A Free Public Service

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

March 30, 2021

NEW STIMULUS PAYMENT SCAM

As authorized by new law, millions of consumers will be in line to receive another round of stimulus payments of as much as $1,400.

With each new round of stimulus payments since the pandemic began last March, scammers have sought ways to defraud consumers out of their checks, their personal information, or both. With that experience in mind, and with potentially larger stimulus checks on the way, fraudsters will be up to their old tricks. 

The best way for consumers to avoid falling victim to these scams is to understand some simple rules about receiving the checks:

*Most consumers will not need to do anything to receive the checks. They will either be direct deposited into your bank account, or you will receive a paper check, or a prepaid debit card in the mail.

*There is no way to get the check “early.” While it may be tempting to believe that a person can arrange an early payment, they are only trying to scam you.

*The IRS will not contact you to confirm your information. After previous rounds of stimulus, scammers sent out convincing-looking emails and text messages claiming to be with the IRS. These messages encouraged consumers to click on a link where personal information like bank account routing information, Social Security Numbers, or other sensitive data were harvested.

To obtain the most up-to-date information about the status of your stimulus check, visit the IRS’ “Get My Payment”.

Beware of scammers impersonating the IRS or other government agencies who claim you were “overpaid” and demand you send money back to them.

If you or someone you know has been a victim of a stimulus check scam, or any other type of fraud, we urge you to file a complaint at Fraud.org via our online complaint form.

Help us fight fraud by sharing your story. We collect complaints from consumers at our secure form and share it with our network of 100 law enforcement partners across the U.S. and Canada. Complaints to Fraud.org are also transmitted to the Federal Trade Commission at www.ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Complaint Information:

First name*

Last name*

Address1

Address2

City

State*

Choose a state

Zip code*

Birth year* (for statistical purposes only)

Ex: 1936

Phone Number*

(___)___-____

Email address*

Complaint Information

Enter the details of the company or person who committed the fraud.

Company name

First name

Last name

Address 1

Address 2

Company city

State

Choose a state

Zip code

Web Address

Phone Number

How did you first encounter this company/individual

Choose a method

Type of Complaint

– Select One –

Date of first contact with seller/company

If the seller/company asked for money, how much?

If you paid the seller/company, how much?

How did you pay?

Choose a method

Comments

Explain what happened; what goods or services were offered, if any; what you have tried to do to resolve the problem; and any other details you think are important that were not captured in the form above. Please provide as many details as you can. Thank you.

ATTRIBUTION: http://www.fraud.org.

A Free Public Service

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

March 24, 2021

FRAUD ALERTS AND CREDIT FREEZES

Looking for ways to protect your identity? Two options to consider are fraud alerts and credit freezes. But what is the difference?

A fraud alert notifies companies to verify your identity before granting new credit in your name. Usually, that means calling you to check if you are really trying to open a new account. Placing a fraud alert is easy – you contact any one of the three nationwide credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion) and that one must notify the other two. A fraud alert is free and lasts one year.

A credit freeze limits access to your credit report so no one, including you, can open new accounts until the freeze is lifted. To be fully protected, you must place a freeze with each of the three credit reporting agencies. You will usually receive a PIN or password to use each time you place or lift the freeze. A credit freeze is free and lasts until you lift it.

Which is right for you? It depends on your personal circumstances. Both fraud alerts and credit freezes can make it harder for identity thieves to open new accounts in your name. With a fraud alert, you keep access to your credit. But freezes are generally best for people who are not planning to take out new credit. Often, that may include older adults, people under guardianship, and children.

To place a fraud alert or credit freeze, use the credit bureau contact information listed below:

TRANSUNION.COM; EXPERIAN.COM; EQUIFAX.COM

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

A Free Public Service

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

March 22, 2021

TAX IMPOSTER SCAM

Some brazen scammers rip off unwary taxpayers by impersonating agents of the Internal Revenue Service. They may call and insist that you have an unpaid tax bill and face arrest unless you pay up immediately.

Con artists have numerous ways to make the hoax seem convincing. They can trick a caller ID to make it appear that the call is coming from an IRS office. They may even know part of your Social Security number.

The IRS says scammers are increasingly turning to robocalls to reach as many potential victims as possible. Their ruses have become more elaborate, with some citing a nonexistent “federal student tax” that they claim their targets have neglected to pay.

You can guard against the phony tax collectors by following some basic precautions:

The IRS communicates mostly through the US mail, including in cases of delinquent taxes. It will generally make contact by phone or in person only after a taxpayer has received multiple written notices.

A phony IRS official may demand immediate payment, threaten to call police and have you arrested — things the IRS never does.

Do’s

Do hang up immediately if you suspect the caller is a phony.

Do forward any unsolicited emails in which someone claims to be from the IRS or the Treasury Department to phishing@irs.gov.

Do consider filing a fraud alert or freezing your credit with the three major credit-reporting bureaus if a scammer knows part of your Social Security number.

Do ask for identification if you are visited by someone claiming to be from the IRS. Actual employees carry two official credentials: a “pocket commission” and an HSPD-12 card, a standard ID for federal workers. An IRS employee will provide, on request, a dedicated agency phone number for you to verify the information on the card.

Don’ts

Don’t provide or confirm personal or financial information over the phone to someone who claims to be a government official.

Don’t respond to a purported IRS email or text message asking for your information. The IRS doesn’t do that.

Don’t agree to pay a tax bill with a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. Scammers prefer these methods because they’re difficult to trace and can be used almost anywhere.

Don’t give credit or debit card numbers to a caller claiming to be an IRS official. The IRS says it never asks for such information over the phone.

Don’t assume a caller who tells you to verify his or her phone number by checking the IRS website is on the level. Caller IDs can be rigged to display the number of a real IRS office.

Don’t be bullied. A scammer will issue threats and demands, but according to the IRS, if you owe back taxes, you will get a bill in the mail and have an opportunity to appeal or to question the amount.

Do not click on any links or open any attachments.

If you have witnessed this scam, or know others who have, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360.

You can report it to the US Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.

ATTRIBUTON: AARP.org

A Free Public Service

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

March 15, 2021

PANDEMIC RESCUE PLAN SCAMS

The new American Rescue Plan Law is intended to help many people who have suffered financially during the pandemic. But the US Federal Trade Commission warns that it will bring out scammers trying to steal your money.

Payments will soon be coming by direct deposit, checks, or a debit card to people eligible for the payment. You can learn more about who is eligible, and the timing, at IRS.gov/coronavirus.

What will NOT happen:

1. The government will never ask you to pay anything up front to get this money.

2. The government will not call/text/email/DM you to ask for your Social Security, bank account, or credit card number.

3. No legitimate person will ever tell you to pay by gift card, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer through companies like Western Union or MoneyGram.

Health Insurance.

The new law also has some language about health insurance. It temporarily increasing subsidies for newly laid-off people and many people buying their own health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Likewise, no legitimate person will ever call, text, email, or message you about getting or keeping health insurance coverage, or to demand payment on your account.

If you spot one of these scams, please tell the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. It could help identify and track down these scammers.

ATTRIBUTION: U.S http://www.ftc.gov.

A Free Public Service

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

March 10, 2021

AUTO WARRANTY SCAM 

If you own a vehicle and a phone, you may receive calls from scammers posing as representatives of a car dealer, manufacturer or insurer telling you that your auto warranty or insurance is about to expire. The call will include some sort of pitch for renewing your warranty or policy.

Example:

“Hi there, this is Shasta calling in regard to your Volkswagen warranty. The warranty is up for renewal. I’d like to congratulate you on your $1,000 instant rebate and free maintenance and oil change package for being a loyal customer. Call me back at 888-206-XXXX to redeem now. Once again that number was 888-206-XXXX. Thank you so much. Have a great day”.

During the call – which often begins automated or pre-recorded – you may be instructed to press a certain number or stay on the line, then be asked to provide personal information, which potentially can be used to defraud you.

What makes it particularly hard to discern if this type of call is fraudulent is that the scammer may have specific information about your particular car and warranty that they use to deceive you into thinking they are a legitimate caller.

Protective steps you can take:

First, do not provide any personal information, such as a social security number, credit card information, driver’s license number or bank account information to any caller unless you can verify you are dealing directly with a legitimate company with which you have an established business relationship. Telephone scammers are good at what they do and may imply that they work for a company you trust. Don’t fall for it.

If you have caller ID you can screen incoming calls. Legitimate telemarketers are required to transmit or display their phone number and the name and/or the phone number of the company they aare representing. The display must include a phone number that you can call during regular business hours to ask that the company no longer call you.

Avoid answering any calls you suspect may be spoofed. You should be cautious even if a number appears authentic. Criminals may engage in caller ID “spoofing” – deliberately falsifying the information transmitted to your Caller ID display to disguise their identity. 

Filing a complaint

In addition to being fraudulent in nature, these calls likely violate telemarketing and robocall rules. You can file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission http://www.fcc.gov about suspected scam calls.

While the FCC does not award individual money damages to consumers, your complaint may help identify scammers so appropriate action can be taken. In some cases, the FCC can issue warning citations and impose fines against companies who are violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

If you think you have received a call involving fraud, you can also file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov.

ATTRIBUTION: FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMUNICATIONS

A Free Public Service

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

March 8, 2021

FAKE DRUG ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SCAM

Scammers are pretending to be Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents. They are using alarming phone calls trying to get your money and personal information. It is not the DEA calling.

The scammers use fake names and badge numbers. Sometimes they use the names of real DEA agents and may even text photos of what look like legitimate law enforcement credentials. They may include FTC and DEA logos.  When they target medical practitioners, like doctors and pharmacists, they may have their National Provider Identifier number or state license number.

The scammers’ stories vary, but usually go something like this: “Authorities have seized a car packed with illegal drugs. It was rented in your name”. Or, “they found identifying papers with your name in the car, at some drug-linked location”, or “on a bank account used for money laundering. You are going to be arrested for drug trafficking and money laundering”.

The fake agent comes up with a reason for you to transfer money to him — maybe for safekeeping, to pay a fine, or to prove you are willing to cooperate. They will tell you how to send the money, often by wire transfer or by buying gift cards and telling them the numbers on the back of the cards.

What you need to know:

The DEA will never call and ask for your SSN or other personal information. It won’t ask you to pay anything. And it won’t call to say you’re under investigation or threaten you with arrest.

Your caller ID might show a real DEA phone number, but that’s not the real DEA calling. Computers make it easy to show any number on caller ID. Don’t trust what you see there.

Never give your SSN to anyone who contacts you. Don’t confirm the last 4 digits. And don’t give a bank account or credit card number — ever — to anybody who contacts you asking for it.

Anyone who tells you to wire money, pay with a gift card, or send cash or cryptocurrency is a scammer. Always. No matter who they say they are.

If you receive a call like this, hang up. Tell friends and family members about it. Then, tell us about it too, at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

ATTRIBUTION: WWW.FTC.GOV.

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

MARCH 1, 2021

AIRLINE REAL ID CARD SCAM 

A new personal identification system in the United States, popularly known as Real ID, is being targeted by scammers to steal from victims.

Real IDs are enhanced-security versions of existing driver’s licenses or DMV identification cards.  

Some states set their own deadlines for introduction, but the nationwide deadline for full implementation is October 2021.

Real ID cards are required only for air travel (domestic or international) and access to nuclear power plants and certain federal government facilities.

Real ID cards are not required for children under age 18.

Real IDs:

First, you can know if you already have a Real ID card by checking the top-right of the front of the card. If it’s a Real ID, it will have a star or other state identification in that corner. (in California, a golden bear). 

If you plan to fly, your old-style ID card will still be acceptable (if it hasn’t expired) but you will need an additional form of identification, such as a passport, military ID, or permanent resident card. When your card expires, it must be replaced by the Real ID version.

Cards are issued via individual states’ DMV offices. For example, some states — Michigan, Vermont, Minnesota, New York, and Washington — issue more enhanced versions, which are also valid for travel to Mexico, Canada, and some Caribbean countries.

Cards can’t be replaced online or via a phone call. You can provide certain information in advance via the Internet but still must visit your local DMV office to complete your Real ID card application.

Scams

Several state Attorneys General offices have issued warnings of a surge in scams during the past few weeks.

Fake websites are being used by scammers. Most bogus sites look similar to genuine ones.  The scammers want copies of your documents, which can be used for identity theft. People who are tricked into applying online for a Real ID may also be charged fees for pointless work.

ID Application

You should start the application process at your local DMV office. This will require you to provide supporting identification document requirements.

You must provide specific identification documents for a Real ID.  Substitute documents are not acceptable. For example, a Medicare card will not be acceptable as a substitute for a Social Security Card even though the number is the same on both.

You can find a list of acceptable documents in California at Https://dmv.ca.gov/portal/driver-licenses. Having these documents when making an application at DMV can avoid making a second trip to DMV.

Misleading Scammer Information:

Scammers are also using SMS text messages and emails to target potential victims. Messages are sent out at random, telling recipients they need to replace or update their licenses and then directing them to fake websites.

The messages sometimes warn that drivers will be breaking the law if they don’t comply with the request. They might also imply that the new Real ID is a legal requirement for any form of travel, even driving to your local supermarket.

It’s also possible — though there have been no reported cases so far — that the scammers will pose as DMV officials or even law enforcement, telling victims they’re being fined for not having the new ID.

The aim is always to trick people into divulging personal information, make a payment or, in some cases, upload malware onto the victim’s computer.

The only fee you have to pay is the standard DMV amount for a new license charged by your state.

If you want to know more or apply for a Real ID card, visit the website of your state DMV or the Department of Homeland Security at

https://www.dhs.gov/real-id

ATTRIBUTION: SCAMBUSTERS.ORG