Free Public Service

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

December 5, 2022

Looking for a New Year’s resolution? Keep your hard-earned money safe from scammers by spotting and avoiding gift card scams. Scammers want you to pay with gift cards because they’re like cash: once you use a gift card, the money on it is gone.

How to spot a gift card scam? Someone may call, tell you they’re from a government agency, and say you owe taxes or a fine. Or they may pretend to be a family member, or friend in trouble, who needs money right away. Or they may say you’ve won a prize, but first must pay fees or other charges. 

In these and similar scenarios, here are signs you’re dealing with a scammer:

• The caller says it’s urgent. They tell you to pay right away or something terrible will happen. They try to pressure you into acting quickly, so you don’t have time to think or talk to someone you trust. Don’t pay. It’s a scam.
• The caller usually tells you which gift card to buy. They might tell you to put money on a Google Play, Target, or iTunes gift card — or send you to a specific store like Walmart, Target, or CVS. Sometimes they tell you to buy cards at several stores, so cashiers won’t get suspicious. If so, stop. It’s a scam.
• The caller asks you for the gift card number and PIN. The scammer uses that information to get the money you’ve loaded on the card. Don’t give them those numbers. It’s a scam. You’ll lose your money, and you won’t be able to get it back.

If you paid a scammer with a gift card, tell the company that issued the card right away. Keep the card and find any receipts you have. Then tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Visit ftc.gov/giftcards for more information.

A Free Public Service

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

December 4, 2022

Attribution: AARP.org.

Fake technicians claim your computer or mobile device is dangerously ill and needs an immediate, costly repair. These fraudsters are out to steal your money or your identity, not repair your machine.

How it Works:

You get an unsolicited phone call or email purporting to be from a big tech company, or you see a pop-up message on your screen warning that a virus or other malicious program has infected your device, and you need to call a certain number right away.

If you call, a “technician” asks for remote access to your computer, and once in, shows you some files that “prove” you have a major problem.  Even though there is no problem.

The “technician” says they can fix your problem for a fee, and then may offer you a monthly subscription to keep your device safe. 

The scammer may ask you to pay by purchasing a gift card and providing the account number and PIN, or request payment by wire transfer—a sure sign that it’s a scam. If you refuse to pay, the vengeful scammer may deliberately damage vital parts of your computer.

What You Should Know:

Big tech companies like Microsoft or Apple say they don’t call customers out of the blue to warn them of problems on their devices.

The files the “technician” may show you on your computer are completely benign and need no repair.  

If you send payment the scammer may call back months later and offer you a refund for some phony reason, asking for your bank account information to deposit the money; this is a ruse.  

What You Can Do:

*Screen incoming calls with an answering machine or voice mail, and once you listen to the message, decide if it warrants a call back.

*If the caller claims you have a problem with your computer or the software on your computer, it is a scam, so don’t engage or return the call.

*If you get a pop-up that freezes your screen, shut down your computer and restart it.

*Keep your security software, browser and operating system up to date.

*If you think your device is infected, have it checked out by a reputable source; most big box electronics retailers offer tech support services.

*If you realize you’ve fallen victim to this scam, and you’ve paid by credit card, promptly contact your financial institution to dispute the charge and to cancel any monthly fees you may have agreed to pay.

Your best weapon against fraud is vigilance. You have the power to protect yourself from most   scams.

To report scams, call AARP’s Hot Line 877-908-3360. Or, file a report with the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov/complaint.

Attribution: AARP.org.

A Free Public Service

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

November 26, 2022

ENERGY SAVING SCAMS

Attribution scambuster.org

Who doesn’t want to score energy savings these days? Not only are utility bills climbing, but we’re also increasingly aware of the environmental cost of using our precious natural resources.

Scammers and their misleading sales spiels, are tricking people into handing over their cash for dubious products and services. They claim to deliver savings and make us more eco-friendly.

A big challenge for consumers is usually a lack of technical savvy to check out these claims. But, if you don’t do your research, you may to get conned into paying.

Here are three of the common energy savings scams you may encounter.

INSULATION SCAMS

Most of us know that properly insulating the walls and roof spaces in our homes can significantly reduce heat loss. But it’s difficult to know what works and how much you’ll likely save.

They may deceptively inflate the insulating power (or “R-value” in tech-speak) of their coating in their marketing materials. They may claim a special wall paint will reduce heat loss.

With attic insulation, scammers may exaggerate the insulation properties of their products or fail to install the optimum amount of fiberglass or foam. In some cases, they even use a technique known as “fluffing” in which the material is “fluffed up” to appear thicker than it really is.

REPLACEMENT WINDOWS

Spammers are currently bombarding consumers with ads for double- and triple-pane windows, which they say will result in significant noise and heat insulation.

While it’s true that properly manufactured multi-pane windows can achieve savings, once again, scammers make outrageous claims about the R-value of their products, without providing any supporting evidence.

Often, these windows are sold via spam or using high-pressure door-to-door and telesales tactics, including too-good-to-be-true prices that give them a foot in the door. These turn out to be only for basic, standard-size frames – and you discover your windows will cost a lot more.

They may also offer suspect short-term warranties with all sorts of get-out clauses.

PLUG-IN ENERGY SAVING DEVICES

Social media is full of stories about energy-saving devices developed by inventors that supposedly the big utility companies are trying to suppress.

You simply connect them to a power outlet to produce savings of up to 60 percent in energy use, they claim.

Promoters may use charts and statistics that seem to back up their energy-saving claims. But, in general these are false or, at best, misleading.

Of course, there are some devices that can help you save energy, most notably “smart” thermostats. These are often available at a substantial discount from your utility supplier. But scammers may sell them at an inflated price and claim the discount for themselves.

SOLAR PANELS AND MORE

The tricks we’ve listed aren’t the only energy-saving scams. The current hot topic relates to solar power scams, which we plan to cover in depth in a later issue.

Others relate to unverifiable claims about energy usage in domestic appliances. Generally, the numbers you see on those yellow stickers in the store are accurate and comply with regulations – but beware that salesperson’s exaggeration about how much you’ll save.

HOW TO AVOID AN ENERGY-SAVING SCAM

Here are 10 commonsense tips to avoid being hoodwinked by these scammers.

*Learn and understand a little about R-values. What Is Insulation R Value?

*Ask for evidence to support any money-saving claims.

*Contact your utility providers for information on devices and tactics to reduce your consumption. Don’t rely on salespeople.

*Seek customer references from contractors and others about their work and products.

*Read contracts including all the small print. And check warranties, especially for length of coverage and exclusions.

*Never sign a contract under pressure, especially with claims that the offer is only available right now. In fact, if you feel pressured to sign, that should be enough to make you distrust a salesperson.

*Beware of imposters claiming to be from utility companies or energy-efficiency experts such as the government’s EnergyStar service. Don’t let them into your home without thoroughly checking them out.

*Don’t provide confidential financial information over the phone or to a doorstep visitor, again until you’ve verified their identity.

*Get at least two competitive bids for any type of insulation or replacement windows you’re considering.

*If you’re thinking of buying and using a device that claims to cut electricity consumption, research it on the Internet to see what others are saying. Be skeptical – mostly, they don’t work.

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A Free Public Service

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

November 25, 2022

Attribution Federal Trade Commission

Unwanted calls are annoying — but when a caller says they’re an FBI agent collecting on a legal judgment entered against you, it’s also scary. No matter how urgent and serious the call sounds, neither the judgment nor the agent is real. Like other impersonation scams, FBI imposters are after your money and personal information, and they might even threaten to arrest you unless you pay immediately.

Scammers will try to get you to act first and think later. If you get a call like this:

*Know that government agencies don’t call and demand money or personal information. Even if you owe money, real government representatives won’t call to threaten to arrest you, freeze your accounts, or take your property.

Never pay anyone who tells you to pay with gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfers. No government agency, including the FBI, demands payment that way. Anyone who does is a scammer. Always.

*Don’t trust caller ID. Scammers use technology to fake the number they call from. Never call back phone numbers from your caller ID or voicemails.

Check with the FBI if you think the call or email is real. If you’re worried, contact one of the FBI field offices to check out the call.

Do you suspect an impersonation scam? Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Even if you didn’t lose money, your information helps investigators working to stop these scams.

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A free Public Service

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

November 16, 2022

HOW BUY NOW, PAY LATER FRAUD WORKS

Scammers use two main tricks to fool retailers.

They hijack existing BNPL customers’ accounts, either by phishing or buying a person’s confidential information, like Social Security numbers, on the black market.

Or they open accounts by creating fictitious or synthetic identities by combining details of different people into a single persona – “Frankenstein identities” as they’re sometimes called in the financial security world.

Mostly, the crooks use these accounts to make big purchases, sometimes delivered to “drop” addresses. These are usually either vacant properties or belong to people who innocently agree, for payment, to forward received items abroad. Fake addresses and porch piracy at genuine addresses are also used.

Oftentimes, consumer victims don’t know they’ve been caught up in this web until they get a demand for the second staged payment – or they find an item on their doorstep that they didn’t order.

Sometimes, the scammers make a couple of BNPL purchases and pay fully for them. Then they log onto their account and change the payment method to a stolen credit card using details bought on the Dark Web.

In another twist, drug dealers and other gangs are said to be using BNPL to launder cash proceeds of crime.

HOW SHOPPERS CAN BE CAUGHT OUT

In addition to having their accounts hijacked, shoppers can be directly affected by the practices of some BNPL providers.

There’s the risk of taking on too much debt because the providers have no way of knowing how many other deals you signed up for. That’s not a scam, of course, but the result can be the same – a debt collector at your door.

In a September report, the US Consumer Finance Protection Bureau (CFPB) highlighted worries about this and other risks shoppers face when signing up for a buy now, pay later deal.

The report said the amount of information on issues like late fees, customer rights, cost of credit, and autopayments varied across the sector. And it found evidence that some shoppers were assessed multiple late fees for the same overdue payment.

There’s also a looming major issue over data privacy. BNPL lenders are able to build up detailed profiles of shopper preferences and behaviors, which could be sold or used in targeted advertising.

“The practice of harvesting and monetizing consumer data across the payments and lending ecosystems may threaten consumers’ privacy, security, and autonomy,” the CFPB said.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

You likely won’t find out that someone has used your name to sign up for a BNPL deal till you get a demand for the second payment.

Protecting your personal information from hackers, using security software and frequently changing passwords are the best ways of preventing your details from falling into the wrong hands.

In addition, monitor all your financial accounts – banks and credit cards – for suspicious activity.

And if you’re taking out a BNPL loan – yes, it’s still called a loan – make sure you check out the terms and conditions of the deal before signing up.

If you do fall victim to an account hack, contact the BNPL provider and your bank and card companies. You can also lodge a complaint with the CFPB online or by phone at 855-411-CFPB (2372).

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A Free Public Servvice

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

November 11, 2022

Attribution US Federal Trade Commission

Do you want to help charities that support servicemembers and veterans? Around Veterans Day, charity scammers seek to take advantage of your generosity. They contact you about fake veteran and military causes, tugging at your heart strings — and grabbing for your wallet. A little research will help you spot these charity scams and make sure your donations count.

Charity scammers lie about who they’re affiliated with and how your money will impact the program you want to help.

Before giving, do some research to find veteran charities who use your donations wisely and avoid scams:

Check the name of the charity and its ratings. Search the charity’s name online with words like “complaint” and “fraud” and “scam.” Check the charity’s reports and ratings to see how they spend donations. If you see bad reviews that are of concern to you, find another organization.

Find out who’s behind a crowdfunding request or social media donation link — before giving. Scammers use stolen photos and other people’s stories to raise money for themselves, not for you.

Find out who’s organizing the campaign since that’s who gets the money donated. They’re expected to give it to the intended recipient. The safest way to give through crowdfunding or social media is to only donate to people you know and trust.

Pay with safer payment methods. Scammers ask you to donate in ways that make it hard to get your money back — by gift card or wire transfer, or by cryptocurrency. The safest way to donate is by credit card, which gives you some protection if something goes wrong.

Learn more at ftc.gov/charity. Report scams to FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state charity regulator.

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A Free Public Service

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

October 27, 2022

Attribution US Federal Trade Commission

Scammers are at it again, impersonating well-known businesses and trying to rip people off. This time they’re pretending to be from Geek Squad, Best Buy’s tech support service. Here’s what we’re hearing about the scam and what to do if you see it.

You get a text message or email that says you were or will be charged hundreds of dollars to renew your Geek Squad membership. If you want to dispute the charge or cancel your membership, the message says you must call a phone number within 24 hours.

If you call the number — which you should not do — the scammer might ask for remote access to your computer. If you give it to them, they can install spyware programs on your computer, steal your online banking credentials, and drain money from your bank account.

Some scammers may ask for your bank account information to refund your money, then fake a transaction and make it look like they accidentally refunded you too much. To pay them back, they tell you to buy gift cards and give them the gift card numbers and PINs.

Scammers send alarming messages like this to rattle you. Don’t let them. If you think the message is legitimate, contact the company in question using a phone number you know is real. Do not use the number included in the message.

Also check your credit card or bank account for an unauthorized transaction. If you see one, report it to the institution and ask them to reverse it and give you back your money. Find out what to do if you paid a scammer, or gave them your personal information or access to your computer.

If you see a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A free Public Service

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

October 22, 2022

A Free Pub lic Service

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

October 2019

HOMEOWNER LOSS FRAUD

Attribution US Federal Trade Commission

Many generous persons wish to help homeowners who have been victims of fires, floods and Hurricanes. Case in point, Hurricane Ian in Florida.

We know from experience it won’t be long before scammers start trying to cash in on the deadly storm. Here are a few ways that scammers might try to take your money or personal information:

*Spot imposter scams.

 Scammers might pretend to be safety inspectors, government officials trying to help you, or utility workers who say immediate work is required. Don’t give them money, and ask for identification to verify who you are dealing with — before sharing personal information like your Social Security or account numbers.

*Spot FEMA impersonators charging application fees.

If someone wants money to help you qualify for FEMA funds, it’s a scam. Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information.

*Spot home improvement and debris removal scams.

Unlicensed contractors and scammers may appear in recovery zones with promises of quick repairs or clean-up services. Walk away if they demand cash payments up front, or refuse to give you copies of their license, insurance, and a contract in writing.

*Spot rental listing scams.

Scammers know people need a place to live while they rebuild. They’ll advertise rentals that don’t exist to get your money and run. The scammers are the ones who tell you to wire money, or who ask for security deposits or rent before you’ve met or signed a lease.

*Spot charity scams.

 Scammers will often try to profit from the misfortune of others, sometimes using familiar-sounding names or logos. Check Donating Wisely and Avoiding Charity Scams before opening up your wallet.

*Learn more at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies and report weather-related scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.                                                         

A Free Public Service

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

October 4, 2022

HURRICANE RECOVERY SCAMS

Curtesy Federal Trade Commission

Recovery scams will follow Hurricane Ian.

Nobody knows how long it’ll take to recover from the destruction Hurricane Ian left behind. But we do know it won’t be long before scammers start trying to cash in on the deadly storm. Whether you’re getting back on your feet or looking for ways to help people in areas hit hardest, learn how scammers operate — and how to avoid them.

Here are a few ways that scammers might try to take your money or personal information after a weather emergency.

Spot imposter scams.

*Scammers might pretend to be safety inspectors, government officials trying to help you, or utility workers who say immediate work is required. Don’t give them money, and ask for identification to verify who you are dealing with — before sharing personal information like your Social Security or account numbers.

*Spot FEMA impersonators charging application fees. If someone wants money to help you qualify for FEMA funds, it’s a scam. Download the FEMA Mobile App to get alerts and information.

*Spot home improvement and debris removal scams. Unlicensed contractors and scammers may appear in recovery zones with promises of quick repairs or clean-up services. Walk away if they demand cash payments up front, or refuse to give you copies of their license, insurance, and a contract in writing.

*Spot rental listing scams. Scammers know people need a place to live while they rebuild. They’ll advertise rentals that don’t exist to get your money and run. The scammers are the ones who tell you to wire money, or who ask for security deposits or rent before you’ve met or signed a lease.

*Spot charity scams. Scammers will often try to profit from the misfortune of others, sometimes using familiar-sounding names or logos. Check Donating Wisely and Avoiding Charity Scams before opening up your wallet.

Learn more at ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies and report weather-related scams to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.