SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

February 24, 2021

FREE VIRUS TEST KITS SCAM

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact the United States, scammers have seized the opportunity. They are using robocalls and call-back scams to offer free home testing kits.

Fraudsters are preying on financial fears tied to the pandemic.

Reports have also been received about robocalls purporting to offer free virus test kits. This is an effort to collect consumers’ personal and health insurance information. One version of this scam targets higher risk individuals with diabetes, offering a free COVID-19 testing kit along with a free diabetic monitor.

Government Checks

Many consumers are receiving checks as part of the federal government response to the coronavirus. No government person will call or text you to verify your personal information or bank account details to “release” the funds.

The Federal Communications Commission offers the following tips to help you protect yourself from scams, including coronavirus scams:

*Do not respond to calls or texts from unknown numbers, or any others that appear suspicious.

*Never share your personal or financial information via email, text messages, or over the phone.

*Be cautious if you are being pressured to share any information or make a payment immediately.

*Scammers often spoof phone numbers to trick you into answering or responding.  Remember that government agencies will never call you to ask for personal information or money.

*Do not click any links in a text message. If a friend sends you a text with a suspicious link that seems out of character, call them to make sure they were not hacked.

Phony Charity

Always check on a purported charity (for example, by calling or looking at its actual website) before donating.

If you think you have been a victim of a coronavirus scam, contact local law enforcement and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission www.ftc.gov immediately.

ATTRIBUTION: FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

February 17, 2021

COVID-19 VACCINES SCAMS

With distribution of COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, scammers are trying to capitalize on the rollout.

Fraudsters are using scam robocalls and texts to prey on older adults and cash in on their fear of COVID-19 and uncertainty around vaccine appointments.

The Center for Disease Control has recommended the initial phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program be offered to healthcare personnel and residents of long-term care facilities. 

Vaccination plans will vary across state and local governments. You can check with your state or local health department to learn when and how to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

For more information about the coronavirus, visit https://www.coronavirus.gov.

FTC Tips

*Don’t pay to sign up for the vaccine. Anyone who asks for a payment to put you on a list, make an appointment for you, or reserve a spot in line is a scammer.

*Ignore sales ads for the COVID-19 vaccine. You can’t buy it – anywhere, including online pharmacies. The vaccine is only available at federal- and state-approved locations, such as vaccination centers and pharmacies.

*Watch for unexpected or unusual texts. Don’t click on links in text messages – especially messages you didn’t expect. If your health care provider or pharmacist has used text messages to contact you in the past, you might get a text from them about the vaccine. If you get a text, call your health care provider or pharmacist directly to make sure they sent the text. Scammers are texting, too.

*Don’t open emails, attachments, or links from people you don’t know, or that come unexpectedly. You could download dangerous malware onto your computer or phone.

*Don’t share your personal, financial, or health information with people you don’t know. No one from a vaccine distribution site, health care provider’s office, pharmacy, health insurance company or Medicare, will call, text, or email you asking for your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number to sign you up to get the vaccine.

Caution !

In short, you can’t pay to skip the line, reserve your spot, or join a critical trial. Be wary of any inbound calls or texts that ask for your Social Security number, financial details, or insurance information to reserve a spot for you.

Report COVID-19 vaccine scams to the FTC online, reportfraud.ftc.gov.

ATTRIBUTION: US Federal Trade Commission

SCAMS BULLTIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California.

February 11, 2021

HEALTH INSURANCE SCAMS

Health insurance coverage is a vital part of every personal plan. Finding and obtaining the right health plan can feel like navigating a maze. Bewildering coverage and cost choices are a challenge.  Shady operators count on that confusion to sell insurance products and health services that deliver far fewer benefits than promised — or none at all.

These schemes proliferate when health care is in the news and on our minds. The coronavirus pandemic has brought robocalls and phishing emails peddling bogus “corona insurance” supposedly covering COVID-19 treatment.

Fraudsters try to convince you they have a simple solution to the complexity and expense of obtaining insurance coverage. They cold-call potential marks or generate leads through websites, using paid advertising to get to the top of search results, and claim to offer “comprehensive” health plans that meet “Obamacare” or “Trumpcare” requirements. The resulting policies likely turn out to be, at best, far skimpier than advertised and at worst outright fakes.

Often, victims are tricked into buying medical discount plans instead of insurance.  They are bound to pay a monthly fee to receive reduced prices on specific services and products from participating health care providers. Some discount programs are legitimate, but as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns, they are not a substitute for health insurance.

Scammers impersonate representatives of the government-run health insurance marketplace. They will tell you they need personal information to verify your application for insurance or that they can help you choose the right plan — for a fee.

Warning Signs

*High-pressure sales pitches that push low-cost plans or offer special rates if you sign up right away.

*Claims that a plan is licensed under ERISA, the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act. Insurance companies are licensed by the states, not by any federal body.

*A plan requires you to join an “association” or “union” to get covered. These may be fake organizations designed to create the illusion that you are buying group health insurance.

*Someone contacting you about health coverage claims to be from the government. No government representative will ever try to sell you insurance.

Do’s

*Do compare rates. Premiums for comprehensive coverage that are far lower than what you see elsewhere are probably too good to be true.

*Do confirm with your state insurance commissioner that a plan provider is licensed.

*Do insist on seeing a statement of benefits or a complete copy of the policy.

*Do learn the difference between medical discount plans and health insurance. The FTC offers guidance.

Ask specific questions to make sure you know what you are getting.

*Do research an association or union named in an insurance pitch. Look for a U.S. street address and phone number, and for evidence of activity other than selling health insurance.

*Do check out an unfamiliar company that says it sells plans through a major insurer such as BlueCross/BlueShield. The affiliation should be confirmed with the big-name insurer.

 Don’ts

*Don’t enter personal information on a website in exchange for a price quote. You likely are setting yourself up for identity theft or a barrage of sales calls.

*Don’t keep talking to a sales agent who gives vague or evasive answers to coverage questions or tells you the details are “in the brochure.”

*Don’t sign up for a plan if the bar for acceptance seems too low — for example, if you are not required to get a physical or provide a medical history. Some scam sites claim you can get insurance just through filling out a form.

*Don’t give bank, credit card or personal information, or make a payment, in exchange for assistance in getting ACA coverage. Help navigating the health insurance marketplace is available free. Go to HealthCare.gov and click “Find Local Help.” Real health insurance marketplace representatives will not ask you for personal or financial data.

You can obtain tips on avoiding scams by sign up for AARP Watchdog Alerts. Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360

ATTRIBUTION: AARP

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is an inactive attorney in San Mateo County, California

February 3, 2021

PAY YOUR RENT SCAM

Avoid scammers offering to pay your rent.

If you’re facing eviction for any reason, there are legitimate organizations out there who can help you. But there are also fake “organizations” and “charities” who can hurt you.

COVID-19 has created an even greater opportunity for scammers to target people — people who are just trying to get help with paying their rent or taking care of other financial needs. Scammers may call, email, or text, saying you can get money for rent. Or they may say they can get you legal help to avoid eviction. No matter what kind of help they promise, these scammers always tell you to give them money up front or hand over your personal information first. But those are dead giveaways that it’s a scam.

Find out about local programs that offer rental assistance and other help.

Whether someone you don’t know contacts you out of the blue, or you go looking for rental assistance, there are ways to protect yourself:

Never give your Social Security, bank account, credit card, or debit card number to anyone who contacts you. And even if you’re the one reaching out, do your research on the organization first, before you share your personal info.

If you look online for help with your rent, search for the names of the groups you find, plus the words “scam,” “fraud,” or “complaint,” to see what others are saying. Do that before you contact them.

If you’re facing eviction, you still have rights. The first step in most evictions is a written notice. Check with your local court system for more details about the eviction process and your rights. You also may qualify for free legal services and be able to speak to a lawyer to learn about your rights.

If you spot a rental assistance scam like this, please tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

ATTRIBUTION: WWW.FTC.GOV