FINANCIAL ADVISOR or FORTUNETELLER SCAM 

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

September 26, 2019

You might like your financial advisor to predict the future in ways that could help you get rich. But legitimate advisors won’t promise to know what comes next – and you shouldn’t invest with anyone who guarantees you riches. It’s kind of a rule of thumb about investing: there are no guarantees, and anyone who promises you big money is likely running a scam.

A fortuneteller is someone who might read palms, tea leaves, tarot cards, and who generally predicts the future. Fortune tellers can be good entertainer.  Many people seek them out – whether for fun or in all seriousness.

But fortunetellers are not financial advisors. Period. Actual financial advisors are trained and licensed. If you want to confirm a person is a real financial advisor, you can look for an identifying licensed.

Here are things you need to listen for: Is a person telling you how to spend or invest your money? Do they see great wealth if you invest in a particular business? Do they see someone approaching you tomorrow with the opportunity of a lifetime – if only you’ll invest? Do they promise you more details about your future if you’ll pay an extra $50 ($100, $200) right now? Cautionary note: If a person starts pressing you for money, or giving you investment advice, walk away. And help protect the people you care about by telling your local police and the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.FTC.gov.

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

September 25, 2019

ERICTILE DYSFUNCTION SCAM

Erectile dysfunction is a medical condition.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Warns:

Men, beware! Products falsely marketed as “dietary supplements” or “foods” that promise to enhance your sexual performance or increase sexual stimulation might contain hidden drug ingredients or other undisclosed ingredients — and can endanger your health.

A doctor needs to evaluate your total medical condition to know whether a particular medication is safe for you to use.

FDA lab tests have found that nearly 300 of these products contain undisclosed drug ingredients. Consumers have no way of knowing which drugs or ingredients are actually in the product just by reading the ingredients on the label. They may be misled to believe these products are safe because their labeling often suggests they are “all-natural” or “herbal” alternatives to FDA-approved prescription drugs for the treatment of Erectile Dysfunction.

Risky Interactions

A big risk for unsuspecting men is that many of the unlabeled drug ingredients in these deceptive products can interact dangerously with other drugs they are taking, such as heart disease medicines.

For example, taking a product that contains sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra) in addition to certain drugs containing nitrates may lower blood pressure to an unsafe level.

Unknown Contaminants

Some of the ingredients in these products have chemicals that have never undergone any type of safety analysis in the United States. If you buy, you just don’t know what you’re getting.

Beware of products that:

*Promise quick results (within 30 to 40 minutes)

*Are advertised as alternatives to FDA-approved prescription drugs

*Are sold in single servings

*Are advertised via spam or unsolicited emails

*Have labels written primarily in a foreign language

*Have directions and warnings that mimic FDA-approved products

*A Drug Cocktail

If you suspect that a product marketed as a dietary supplement may be tainted, report it to FDA. You or your health care professional can also report an illness or injury you believe to be related to the use of a dietary supplement by calling 1-800-FDA-1088 or visiting FDA at www.fda.gov.

SCAMS BULLTIN Host: Jay White

September 18, 2019

 FRAUD ON HISPANICS

Mexico Collect Call Scam

If you receive a collect phone call from someone in Mexico, it may be part of a telephone scam that predominantly targets people in Hispanic communities, or with Spanish surnames. Consumers have complained to the FCC that they have been deceived into accepting collect calls they believe are from family members in Mexico.

How the scam works

An operator calls your residential telephone number and tells you he or she has a collect call from a family member who has an emergency or an important message. The operator may have some personal information – such as your family’s last name or husband or wife’s name – and may even give the name of the calling “family member.”

If you accept the operator-assisted call, you’ll be connected to a complete stranger who gives information that is not related to your family. Even if you immediately hang up, you will still be billed for the call.

In some cases, an operator automatically puts the call through without waiting for you to accept the charge. Other times, even if you decline the call, you may still be charged a very high rate for a collect call that was never accepted.

What you can do

• Ask the operator to have the person placing the collect call speak their name so that their voice might be recognized, instead of allowing the operator to say the name of the person placing the collect call.

• Use caller ID to screen calls from unidentified numbers. Be cautious even if a number appears authentic: it may be a “spoofed” number with deliberately falsified caller ID information. (See our consumer guide on Caller ID and Spoofing: http://www.fcc.gov/consumers/guides/spoofing-and-callerid.) Avoid answering any calls you suspect may be spoofed.

 • Carefully examine your monthly telephone bills for accuracy, and report any erroneous charges to your billing company.

Filing a complaint —  You have multiple options for filing a complaint.  

• File a complaint online at https://consumercomplaints.fcc.gov

 • By phone: 1-888-CALL-FCC (1-888-225-5322); TTY: 1-888-TELL-FCC (1-888-835-5322); ASL: 1-844-432-2275

 • By mail:  Federal Communications Commission, Portals II, 445 Twelfth Street, SW, Room TW-C305, Washington, DC 20554. (please include your name, address, contact information and as much detail about your complaint as possible):

Attb: Federal Communications Commission Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau

Consumer #

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

September 9, 2019

GENETIC TESTING FRAUD

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General is alerting the public about a fraud scheme involving genetic testing.

Genetic testing fraud occurs when Medicare is billed for a test or screening that was not medically necessary and/or was not ordered by a Medicare beneficiary’s treating physician.

Scammers are offering Medicare beneficiaries “free” screenings or cheek swabs for genetic testing to obtain their Medicare information for identity theft or fraudulent billing purposes. Fraudsters are targeting beneficiaries through telemarketing calls, booths at public events, health fairs, and door-to-door visits.

Beneficiaries who agree to genetic testing or verify personal or Medicare information may receive a cheek swab, an in-person screening or a testing kit in the mail, even if it is not ordered by a physician or medically necessary.

Protect Yourself:

*If a genetic testing kit is mailed to you, don’t accept it unless it was ordered by your physician. Refuse the delivery or return it to the sender. Keep a record of the sender’s name and the date you returned the items.

*Be suspicious of anyone who offers you “free” genetic testing and then requests your Medicare number. If your personal information is compromised, it may be used in other fraud schemes.

*A physician that you know and trust should assess your condition and approve any requests for genetic testing.

*Medicare beneficiaries should be cautious of requests for their Medicare numbers. If anyone other than your physician’s office requests your Medicare information, do not provide it.

If you suspect Medicare fraud, report it online:  oig.hhs.gov/fraud/hotline.

September 6, 2019

ONE-RING PHONE SCAM

Here is the scenario:

Your cell phone rings, but—before you can answer—the caller hangs up. You might be tempting to call the person back. But With the “One-Ring” phone scam, you could find yourself with an unexpected phone bill for hundreds of dollars.

The scammer’s goal is simple: get the victim to call them back and then keep the caller on the line for as long as possible. To do this, scammers may call back several times and hang up after a single ring.

Once a victim calls back, fraudsters keep the victim on the line by claiming they won a prize or that a loved one has a special message for them. Regardless of the pretense, the result of the One-Ring scam is always the same: victims end up with major charges on their phone bills, which profit the scammer.

The price of a One-Ring phone scam can quickly add up, and consumers rarely know they have been scammed until they receive their phone bill. Fortunately, there are several tips that can help protect you  from this resurging scam:

*Don’t answer or return phone calls from numbers you don’t recognize. If you don’t recognize a number, let the call go to your voicemail. If it is something important, they will leave a message. 

*Don’t trust Caller ID. Scammers know how to spoof your Caller ID so it appears that they are calling from your neighborhood. Similarly, many scammers strategically locate their operations in countries like the Bahamas that have international calling codes like “242,” which may appear to be American. 

*Block outgoing international phone calls. If you do not regularly make international phone calls, consider asking your telephone company to block outgoing international calls on your line. 

*Always closely monitor your phone bill for surprise charges. If you spot a suspicious charge, contact your phone company immediately to dispute it. This will not only potentially save you money, but it will also help your provider spot fraud and protect customers from future scams. 

Have you been a victim of the One-Ring phone scam? Have you received several calls from someone who hangs up after one or two rings? We want to know! You can file a complaint at Fraud.org via our secure online complaint form. We’ll share your complaint with our network of more than 90 law enforcement and consumer protection agency partners who can and do put fraudsters behind bars.

Attb: fraud.org

September 4, 2019

HURRRICANE DORIAN SCAMS

As Hurricane Dorian does damage along the US East Coast, we will remember scammer actions following earlier Hurricane Florence.

Sham charities are likely to follow Hurricane Dorian. They will request donations on behalf of persons who have been injured or damaged without saying who is running the sites or how the funds will be used.

Some sites will claim – without any clear way to verify it – that a certain percentage of donations go to certain groups, like first responders. Other sites will invoke the names of well-recognized groups like the Red Cross but, again, with no easy way to confirm a relationship.

To make sure your donation counts, and to guard against fraud, follow these tips:

*Check out the charity with the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB), Wise Giving Alliance, Charity Navigator, Charity Watch, or GuideStar.

*Find out if the charity or fundraiser must be registered in your state by contacting the National Association of State Charity Officials. If they should be registered, but they’re not, consider donating through another charity.

*Don’t assume that charity messages posted on social media are legitimate. Research the organization yourself.

*When texting to donate, confirm the number with the source before you donate. The charge will likely show up on your phone bill, but donations are not immediately disbursed to intended beneficiaries.

*If you know the charity is legitimate and you are ready to donate, designate the specific disaster so you can ensure your funds are going to specific disaster relief, rather than a general fund that the charity could use for any of its work.

If you think you’ve donated to a sham charity, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. Your report will help us stop rip-off artists and scammers.

To learn more, go to ftc.gov/charity.

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

September 1, 2019

ONLINE COUNTERFEIT ITEMS FRAUD

Many counterfeit items are offered for sale on the Net. Here are 7 tips to avoid being taken:

*Don’t ever buy an item that you learn about via bulk email (“spam”). Your chances of receiving the item *at all* are only 45%, and the chance of your getting what you think at a reasonable price (so you’re happy with the transaction) is less than 5%. In other words, as Jim likes to say, “If it’s spam, it’s scam.”

*Always use a credit card to purchase online. This protects you. Your maximum exposure is $50, and often you won’t even lose that amount if you get scammed.

*If you are buying something at a reputable online auction site, always check out the references for the seller and only buy from sellers who have good references. And take advantage of online auction guarantees, such as those offered by amazon.com.

*Don’t conduct business with an anonymous user. Get the person’s real name, business name (if applicable), address, and phone number. Verify this information before buying. And don’t send your payment to a post office box.

*Be more cautious if the seller uses a free email service, such as hot-mail, yahoo, etc. Of course, most people who use these free services are honest. However, most problems occur when a free service is used. After all, with a free email service, it is very easy for the seller to keep his or her real identity and information hidden.

*Save copies of all of the emails and other documents involved in the transaction. Then, if you discover that an item is counterfeit, you have documentation to help you deal with the problem.

Use common sense and trust your intuition. If you have a funny feeling about an item, don’t buy it. You’re very likely right that it is counterfeit.

If you have been tricked into buying a counterfeit item you can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov.

Attb: FTC

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

August 22, 2019

TIPS FOR AVOIDING ROBO CALLS       

The US Federal Trade Commission warns: Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. If you answer such a call, hang up immediately.

You may not be able to tell right away if an incoming call is spoofed. Be aware: Caller ID showing a “local” number does not necessarily mean it is a local caller.

If you answer the phone and the caller – or a recording – asks you to hit a button to stop getting the calls, you should just hang up. Scammers often use this trick to identify potential targets.

Do not respond to any questions, especially those that can be answered with “Yes.”

Never give out personal information such as bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, mother’s maiden names, passwords or other identifying information in response to unexpected calls or if you are at all suspicious.

If you receive an inquiry from someone who says they represent a company or a government agency, hang up. Then call the phone number on your account statement, in the phone book, or on the company’s or government agency’s website to verify the authenticity of the request. You will usually get a written statement in the mail before you get a phone call from a legitimate source, particularly if the caller is asking for a payment.

Use caution if you are being pressured for information immediately.

If you have a voice mail account with your phone service, be sure to set a password for it. Some voicemail services are preset to allow access if you call in from your own phone number. A hacker could spoof your home phone number and gain access to your voice mail if you do not set a password.

Talk to your phone company about call blocking tools they may have. There may be an app that you can download to your mobile device to block unwanted calls.

If you use robocall-blocking technology already, it often helps to let that company know which numbers are producing unwanted calls so they can help block those calls for you and others.

To help block telemarketing calls, register your number on the Do Not Call List. Legitimate telemarketers consult the list to avoid calling both landline and wireless phone numbers on the list. #

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

August 22, 2019

WEIGHT LOSS SCAMS

Some ads for weight loss products promise miracles. They might say that the product works for everyone or will let you lose weight permanently. Those claims are lies. Dishonest scammers will tell you anything to get you to buy their product. They might have images of “doctors” in their ads and even “news” reports, or testimonials to make you believe that the product works.

Promises like “lose weight without diet or exercise” or the “product works for everyone” are false.

The truth is that weight loss requires lifestyle changes. Doctors, dieticians, and other experts agree that the best way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. But if you get wooed by a weight loss ad with wild promises, all you’ll lose is your money. And the products might not be safe.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has investigated, sued, and stopped many companies that made false weight loss claims in their ads. The FTC launched a new website to help people identify false weight loss claims. At FTC.gov/WeightLoss you’ll find tips about how to avoid scams and share this with your friends.

If you are a weight loss victim—or attempted victim—share this with the Federal Trade Commission, www.ftc.gov. It might keep others from being scammed.

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

August 8, 2019

FUNERAL SCAMS

Some unscrupulous fraudsters take advantage of families’ most trying times for their own monetary gain. To avoid being scammed it’s important to think clearly and beware of funeral scammers.

Even when everything is on the up-and-up, funerals and burials tend to be expensive. Unethical funeral fraudsters seek to collect more by overcharging for items, or tricking you into buying packages with extra features you don’t want or need.

The Funeral Rule, a regulation enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), requires funeral homes to disclose the cost of every item and service they provide, but they don’t always comply.

Many Americans seek to ease the burden on their families by arranging their funerals in advance and prepaying some or all of the costs. That might seem like a prudent choice, but prepaid plans have their own pitfalls. Regulations vary widely from state to state, and you might not be protected if, for example, the funeral home you dealt with goes out of business or you move out of the state where you bought the plan.

Warning Signs

*Dishonest funeral directors may insist you need to purchase a casket even if your loved one is being cremated (you don’t) or try upselling you to a pricy “protective” casket they claim will preserve the body longer (it won’t).

*A funeral director tries to make you feel guilty for not purchasing the most expensive products and services.

*You are not shown an itemized price list before you discuss arrangements.

Do’s

*Do shop around and ask questions. Funeral homes are required to provide price information over the phone if asked, and some post their price lists online.

*Do be wary of package deals that promise a discount on the casket; they often make up the difference in fees and unnecessary services. A funeral home cannot force you to buy a package that includes items you don’t want. *Do consider buying a casket or urn from a local store or online. You might pay less, and a funeral home can’t legally refuse your choice or require you to be present when it’s delivered.

*Do understand what you’re getting in a prepaid funeral contract. Does the plan cover only merchandise (like the casket and vault), or does it include services as well?

Don’ts

*Don’t be rushed into decisions. According to Consumer Reports, if the body is at a hospital morgue or with a coroner, you should have at least two days to make arrangements, and possibly a week or more. *Don’t be pressured into paying more than you want to spend.

*Don’t tell a funeral director in advance how much you’re prepared to spend. *Don’t buy a casket if your loved one is being cremated. The FTC says there’s no state or local law that requires one.

*Don’t be pressured into paying or agreeing to pay for embalming. No state mandates embalming, although the FTC notes that some do require it if a body isn’t buried or cremated within a certain period. #