission

Are you a United States citizen living abroad?
For millions of expatriates, help from home is on the way in the form of COVID-19 economic impact payments. Unfortunately, scammers also are on the way, and they are eager to pluck the payment from your pocket.

Depending on your income, U.S. expatriates can get up to $1,200 each, or up to $2,400 for couples, plus $500 for each qualifying child, just as you would if living stateside. And, most people do not need to do anything to get their payments.

The IRS will deposit your payment directly to your U.S. bank account (the IRS can’t direct deposit money to a foreign account), or mail your payment using information from your 2018 or 2019 tax return or from your Social Security retirement or other federal benefits program.

If you haven’t filed a federal tax return for 2018 or 2019 and don’t get any federal benefits, you may have to give the IRS sensitive information, including your Social Security number and bank account number (if you have one), to get your payment.

Scammers will take advantage of this to try to steal your money, your personal information, or both. So, to help avoid scammers, use only irs.gov/coronavirus and the tools there to submit sensitive information to the IRS. Use the IRS’s guide to figure out which IRS tool to use. And, visit the IRS’s Economic Impact Payment Center for answers to common questions. Consider talking with a tax professional if your tax filing situation is complex.

With economic impact money flowing in, and many people confused about the distribution process, this is a time to stay on high alert for scammers.

Here are some things that ONLY scammers will do:
*Call, email, or text you to ask for, or “verify,” your personal or financial information. The IRS will not contact you by phone, email, text, or social media about your payment.

*Ask you to pay a transfer or other fee to get your stimulus money. There are no fees.

*Send you a very real-looking check for more than you’re expecting, then tell you to deposit it, take your proper payment, and return the “overpayment” by sending cash, gift cards, or money transfers. A bank may be fooled and cash the check, but when it turns out to be fraudulent – which it will – you will owe the bank any money that you withdrew.

Learn more about avoiding economic impact payment scams at http://www.ftc.gov. And, if you spot a scam, please tell FTC about it at ftc.gov/complaint.
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SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provided free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 24, 2020

WORK AT HOME JOB SEEKERS SCAMS

Courtesy http://www.scambusters.org

Among the millions of people forced to stay home, hundreds of thousands who’ve lost their jobs or suffered a pay cut because of the Coronavirus lockdown are likely seeking work-at-home employment.

Even if things start resuming and reopening, many will never go back to their old jobs and are thinking about reframing their lives and careers by working from home longer term.

And since work-from-home schemes have always been a well-practiced con trick, the Covid outbreak is a golden opportunity for scammers. People desperate to find work, often facing financial difficulties, are highly vulnerable, and you can be sure the crooks will show no mercy.

While it may be true that more and more firms are looking to employ people as freelancers or independent contractors to work from home, their opportunities are easily outstripped by those from the con artists.

The most common red flag that signals a likely work-from-home scam is an offer of big money for what seems to be a relatively easy job or small amount of work. Often, fake job ads include phony testimonials from people claiming to be earning thousands of dollars every month.

Or they fail to mention that in order to jump on the bandwagon of whatever work they’re peddling, applicants have to pay for supplies, training, registration or any one of many other ruses to get their hands on your case.

Worse, some of the scams are actually fronts for criminal activities. These are the type of jobs in which the victim has to forward packages abroad or cash checks and wire the proceeds to an untraceable destination.

These forwarding or “mule” jobs are invariably the final stage in which other victims have been tricked earlier into paying money to scammers or have had their card details stolen and used to buy goods online. Although usually innocent victims, mules can find themselves on the wrong side of the law, potentially facing a jail sentence.

Pay a Fee

And then there’s the simplest of all work-from-home employment scams: people claiming they can find you work if you pay them a fee.

Getting caught out by one of these scams usually happens at the worst possible time — like after a Coronavirus job loss or furlough. It’s prompted the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to issue a renewed warning.

“Ads offer a variety of work-at-home jobs – internet businesses, shipping or mailing work, selling goods, and more,” says FTC attorney Lisa Weintraub Schifferle. “But many of these ‘jobs’ are scams, aimed at getting your money, and won’t deliver on the claims they make.”

Taking a cautious approach can help you avoid these tricksters. Here’s how.

• Don’t believe an easy or big money at-home job ad. It’s almost certainly a fake.
• Never pay upfront to anyone claiming they can find you a job. Reliable employment agencies earn their money from employers, not employees.
In particular, watch out for fake federal government jobs. Often these are posted by scammers posing as job finders; they label the work as “previously undisclosed” jobs — implying that they somehow have privileged access to this work, so they want payment for it. In reality, information on government jobs is free from usajobs.gov.
• Don’t pay in advance for supplies, equipment, training, medical/drug tests or anything else that’s supposedly a requirement before you can start work.
• Thoroughly research any individual or organization offering work to find out if they’re legit. What do others say about them? Do they have a verifiable business address?
Under its Business Opportunities Rule, the FTC requires work-from-home employers to give candidates a “disclosure” document with key pieces of information you can use to check them out.
• Beware of unsolicited contact from a potential employer. They may say they found your details on a jobs board. If you didn’t post them, you know it’s a scam. If you did post them, follow the step above.
• Don’t work for someone who offers you a job without apparently knowing anything about you and without them interviewing or checking you out.
Likewise, don’t be convinced by a phone or video interview that a potential employer is legit. You still must check up on them.
• Don’t provide information about yourself to someone you haven’t thoroughly checked out. For example, they may say they need your bank details so they can forward payment when they’re really identity thieves.
• Don’t accept a job offer that involves forwarding goods or money. You may get paid but that’s no good if you’re behind bars.

Finally, there are several sites that list legitimate work at home jobs, such as FlexJobs. Find others using an online search on a term such as “legitimate work at home companies.”

You can also learn more about the most common fake work-from-home jobs and how to spot them here: FTC Work-at-Home Businesses.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who assists low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.
April 23, 2020.

CORONAVIRUS STIMULUS PAYMENT SCAMS  – What you need to know

(Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission)

There has been a flood of information and updates about the government’s economic impact payments, or so-called stimulus checks.

Scammers are using these stimulus payments to try to rip people off. They might try to get you to pay a fee to get your stimulus payment. Or they might try to convince you to give them your Social Security number, bank account, or government benefits debit card account number.

The more you know about the process, the less likely you are going to be tripped up by calls, text messages, or emails from scammers trying to steal your money or personal information.

Here’s what you need to know about the stimulus payments and how to avoid scams related to these payments.

Who will get money?

Adult U.S. residents that meet established income limits are eligible to receive money from the government. This includes:

Taxpayers – people who filed a federal tax return for 2018 or 2019.

Retirees – people who get Social Security, Railroad, or other retirement benefits.

Beneficiaries – people who get public benefits like SSDI, disability, or veterans’ benefits.

Non-filers – people who do not have to file a federal tax return, including people who made no income or made less than $12,200 (or $24,400 for married couples).

If you get Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits, have a qualifying child, and didn’t file a return in 2018 or 2019, you have to take action by noon ET on Wednesday, April 22 to add the $500 per eligible child to your payment. See details from the IRS.

What to do:

Most people don’t have to do anything to get their money because the IRS will use the same payment method – direct deposit, Direct Express debit card, or paper check – used to send you your tax refund, Social Security, retirement, or other government benefits money. If the IRS does not have your direct deposit information, you can go to the “Get My Payment” feature at irs.gov/coronavirus and let them know where to send your direct deposit.

If you don’t usually file a tax return, go to irs.gov/coronavirus to access the “Non-filer” portal and to figure out what, if anything, you have to do to claim your money.

To check on the status of your payment, you can now use the “Get My Payment” feature at irs.gov/coronavirus.

Tips for avoiding Coronavirus stimulus payment scams:

Only use irs.gov/coronavirus to submit information to the IRS – and never in response to a call, text, or email.

The IRS will not contact you by phone, email, text message, or social media with information about your stimulus payment, or to ask you for your Social Security number, bank account, or government benefits debit card account number. Anyone who does is a scammer phishing for your information.

You do not have to pay to get your stimulus money.

The IRS will not tell you to deposit your stimulus check then send them money back because they paid you more than they owed you. That’s a fake check scam.

Report scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.
To keep up with the latest scams, sign up for the FTC’s consumer alerts.
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SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 21, 2020

FINANCIAL IMPACT OF COVID-19

COVID-19 has thrown the economy into a tailspin. Many people have been laid off, furloughed, or are working fewer hours. As wages dry up, bills can pile up. Debt can be tricky – especially when you are short on money.

Here are some ideas from the US Federal Trade Commission about how you can manage your debts and start regaining your financial footing.

Gather your bills: Make a list of your monthly bills: rent/mortgage, car payment, utilities, student loans, medical bills, and anything else. Factor in how much you need for food, medicine, and other necessities.

Ask for help: Many companies have special programs to help. Contact the companies to whom you owe money. They might agree to a new payment plan with lower payments or delayed due dates. Make sure to get in writing any changes.

Find out if your state or local government offers programs that will allow you to hold off on paying some bills right now.

Trouble with your mortgage payment.  If you have a government-backed mortgage, you may be able to delay payment by contacting your servicer by calling the number on your statement.

Need additional help. The US Federal Trade Commission has advice on how to cope with debt in the short term, and how to get out of debt when you are able. WWW.FTC.gov/creditcounselor has tips on how to choose a counselor for guidance.

Prioritize if you need to: If you still can’t pay everything on time, look at what would happen if you couldn’t pay each bill and decide which to pay first. Would you lose your home? Would your car be repossessed? Would your debt go into collection and affect your credit report?

SCAMS

Watch out for scams: In stressful times, scammers are everywhere. Beware of anyone purporting to be a debt management entity that guarantees it will manage or pay your debts. Do not pay up front for that fake service

If you are aware of a debt relief scam, FTC wants to know. Let us know at ftc.gov/complaint.
Attb: FTC

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

April 18, 2020

CHECK WASHING SCAM

Check washing is back. That’s the scam in which criminals steal checks from victims’ mailboxes and change the name of the payee (the person receiving the money) to themselves. Check washing works because it’s easy to do and difficult to spot.

According to the National Check Fraud Center (NCFC), scammers use the technique to get away with millions of dollars every year. The scam works because many people have either forgotten or don’t even know it exists. That includes bank tellers who hand over cash to the crooks.

The crooks erase payee details using chemicals found in common household cleaning products. They then take great care to try to match the ink color and remaining handwriting when they insert their own name. In most cases, they also alter the amount for which the check is made out. They use a fake name, of course, and then march into a bank with a matching fake ID, like a phony driver’s license, and ask for the cash.

The first knowledge the victim usually has is when the person or organization to whom they sent the money notifies them that they haven’t been paid, or when they discover a check that was sent to them never arrived.

In some cases, banks have agreed to compensate victims by refunding the lost money, but this depends entirely on the bank’s policy.

Protective Tips

Are you still using checks to pay bills, or to receive payments from others via the postal service? If so, consider other more secure ways of paying your bills — such as via credit or debit card or direct payment/transfer from your bank. Likewise, others can pay you via electronic transfer or PayPal.

Use a gel pen to write the check. This ink is reportedly more difficult to remove than regular ballpoint ink.

Don’t place payments checks in an unlocked mailbox. Ideally, post them at a post office. You could place them in a USPS mailbox, but these are also potentially vulnerable to thieves. Best practice is to place them in the box just before the last collection of the day.

If you have no alternative to using your own mailbox, place the payment check in the box just before your mail person’s normal collection time. At the very least, don’t leave it in the box overnight, on Sundays, or holidays.

If you expect to receive check payments in the mail, ensure you have a lockable box that self-locks on closing after the deliverer has placed the items inside.

Check your bank statement regularly to view copies of your paid checks. Most banks will either return presented checks to customers (on request) or make images of them available online.

Finally, if you’re discarding a check, perhaps because you made a mistake, or you deposited an incoming one electronically via a scanner, shred it. Don’t just put it in the trash where crooks may find it.

ATTB: scambusters.org

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

April 15, 2020

CORONAVIRUS MORTGAGE SCAMS

Because of the Coronavirus, many people are facing financial challenges, especially paying their mortgage. If you’re unable to make your mortgage payments, you could lose your home to foreclosure. Federal lenders and some private lenders are offering borrowers temporary help, like stopping or delaying foreclosure or modifying the mortgage.

Scammers

It’s tempting to hire a company that says they can get a change to your loan that will reduce your monthly mortgage payment or take other steps to save your home. Unfortunately, many companies use half-truths and even outright lies to sell their services, or they make promises but don’t deliver.

Don’t pay up-front for help.

Federal law says that even if you hire someone to help you with your mortgage, you don’t have to pay them until they deliver the results you want. It’s illegal for a company to charge you a penny until you’ve accepted their written offer for a loan modification or other relief from your lender, and you’re free to reject an offer you don’t like. Even if you hire someone, you should always feel free to contact your mortgage servicer directly to see whether they can offer you additional loan options.

Need advice?

You can contact an approved counselor. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) lists approved housing counseling agencies in your state who can explain your options. Consider contacting the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF) at 888-995-HOPE. HPF is a nonprofit organization that partners with mortgage companies, local governments, and other organizations to help consumers get loan modifications and prevent foreclosures.

Your state may offer additional support. Some states have frozen foreclosures. Find your state government’s website and look for the latest updates on help for borrowers.

Financial considerations of the Coronavirus.

A new federal law, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, creates two protections for some borrowers. The first is a temporary suspension – called a moratorium – of foreclosures for 60 days, starting March 18.

To be eligible, you must have a federally backed mortgage and be experiencing financial hardship because of the Coronavirus.

The second protection is a right to forbearance for 180 days. That means you can ask your loan servicer to reduce or suspend your mortgage payments for that time. If after six months, you’re still having trouble paying, you can request forbearance for another 180 days.

To know if your mortgage is federally backed you can call your mortgage servicer. You can get your servicer’s contact information from your billing statement.

More than half of U.S. mortgages are backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and these mortgages count as federally backed.

To learn whether your mortgage is owned by Fannie Mae call (800) 232-6643.

To learn whether your mortgage is owned by Freddie Mac call (800) 373-3343.

If your loan is backed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (FHA mortgages), Department of Agriculture (USDA mortgages), or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA mortgages), you also may be eligible for relief.

You can contact your loan servicer for information, no matter what type of mortgage you have. Tell them your situation and ask what options are available to you. Even if your mortgage is not federally backed, you may still qualify for other help.

If you’re considering forbearance, keep in mind that it is not loan forgiveness. You can ask your loan servicer for information about what happens after the forbearance ends. Your servicer should be able to tell you if it will extend the loan term so you can make the missed payments later, if your monthly payments will go up to make up the difference, if you will owe the entire unpaid amount in a lump sum, and how forbearance could affect your credit.

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission

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

April 11, 2020

FAKE CORONAVIRUS TEST KITS

The torrent of Covid-19 scams seems unstoppable. Fake test kits are being peddled by door-to-door scammers.

The scammers are playing on fear and uncertainty about if or when tests will be more widely available and before proper home test kits become available online and in pharmacies (if that ever happens).

In an urgency, many consumers are falling for the doorstep con and handing over $50 for a worthless “test.” In some cases, victims say sellers claim they need to do the test themselves and have entered their homes and stolen items.

Don’t fall for this. Research shows that even genuine kits that are arriving from China are only 40% accurate. And if reliable home tests do become available, they’re unlikely to come from front door solicitors.

In the absence of a reliable home test, the best way to check for the infection and avoid wasting $50 is to monitor your personal health, looking out for symptoms.

Need to know more? Visit the new coronavirus.gov official site for information.

You can do your friends and families a favor by passing on this warning to them.

Attribution: scambusters.org

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

April 9, 2020

REMOTE LEARNING and CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

(Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission, http://www.ftc.gov)

“Social distancing,” “shelter-in-place,” “virtual happy hour” – these are some f the new expressions on everyone’s lips the past few weeks. For many kids, parents, and teachers, add “remote learning” or “distance learning” to the list. Because of Coronavirus-related school closures, millions of students are now learning from home. For parents who are concerned about the privacy and security of their children’s personal data while they’re learning online, here are some things to know.

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) generally requires websites and online services to get consent from parents before collecting personal information from kids younger than 13.

If your child’s school is providing remote learning: Under COPPA, schools can consent on behalf of parents to the collection of student personal information by educational technology services. If your school has consented, then the service may only use that information for educational – not commercial – purposes. If you have questions about a service’s privacy and security practices, first review its online privacy notice. If you still have questions, consider asking your school. Remember, please, to be patient with your child’s school, as many schools are working hard to implement distance learning and may not be able to respond quickly. If you’d like to learn more, check out the U.S. Department of Education’s Student Privacy Policy Office’s new guidance on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) – “FERPA and Virtual Learning.”

If you’re looking for remote learning opportunities for your child separate from school: Review the service’s privacy and security policies. Look for services that clearly explain their data collection and use policies.

While you’re at it, this is a good time to talk to your child about how to stay safe online. Discuss things like the importance of using strong passwords and the implications of posting or sharing information online. The FTC has guidance for parents to help keep kids safe online, including ways to avoid child identity theft and what to do if it happens. So, let the remote learning begin!
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SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal assistance for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 7, 2020

SCAMMER ERRAND RUNNERS

Older adults may be hard hit by the coronavirus – and scammers prey on that. Scammers are offering help with errands, and running off with the money.

If you or someone you know must stay at home and needs help with errands, you’ll want to be alert about this latest scam.

If you’re an older adult or a caregiver for one, you may need help picking up groceries, prescriptions, and other necessary supplies. If someone you don’t know offers to help, be wary. Some scammers offer to buy supplies but never come back with the goods or the money. It’s usually safer to find a trusted friend or neighbor or arrange a delivery with a well-known company.

If you’re ordering supplies online, know who you’re buying from. Phony online sellers may claim to have in-demand products, like cleaning, household, and medical supplies when, in fact, they don’t. Use an established delivery service, or order directly from the store. Many grocery stores and pharmacies are offering contactless delivery.

If you need additional help for yourself or a loved one, the Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, can connect you to services for older adults and their families. That number is 1-800-677-1116.

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission.