A Free Public Service

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

April 27, 2021

BAR CODE QR SCAMS

Courtesy scambusters.org

QR codes, “Quick Response”, are black-and white rectangular boxes full of dots and squiggles.

They are now being used by crooks to trick more victims into giving away confidential information or downloading malware. Security is a major concern.

Experts say one of the main reasons for the current surge is the change in our social behavior because of the current health crisis. More businesses are using them in place of printed matter, like brochures, because that means consumers don’t have to touch them.

One study revealed that many people lack security on their mobile devices and are largely unaware of the security risks posed by QR codes.

For example, they can be used to reveal your location, follow social media accounts, create an email, restaurant menus, join a Wi-Fi network or even to cast a vote.

If you don’t follow precautions and you don’t have security software, you could experience a costly scam the next time you scan.

FIVE SECURITY KEY STEPS

*Don’t scan codes that don’t have any text or explanation with them.

*Check for a raised edge on the code showing it’s a sticker. Again, don’t scan unless you check with someone — for example at a restaurant that may have updated its menu.

*If the code takes you to a website, don’t provide any confidential information until you know for sure it’s genuine.

*If scanning results in something you didn’t expect, like opening an email, don’t use it.

*Use a secure QR code reader that checks its validity. There are lots of free ones. Simply search for “secure QR code scanner” or something similar.

ATTRIBUTION: scambusters.org

A Free Public Service

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

April 25, 2021

FREE COVID VACCINES SCAM

Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission

Scammers are doubling down on their efforts to scam people out of their money and personal information. No matter what anyone tells you, you can’t buy COVID-19 vaccines online and there’s no out-of-pocket cost to get the shots.

Here are some ways to avoid a “free” vaccine-related scam:

*Ignore online ads, social media posts, or phone calls from people offering to sell you the COVID-19 vaccine. You can’t buy it — anywhere. The vaccine is only available at federal- and state-approved locations.

*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.

*Don’t pay out of pocket for a vaccine — not before, during, or after your appointment. That’s either a scam or a mistake. If you’re insured, the vaccination site might bill your insurance company for an administration fee. If you’re not insured, there’s a fund set up with the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA — part of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services) where sites can recover their administrative costs. Either way, they’re not supposed to bill you or charge a co-pay.

*Never 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, or health care payer, like a private insurance company or Medicare, will call, text, or email you asking for your credit card or bank account number to sign you up to get the vaccine. And remember, you’re not required to give your Social Security number to a vaccination site. You shouldn’t be turned away for not having one.

*Contact a trusted source for information. Check with state or local health departments to learn when and how to get the COVID-19 vaccine. You can also talk with your health care provider or pharmacist.

*Don’t post your vaccination card to your social media account. Your vaccination card has information on it including your full name, date of birth, where you got your vaccine, and the dates you got it. When you post it to Facebook, Instagram, or to some other social media platform, you may be handing valuable information over to someone who could use it for identity theft.

If you know about a COVID-19 vaccine scam, tell the FTC about it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Or, file a complaint with your state or territory attorney general through consumerresources.org, the consumer website of the National Association of Attorneys General.

You can subscribe to Consumer Alerts from the www.FTC.gov to get updates delivered right to your email inbox.

Please share these tips with others.

ATTRIBUTION: US FTC.gov

A Free Public Service

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

April 14, 2021

JOB LOSS SCAM AFTER CORONAVIRUS LAYOFF

Have you been laid off due to the Coronavirus? Or maybe your small business shut down? if you’re dealing with loss, you’re not alone.

You may start by looking for ways to make money working from home. If you’re eyeing a work-at-home gig, here are some things to keep in mind.

To protect against work-at-home scams:

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

*Don’t pay to get a job. Scammers may say they’ve got a job waiting if you just pay a fee for certification, training, equipment, or supplies. But, after you pay, the job doesn’t materialize.

*Avoid fake job ads. Some scammers pay to have their ads or scam websites appear at the top of your searches. Other scammers pretend to be affiliated with well-known companies or even the government.

*Research any potential employer by searching online for a potential employer’s name, email address, and phone number. You might find complaints by others who’ve been scammed and find out more about the scammer’s tricks. To find legitimate job listings, try visiting sites like your state’s Career OneStop.

*Don’t believe ads for “previously undisclosed” federal government jobs. Information about federal jobs is free at usajobs.gov.

*Check out the reputation of a company with your local consumer protection agency or your state Attorney General. They can tell you whether they have gotten complaints about a particular work-at-home program.

If you’re dealing with job loss, here are some other things to keep in mind:

*Contact your State Unemployment Insurance Office for information about applying for unemployment insurance benefits in your state. The US Department of Labor recently announced new flexibilities offered as a result of the Coronavirus crisis. So, it pays to check to know if you’re eligible.

Financial relief

*Contact your creditors. They may be willing to discuss some type of minimum payment or other flexibility. They’re more likely to be reasonable if you talk to them upfront about the financial problems you are having as a result of the Coronavirus, rather than waiting until after you’ve missed a payment.

If you spot a scam, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

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.

April 6, 2021

IRS IMPOSTERS SCAM COLLEGE STUDENTS AND STAFF

If you are a college student, faculty, or staff member, you to need to pay attention to this one. IRS imposters are sending phishing emails to people with “.edu” email addresses, saying they have information about your “tax refund payment.”

Scammers are sending emails with subject lines like, “Tax Refund Payment” or “Recalculation of your tax refund payment.” The email asks you to click a link and submit a form to claim your “refund.”

Caution: The IRS is NOT emailing you. It is a scammer. Learn more: ftc.gov/IRScollegescam.

What happens if you click the link? The website asks for personal information, including your name, Social Security number (SSN), date of birth, prior year’s annual gross income (AGI), driver’s license number, address, and electronic filing PIN. Scammers can use or sell this information for identity theft.

The emails can look real and include the IRS logo. But no matter what the email looks like or says, one thing stays true: the IRS will not first contact you by email. They will always start by sending you a letter. To confirm that it is the IRS, you can call them directly at 800-829-1040.

If you clicked a link in one of these emails and shared personal information, you can report it at IdentityTheft.gov to get a customized recovery plan based on what information you shared.

If you spotted this scam, the IRS is asking you to forward the email as an attachment to phishing@irs.gov. And tell us too, at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If you are looking to find the status of your pending refund, go to Where’s My Refund on IRS.gov.

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