A Free Public Service

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

December 27, 2023.

WON LOTTERY SCAM

Have you gotten a call to say you’ve won a boatload of money from Publishers Clearing House (PCH) through a lottery?

The caller may tell you to call a number and press 1 to learn more. If you don’t respond, you supposedly won’t get the money. What would you do?

Well, if you press 1, they’ll tell you some version of this fictional story: You won several millions of dollars; you need to pay a fee to get your money. No matter what version of the story you hear: it’s a scam.

Here are some things to know to avoid this and other prize scams:

Real prizes are free. If there’s a charge, it’s a scam. Anyone who tells you to pay to get your prize — whether it’s for “taxes,” “shipping and handling charges,” or “processing fees” — is a scammer. Stop and walk away.

Scammers tell you to act NOW. They tell you it’s a limited offer and try to rush you. They don’t want you to have time to think about what’s really happening. If anyone tries to hurry you into paying, stop. Remember that’s something scammers do.

Scammers use names that look like the real thing. But no real sweepstakes company will demand money for a prize. To double-check, reach out to the real company. Make sure to use contact information you found yourself — not what the person who called you gave you.

Never pay to get a prize. Spot a prize scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A Free Public Sercvice

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

December 21, 2023

A blueprint to wealth? Not so fast.

The FTC says a business opportunity scheme known as “Blueprint to Wealth” has been targeting people who want to make money working from home and using false promises of a proven system generating thousands a month in “passive income” from newly recruited members.

Here’s a blueprint for how to guard against business opportunity schemes.

According to the FTC, the operators of Blueprint to Wealth promised new members would earn big money — making over $20,000 a month — from an “everything-is-done-for-you” business opportunity with support from “success coaches.” They made it sound easy and risk free: You pay up to $21,000 for a membership plus advertising costs, then sit back, let the coaches handle everything else, and watch the money roll in from commissions generated by new membership sales.

But, says the FTC, the scheme generated millions only for the defendants Blueprint to Wealth. People who purchased memberships typically got nothing. When people complained, Blueprint to Wealth blamed them for not doing enough — and then tried to convince them to pay even more money to generate income.

To avoid a business coaching or recruitment-based business opportunity scam, take these steps before you pay–or don’t pay:

• Take your time and talk to someone you trust. Scammers will try to pressure you to get involved right away. Talk to someone you trust — a friend, a family member, a neighbor — before you sign up. Talking about it could help you realize it’s a scam.
• Research the company and offer online. Use words like “complaint”, “review”, or “scam” to see what people say about it before you pay.
• Question promises of big money or profits. All investments have risks. Only scammers guarantee success or a return on an investment.
• Read success stories and reviews with skepticism. They might be fakes or misleading. Look at different sources and well-known websites for trustworthy and impartial expert reviews.

Learn more about avoiding a business coaching scam. If you think you’ve spotted one, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.           #

                     

A Free Public Service

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

December 15, 2023

HOLIDAY SEASON SCAMS

Attribution: US Fed. Trans. Commision

Lots of folks look for jobs during the holiday season to make some extra cash or pay bills. But scammers follow seasonal employment trends, too, advertising jobs the same way honest employers do. They’re looking for any opportunity to steal your money and personal information. Do you know how to spot them?

After posting jobs that look like the real thing on legitimate employment sites, scammers go through a careful process to try to lure you in. They might offer you the job and quickly ask for your personal information like your driver’s license, Social Security, or bank account number to fill out their “employment paperwork.” But if you share it, they might steal your identity. Learn more at ftc.gov/jobscams.

To keep your money and personal information to yourself, follow these steps:

Never give out personal information before doing some research. Contact the company directly using a phone number or e-mail you know to be legitimate — not the one you got from the job posting.

See what others are saying.

Search online for the name of the job and the company plus the words “review,” “complaint,” or “scam.” You might find they’ve scammed other people.

Don’t pay to get a job. Scammers may promise you a job — if you pay them. But no legitimate job will make you pay for expenses or fees for training or anything else to get the job. Anyone who does is a scammer.

Talk to someone you trust before you take a job offer or business opportunity. What do they think? And if you spot a job scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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

A Free Pulic Service

November 4, 2023

PENSION BENEFIT SCAM

Attribution:  US FTC.gov

Today we’re focusing on how dishonest “advisers” may try to get your pension benefits and disability compensation, including benefits under the PACT Act. Applying for VA benefits is free and you can also get legitimate free help. How can you protect your benefits and get free help filing your claim?

If you want help with applying for benefits, use VA-accredited agents, Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs), or accredited attorneys. Start by confirming that the person helping you is accredited by the VA. The VA’s Office of the General Counsel maintains a searchable list of approved individuals. Check this list before discussing your pension or other benefits with anyone outside of the VA.

Read all the papers and the contract carefully. Understand all the terms, conditions, and implications of what someone helping you — even a VA-accredited adviser — is asking you to do. Remember, no one can guarantee you’ll get benefits from the VA. Even accredited people on the VA’s Office of the General Counsel list can’t guarantee that you’ll get VA pension or disability benefits after you apply.

Don’t work with anyone who pressures you — especially if they pressure you or advise you to move your money around to qualify for a benefit.  When VA discovers you don’t qualify, you have to pay back any benefits they already paid you. And you might lose other government benefits or tie up money that you need to live on.

Safeguard your personal information. Never share your VA login credentials or password. Protect your information and data by using strong passwords and multi-factor (also called two-factor) authentication. Check out VA’s advice on setting up multifactor authentication on your VA accounts.       #