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

May 30, 2020

CHAIN LETTER SCAM

Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission

A chain letter, by any other name, is still designed and intended to steal money.

You may be invited to play “The Circle Game,” join a “Blessing Loom,” or jump on a “Money Board”? These are some of the names for an online scam that’s making the rounds at a time when millions of people are out of work and scraping for cash. It promises a big return for a modest investment.

Do not fall for it. You’re virtually guaranteed to lose your money, or pull in friends and family who will lose theirs.

Also known as the “Mandala Game,” “Blessing Circle,” “Infinity Loom,” “Giving Circle,” and by other names, the scam is a chain letter-type of pyramid scheme. While versions vary slightly, the one we’re hearing about most promises that you’ll collect $800 for an investment of $100 and, at the same time, help bring good fortune to someone else by recruiting them to join.

Here’s how it works.

You see a post or get a direct message on Instagram, Facebook, or other social media. It invites you to join the Circle or Loom by sending $100 through PayPal or another digital payment service to the person whose name is at the center of an octagon-shaped playing board. Your payment gets you one of eight spots on the outer ring of the board and a chance to move towards the center by recruiting other people to join. As more people join, your board changes and the number of playing boards expands. Eventually, you’re supposed to land at the center of a playing board and collect $100 from each of eight new recruits on the outer ring. That’s when you leave the game or start all over again with another $100 payment.

What’s the harm? Like other types of pyramid schemes, these chain letters depend on recruiting new people to keep money flowing into the enterprise. There are no products sold or real investments creating profits. Once players run out of new recruits to bring into the game, the money dries up and everyone waiting to reach the center comes up empty handed.

If you get an offer to join an online game like this, beware ­– it’s a scam. The warning signs? Promises that you will make money by paying in yourself and recruiting others to do the same. If the offer comes from a friend or family member, warn them.

And, if you’ve paid someone to join this game, please tell us: ftc.gov/complaint. Your report can help us protect others from a scam.

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

May 29, 2020

NIGERIAN SCAMS

Nigeria is home to a wide variety of online fraud variants. They are all designed to wrongfully take a victim’s money. Nigeria has a track record of being home to e-mail scammers since the 1990s.

A Nigerian e-mail scam usually results in a victim being convinced to take leap of faith, transferring money online in anticipation of receiving a valuable good or service. In most cases, the victim does not receive anything.

How Nigerian Scam E-mails Work

A scammer may send the victim an e-mail message telling the victim that the scammer is in communication with the representative of the estate of a deceased Nigerian prince. The victim is told they have been chosen to inherit a certain amount of wealth from the “prince.” The victim is asked to send a few thousand dollars as a gesture of goodwill and pay expenses before the full sum is distributed. Once the scammer receives the money from the victim, the “prince” disappears without a trace.

A scammer may represent himself as being in questionable possession of a large amount of gold. It can be obtained for a very low price that would allow a purchaser to realize a big gain. The gold would be shipped to the victim after the victim has paid the requested amount. No gold will be delivered.

A scammer purports to be an attorney representing the estate of a victim’s relative who died in Nigeria. The victim is told they are entitled to a large distribution from the estate. First, however, the victim must send money to cover attorney fees, medical, funeral and other expenses. No such relative existed.

Caution is advised in response to any Nigerian communication requesting money.

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.

May 22, 2020

ZOOMBOMBING

“Zoom” is the name of a suddenly popular video chat app that allows multiple people to remotely join a conversation. It was designed for business use. It has become a boon for employees required to attend virtual meetings while working from home.

“Zoombombing” is a new crime spawned by hackers bent on invading or disrupting video conferences in many places.

Services other than Zoom could be vulnerable. Microsoft has a popular professional product called Teams, while Facebook recently joined the fray with its own version of multi-person video called Messenger Rooms.

How It works:

Hackers drop in on Zoom conversations and often disrupting them with insults and threats. They have thrown up pornographic images on participants’ screens. They can threaten security.

Tips aimed at organizers to counter the Zoombombers:

Tell your participants not to publicize the meeting, especially with links, on social networks.

Be cautious and aware of all meeting participants. Make sure you know them and why they are there.

Do not allow participants to join the meeting before you do — or to hang around afterwards.

Use the software’s “waiting room” feature, that allows you to review participants before virtually opening the door to them.

For meetings where not everyone is known, do not allow use of virtual backgrounds (downloaded from the Internet) because intruders might use them to post inappropriate messages.

Your safety feature may allow you to place a would-be participant on “hold” and unable to take part until you have established their credentials.

Be wary about how you name meetings. Zoombombers are good at guessing them and sneaking in, especially if you use family or business names. Zoom has its own mechanism for generating meeting names that you can use.

Consider using entry passwords. They are a must for meetings that include children.

Once meetings are in action, there are several controls available to organizers including the ability to mute one or more participants, turning off whiteboard sharing and disabling file transfers during chat, to prevent Zoombombers from sending malware to others taking part.

For a full Consumer Reports article, visit www.https://www.consumerreports.org/video-conferencing-services/how-to-prevent-zoombombing/

ATTRIBUTION: scambusters.org

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

May 17, 2020

PHONY FUNERAL NOTIFICATION

Scammers have reached a new low. They are sending bogus emails with the subject line “funeral notification.”

The message appears to be from a legitimate funeral home, offers condolences, and invites you to click on a link for more information about the upcoming “celebration of your friend’s life service.” But instead of sending you to the funeral home’s website, the link sends you to a foreign domain where the scammers can download malware to your computer.

Malware, short for “malicious software,” includes viruses and spyware that get installed on your computer without your consent. These programs can cause your device to crash and can be used to monitor and control your online activity. Criminals use malware to steal personal information, send spam, and commit fraud.

If you receive an email about a friend or loved one having passed away, the Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, says hit Delete. Do not click on the link. You may then want to contact the funeral home or family directly to verify or discredit the information.

Tips to reduce your risk of downloading unwanted malware and spyware:

*Keep your security software updated.

*Don’t click on any links or open any attachment in emails unless you know who sent it and what it is.

*Download and install software only from websites you know and trust.

*Make sure your browser security setting is high enough to detect unauthorized downloads.

*Use a pop-up blocker and do not click on any links within pop-ups.

*Resist buying software in response to unexpected pop-up messages or emails, especially ads that claim to have scanned your computer and detected malware. That is a trick crooks use to spread malware.

*Back up your data regularly.

ATTRIBUTION: US Federal Trade Commission, http://www.ftc.gov.

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

May 15, 2020

SMARTPHONE STALKERWARE SCAM

Cyberstalkers have a new weapon in their efforts to virtually follow their victims — stalkerware.

Online stalking has been defined as the use of the Internet for monitoring and, often, harassing an individual. It involves all kinds of sinister motives, including scamming victims, stealing their identity, blackmailing, bullying, and intimidation.

Using stalkerware, scammers can see all the things you see on your smartphone, hear all the things you hear, pinpoint your physical location, and even remotely control your camera and microphone,” explains Malwarebytes’ Wendy Zamora.

Your calls can be intercepted, eavesdropped on, and recorded — all without your knowledge as the smartphone owner. Information can then be reported back to the scammer.

Stalkerware is available openly. It may be deceptively promoted as software for parental monitoring of teens. Or, for its ability to keep an eye on activities of spouses and other partners.

Getting Around Built-in Security:

Stalkerware programs have been able to avoid built-in security on some smartphones during installation. Scammers  can sometimes skirt the law by appearing to have a legitimate purpose.

State and federal authorities rely on laws that were not originally written to defend against cyberstalking. That makes it difficult to legally tackle the stalkerware criminals.

What to Do:

You could install protective security software on your smartphone. Many smartphone owners have anti-malware software on their PCs but not on their smartphones.

It is not always easy to know if stalkerware apps have been installed on your smartphone. Presence of snooping stalkerware could be signaled by a surge in your phone’s data usage, or if your battery drains quicker than usual.

Guidance in avoiding cyberstalkers is offered at https://scambusters.org/cyberstalking.html.

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.

May 13, 2020

INVESTMENT SCAMS

Prudent investment is a common means of increasing wealth. But there is always risk in investments. A con artist will tell you otherwise. You should know there is a risk before you invest.

Beware of promises that you will make big profits fast. No one can accurately predict how an investment will produce profit. Often the investments that promise the greatest pay-off have the most risk.

Investment guidance from a licensed professional should be obtained to minimize risk.
Investment considerations:

*Get the details in writing. Legitimate companies will be happy to give you all the information you need.

*Do not agree quickly. Pressure by anyone to act immediately is a sign of fraud.

*Understand your investments. Do your educational homework before you invest. Know differences between stocks and bonds, margin accounts, cash accounts, options, futures, mutual funds and certificates of deposit.

*Do not act on testimonials or suggestions from strangers. Someone who appears to want to share a friendly tip about a great investment opportunity may be a con artist trying to lure you into an investment scam.

*Be especially wary of investments in commodities. Crooks often promise that the value of investments in coins, precious metals, artwork, oil leases, gemstones, and other commodities will rise. The truth is the value of these types of investments can go up or down significantly.

*Steer clear of “offshore investments.” These are often promoted to avoid taxes. You will likely still be liable for taxes, and the investments themselves are usually very risky.

*Be cautious about emails for investments. Many unsolicited emails are fraudulent.

*Take the time to check out investment offers. A good place to start is with your state securities regulator. Other resources for information to help you make wise investment decisions include: U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, 800- 732-0330; the North American Securities Administrators Association, 202-737-0900; and the National Futures Association (for investments in commodities), 800-621-3570.

Attribution: fraud.org

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

May 11, 2020

CORONAVIRUS SCAMS

Coronavirus scams are spreading nearly as fast as the virus itself.

Fraudsters are using the full suite of scam tools — phishing emails and texts, robocalls, impostor schemes and more to steal money with their dirty work.

Here are some types of coronavirus scams:

*Bogus claims to cure or prevent COVID-19

*Bogus approved vaccines. No vaccines or drugs have been approved specifically to treat or prevent COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

*Bogus claims that teas, essential oils, cannabinol, colloidal silver and intravenous vitamin-C therapies are among defenses against the pandemic.

*Other scammers claim to be selling or offering in-demand supplies such as surgical masks, test kits and household cleaners, often in robocalls, texts or social media ads.

With many Americans set to receive stimulus checks under the federal CARES Act, the US Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is warning of a wave of schemes promising to speed up your payment. Watch out for calls or emails, purportedly from government agencies, that use the term “stimulus” (the official term is “economic-impact payment”) and asking you to sign over a check or provide personal information like your Social Security number or bank account number.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has issued warnings to many companies suspected of abetting coronavirus robocalls, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) set up a dedicated website with information on COVID-19 phone scams. Other scammers will likely take their place.

The US Justice Department has shut down a number of bogus websites, many with terms like “coronavirus” or “covid19” in the domain name, or that promise vaccines and other aid, often purporting to represent government agencies or humanitarian organizations.

Be cautious when you browse for information about coronavirus. Developing and testing vaccines for viruses takes a long time. You will hear about them first from a legitimate source, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the World Health Organization (WHO).

Attribution: AARP.org

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

May 6, 2020

PET ADOPTION SCAM

Courtesy Fraud.Org

There are heartwarming stories about how animals in community pet shelters have been adopted out during the pandemic.

Unfortunately, scammers are busy looking for clever ways to defraud would-be pet owners. One scam in particular — pet adoption scam — has seen a significant spike.

Here is why:

*Traditional pet adoption channels such as animal shelters, rescue organizations, and local breeders have been shut down due to the coronavirus, leading more consumers to look online for pets and stumble on to phony pet adoption websites.

*The pandemic is forcing would-be pet owners to remain isolated, so more people may be searching online for animal companions.

*Because of social isolation required by COVID-19, potential pet owners may be more willing to try and obtain a pet that they have not seen in person.

*Potential pet owners who are new to purchasing goods online may not be accustomed to spotting the warning signs of fake websites and may be more susceptible to these scams.

In a typical pet adoption scam, a scammer will create a fake website with a domain name related to a breed of dog or cat. It may be combined with words like “puppy” or “kitten.”. The websites may have photos of cute animals to entice visitors to reach out to the website owner (who is a criminal with no animals to offer).

Potential pet owners who respond to the ads will be instructed to pay fees before the animal can be shipped. Fictitious costs may include “shipping fees,” “inoculations,” “quarantine fees,” “insurance,” or even “COVID-safe shipping crates.”

To guard against these scams, here are suggested steps:

*Wait. Do not allow yourself to be rushed. Avoid shopping for a pet until after the COVID lockdowns have been lifted.

*Never pay any fee to obtain an animal that you have not seen with your own eyes (as opposed to via pictures or videos online).

*If anyone asks you to send money overseas, particularly to pet adoption scam hotspots such as Cameroon or India, it is a scam.

*Beware of “free” pet offers online. These are often simply ruses to get you to pay shipping or other fees for non-existent animals.

If you are planning to buy a specific breed of animal, make sure you are working with a reputable breeder or rescue organization. The American Kennel Club and the American Humane Society are good places to start when looking for reputable, ethical breeders and rescue groups.

If you have been on the receiving end of a pet adoption scam or any other coronavirus-related phone call, email, or text message that you think is a scam, Fraud Org wants to hear from you! File a complaint at http://www.Fraud.org.

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

May 2, 2020

BITCOIN BLACKMAIL SCAMS

Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission

Bitcoin blackmail scams have taken a big jump in the last few weeks. The scammer emails may say they hacked into your computer and recorded your visiting adult websites.

They threaten to distribute the video to your friends and family within hours, unless you pay into their Bitcoin account.  Stop. Don’t pay anything. Delete the message. It is a scam.

Based on the timing of this spike, you may get one of these messages because your email was exposed in a recent data breach. The scammers may say they have access to your computer or webcam, or they may have installed clever software to defeat you. That’s all just talk.

But they may really know one of your old – or recent – passwords. They may include it in the message as proof. When you see that, you know it’s time to update your password on that account, and consider updating other passwords, too.

If you, or someone you know, get a message like this, please report it to the FTC at http://www.FTC.gov/Complaint.