SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal assistance for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 7, 2020

SCAMMER ERRAND RUNNERS

Older adults may be hard hit by the coronavirus – and scammers prey on that. Scammers are offering help with errands, and running off with the money.

If you or someone you know must stay at home and needs help with errands, you’ll want to be alert about this latest scam.

If you’re an older adult or a caregiver for one, you may need help picking up groceries, prescriptions, and other necessary supplies. If someone you don’t know offers to help, be wary. Some scammers offer to buy supplies but never come back with the goods or the money. It’s usually safer to find a trusted friend or neighbor or arrange a delivery with a well-known company.

If you’re ordering supplies online, know who you’re buying from. Phony online sellers may claim to have in-demand products, like cleaning, household, and medical supplies when, in fact, they don’t. Use an established delivery service, or order directly from the store. Many grocery stores and pharmacies are offering contactless delivery.

If you need additional help for yourself or a loved one, the Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, can connect you to services for older adults and their families. That number is 1-800-677-1116.

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal assistance for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 5, 2010

ROBOCALL SCAMS

Robocalls calls have become epidemic.

Illegal robocalls include telemarketing spam (automated sales calls from companies you haven’t authorized to contact you) and attempts at outright theft by scammers. Prerecorded messages dangle goodies like all-expenses-paid travel or demand payment for nonexistent debts to get you to send money or give up sensitive personal information.

Scammers often use caller ID spoofing to mask their true location, making it appear that they’re calling from a legitimate or local number to raise the odds that you’ll pick up your phone.

If you do, the robotic voice on the other end might claim to represent a utility, a name-brand company or a government agency (Social Security and the Internal Revenue Service are popular poses). It might offer you a free cruise, cheap health insurance or a low-interest loan. It might claim you’ve won a lottery. It might tell you to press a certain key to learn more, or to get off a call list.

Whatever the message, don’t engage. Doing so can lead you to a real live scammer, who’ll pressure you to make a purchase or pump you for personal information, like a credit card or Social Security number. Even just pressing a key or answering a question will alert scammers that they’ve hit on a “live” number, and they’ll call it again and again.

It’s important to note that many robocalls are legal. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC.Gov) allows them for some informational or noncommercial purposes, such as polling, political campaigning and outreach by nonprofit groups (including AARP). For example, your dentist’s office can robocall you with an appointment reminder, or an airline with news about a flight change.

Warning Signs:

You receive an automated sales call from a company you have not given consent to contact you.
A prerecorded message tells you to press “1” or some other key to be taken off a call list.
The message offers you goods or services for free or at a suspiciously deep discount.
The message says you owe back taxes or unpaid bills and face legal or financial consequences if you don’t pay immediately.
The message says you’ve won a big lottery or sweepstakes prize and tells you to press a key or call a number to claim it.

Do’s

Do hang up on illegal robocalls.
Do add all your numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry operated by the Federal Trade Commission (www.FTC.gov). It won’t stop fraudulent calls, but it will make them easier to spot because most legitimate telemarketers won’t call numbers on the registry.

Do explore free and low-cost call-blocking options, such as apps and services that screen calls and weed out spam and scams. Ask your phone service provider if it offers any such tools.

Do verify the caller. If the robocall claims to be from, say, Social Security or your bank, hang up and look up the real number for that entity. Call and ask if they contacted you.

Do report scam calls to the proper authorities. Every report helps authorities frame together a fuller picture of what scammers are doing.

Do review a company’s privacy policies before you give it permission to call you. You might be authorizing them to share your contact information with others.

Don’ts

Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. The Federal Communications Commission recommends letting them go to voicemail.

Don’t press any keys or say anything in response to a prerecorded message. If you do, this lets scammers know yours is a working number and will lead to more spam calls.

Don’t follow instructions to “speak to a live operator.” This will likely transfer you to a call center for an aggressive sales pitch or a phishing expedition.

Don’t judge a call by caller ID alone. Scammers mask their location by tricking your phone into displaying a legitimate government or corporate number, or one similar to your own (a practice called “neighbor spoofing”).

For guidance, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360.
Attribution: AARP.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 3, 2020

GRANDPARENT CORONAVIRUS SCAMS

“Grandma: I’m in the hospital, sick, please wire money right away.”

Grandparent scams can take a new twist – and a new sense of urgency – in these days of Coronavirus. Here’s what to keep in mind.

In grandparent scams, scammers pose as panicked grandchildren in trouble, calling or sending messages urging you to wire money immediately. They’ll say they need cash to help with an emergency – like paying a hospital bill or needing to leave a foreign country. They pull at your heartstrings so they can trick you into sending money before you realize it’s a scam. In these days of Coronavirus concerns, their lies can be particularly compelling.

So, how can we avoid grandparent scams or family emergency scams? If someone calls or sends a message claiming to be a grandchild, other family member or friend desperate for money:

Resist the urge to act immediately – no matter how dramatic the story is.
Verify the caller’s identity. Ask questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly answer. Call a phone number for your family member or friend that you know to be genuine. Check the story out with someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if you’ve been told to keep it a secret.
Don’t send cash, gift cards, or money transfers – once the scammer gets the money, it’s gone!
For more information, read Family Emergency Scams. And if you get a scam call, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

March 28, 2020

GOVERNMENT STIMULUS FRAUD

The US Government has announced a plan to send money to persons affected by the coronavirus pandemic. No statement has described how money will be delivered to eligible persons.
That gives fraudsters an opportunity to ply their heinous trade of scamming.
A caller purporting to be a government official may offer to deposit your entitlement directly in your bank account. For that to happen, the scammer would need your bank account number.

DO NOT give out your bank account number or any other personal information to this person.
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SCAMS BULETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for ow income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

March 23, 2020

TAX SCAMS

In the wake of the coronavirus crisis the Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers that criminals and scammers try to take advantage of the generosity of taxpayers who want to help victims of major disasters.
Fraudulent schemes normally start with unsolicited contact by telephone, social media, e-mail or in-person using a variety of tactics.
Some impersonate charities to get money or private information from well-intentioned taxpayers.
Bogus websites use names similar to legitimate charities to trick people to send money or provide personal financial information.
They even claim to be working for or on behalf of the IRS to help victims file casualty loss claims and get tax refunds.
Others operate bogus charities and solicit money or financial information by telephone or email.
Help for disaster victims:
Comprehensive information on disaster-related tax issues, including provisions for tax relief, can be found on the disaster relief page on IRS.gov. In the case of a federally declared disaster, affected taxpayers may also call the IRS Special Services Help Line, 866-562-5227, with disaster-related tax questions. Details on available relief can be found on the disaster relief page on IRS.gov.
Donate to real charities:
To help taxpayers donate to legitimate charities, the IRS website, IRS.gov, has a search feature, Tax Exempt Organization Search, that helps users find or verify qualified charities. Donations to these charities may be tax-deductible.
Contribute by check or credit card. Never give or send cash.
Don’t give out personal financial information — such as Social Security numbers or credit card and bank account numbers and passwords — to anyone who solicits a contribution.
Taxpayers suspecting fraud by email should visit IRS.gov and search for the keywords “Report Phishing.” More information about tax scams and schemes may be found at IRS.gov using the keywords “scams and schemes.”

Attribution: US Internal Revenue Service

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

March 21, 2020

CORONAVIRUS CHARITY SCAM

Charity scammers are especially active during and following a disaster such as the Coronavirus pandemic. Many persons wish to help unfortunate persons who have suffered through these disasters. Scammers know of and capitalize on that goodwill.
Sham charities succeed by mimicking the real thing. Like genuine nonprofits, they reach you via telemarketing, direct mail, email and door-to-door solicitations. They create well-designed websites with deceptive names. (As hurricanes churn toward landfall, for example, scammers snap up URLs featuring the storm’s name.) Some operate fully outside the law; others are in fact registered nonprofits but devote little of the money they raise to the programs they promote.

Warning Signs:

*Pressure to give right now. A legitimate charity will welcome your donation whenever you choose to make it.
*A thank-you for a donation you don’t recall making. Making you think you’ve already given to the cause is a common trick that unscrupulous fundraisers use to lower your resistance.
*A request for payment by cash, gift card or wire transfer. Those are scammers’ favored payment methods because the money is difficult to trace.

Do’s:

*Do check how watchdogs like Charity Navigator, CharityWatch and the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance rate an organization before you make a donation, and contact your state’s charity regulator to verify that the organization is registered to raise money there.
*Do your own research online. The FTC recommends searching for a charity’s name or a cause you want to support (like “animal welfare” or “homeless kids”) with terms such as “highly rated charity,” “complaints” and “scam.”
*Do pay attention to the charity’s name and web address. Scammers often mimic the names of familiar, trusted organizations to fool donors.
*Do ask how much of your donation goes to overhead and fundraising. One rule of thumb, used by Wise Giving Alliance, is that at least 65 percent of a charity’s total expenses should go directly to serving its mission.
*Do keep a record of your donations and regularly review your credit card account to make sure you weren’t charged more than you agreed to give or unknowingly signed up for a recurring donation.

Don’ts:

*Don’t give personal and financial information like your Social Security number, date of birth or bank account number to anyone soliciting a donation. Scammers use that data to steal money and identities.
*Don’t make a donation with cash or by gift card or wire transfer. Credit cards and checks are safer.
*Don’t click on links in unsolicited email, Facebook or Twitter fundraising messages; they can unleash malware.
*Don’t donate by text without confirming the phone number on the charity’s official website.
*Don’t assume pleas for help on social media or on crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe are legitimate, especially in the wake of disasters.

You can report any suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission: FTC.GOV, and call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360.

Attribution: AARP

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

March 11, 2020

MORE CORONAVIRUS SCAMS

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have sent warning letters to seven companies allegedly selling unapproved products that may violate federal law by making deceptive or scientifically unsupported claims about their ability to treat coronavirus (COVID-19).
Warning letters were sent to the following companies:
1) Vital Silver, 2) Quinessence Aromatherapy Ltd., 3) N-ergetics, 4) GuruNanda, LLC, 5) Vivify Holistic Clinic, 6) Herbal Amy LLC, and 7) The Jim Bakker Show.
The recipients are companies that advertise products—including teas, essential oils, and colloidal silver—as able to treat or prevent coronavirus.
The FDA considers the sale and promotion of fraudulent COVID-19 products to be a threat to the public health. “We don’t need this situation where companies are preying on consumers by promoting products with fraudulent prevention and treatment claims” said FTC Chairman Joe Simons.
Anyone having knowledge of such illegal activities are urge to report it to the Federal Trade Commission, http://www.FTC.gov, or Food and Drug Administration, http://www.FDA.gov.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

March 2, 2020

TAX IDENTITY THEFT

What is tax identity theft? It happens when someone uses your Social Security number (SSN) to file a phony tax return and collect your refund. You may not find out it has happened until you try to file your real tax return and the IRS rejects it as a duplicate filing.
IRS imposters are scammers who pretend they’re calling from the IRS. They claim you owe taxes and demand that you pay right now, usually with a gift card or prepaid debit card. They threaten you’ll be arrested or face other bad consequences if you don’t pay. But it’s all a lie. If you send the money, it’s gone. When this happens, it is called Tax Identity Fraud.
To fight against tax identity theft:
*Protect your SSN throughout the year. Don’t give it out unless there’s a good reason and you’re sure whom you’re giving it to.
*File your tax return early in the tax season to give criminals less time to use your information.
*Use a secure internet connection if you file electronically, or mail your tax return directly from the post office.
*Research the reputation of a tax preparer thoroughly before you hand over personal information.
*Check your credit report at least once a year for free at http://www.annualcreditreport.com to make sure no one has opened a new account in your name.
*Take precautions to protect your identity. If you lose your wallet, or it is stolen, it offers a scammer an opportunity to steal your identity using your Social Security Number (SSN) or other personal information.
*When filing electronically avoid public networks such as a local coffee shop or McDonalds.
*If you plan to mail in your tax return, mail it through a reliable source like the post-office, or official postal box.
*Once you’re done with documents that contain sensitive information, be sure to SHRED them. Or, if you have documents you need to keep, be sure that they are kept in a secure location.
*If you’re expecting your W-2s and haven’t received them, and your employer indicates they’ve been mailed, or it looks as if it has been previously opened upon delivery, contact the IRS immediately at http://www.irs.gov.
Attribution: http://www.ftc.gov

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

February 22, 2020

DEBT RELIEF SCAMS

When credit card or other debts are burdensome, a phone call, email, website or ad promising relief may be welcome. A promise to settle your liabilities for pennies on the dollar can be very tempting. But proceed with care: Some debt relief offers are scams that will dig you deeper in debt.

There are reputable companies and organizations that can help you get out of the red. Some can advise you on budgeting and money management. They nay negotiate concessions with creditors or set you up with a plan to put away money each month to pay down your debts, usually over a period of years.

Scammers, on the other hand, offer sham “guarantees” to get you out of debt quickly and cleanly. Crucially, “they ask you to pay them before they do anything for you,” says the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). That’s illegal, and a big red flag that your would-be debt savior isn’t on the up-and-up. (Legitimate debt relief firms do charge for their services but can collect only when they get results.)

Some crooks will take your money and run; others will string you along, collecting payments and taking a “Management Fee” from each payment.

Bogus firms may instruct victims to stop paying their debts, on the premise that this will compel creditors to negotiate a reduction in the amount owed. This is misleading and risky. Creditors are under no obligation to settle rather than sue. These bogus firms don’t fully explain the potential consequences of being sued by creditors who are not paid. In the meantime, you could accrue interest and penalties and damage your credit score.

Warning Signs:

*A debt relief company asks for fees up front, before it settles any debts.

*The company guarantees it can eliminate your debt or reduce it by a particular amount in a set period of time.

*The company advises you to cut off communication with creditors.

*The company won’t send you information about its services unless you provide financial information such as credit card account numbers and balances.

Do’s:

*Do your homework on a debt relief service you are considering working with. Search online and check with your state’s attorney general and consumer protection agency to see if the company has been the subject of complaints.

*Do know the disclosure requirements for debt settlement companies. Among other things, they must explain all fees for and conditions on their services, estimate how long it will take to settle each debt, and lay out the risks of stopping payments to creditors.

*Do be skeptical of claims that a “new government program” or change in the law will reduce, forgive or cancel student loans, credit card debt or other liabilities.

*Do consider other options for dealing with debt, such as negotiating directly with creditors or using a nonprofit credit counseling agency.

Don’ts:

*Don’t pay a debt relief or credit counseling service fees in advance, even if they’re couched as “voluntary” contributions.

*Don’t believe guarantees. No company can ensure that it will reduce your debt by a certain amount or stop collection calls and lawsuits.

*Don’t let a company enroll you in a debt relief program without reviewing your financial situation with you.

*Don’t believe a claim that a company can remove negative information from your credit file. If data on delinquency, defaults and other problems is correct, it stays on your credit report for many years, by law.

Attribution: AARP.org

Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission

February 14, 2020

Coronavirus: Scammers follow the headlines

Scammers are taking advantage of fears surrounding the Coronavirus. They’re setting up websites to sell bogus products, and using fake emails, texts, and social media posts as a ruse to take your money and get your personal information.

The emails and posts may be promoting awareness and prevention tips, and fake information about cases in your neighborhood. They also may be asking you to donate to victims, offering advice on unproven treatments, or contain malicious email attachments.

Here are some tips to help you keep the scammers at bay:

Don’t click on links from sources you don’t know. It could download a virus onto your computer or device. Make sure the anti-malware and anti-virus software on your computer is up to date.

Watch for emails claiming to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or experts saying that have information about the virus. For the most up-to-date information about the Coronavirus, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Ignore online offers for vaccinations. If you see ads touting prevention, treatment, or cure claims for the Coronavirus, ask yourself: if there’s been a medical breakthrough, would you be hearing about it for the first time through an ad or sales pitch?

Do your homework when it comes to donations, whether through charities or crowdfunding sites. Don’t let anyone rush you into making a donation. If someone wants donations in cash, by gift card, or by wiring money, don’t do it.

Be alert to “investment opportunities.” The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is warning people about online promotions, including on social media, claiming that the products or services of publicly-traded companies can prevent, detect, or cure coronavirus and that the stock of these companies will dramatically increase in value as a result.

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