A Free Public Service

December 9, 2024

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

Maybe you’re pre-planning a funeral for yourself or a loved one and decide to get some pricing information by calling a few funeral providers. Or you need to make urgent arrangements for a loved one who passed away in another state. When you’re making funeral arrangements, you have a right to get funeral pricing information over the phone.

A new FTC staff report about funeral providers’ practices revealed that it can often be hard to get clear and accurate price information over the phone. FTC staff made calls to funerals homes at all times of day. They were unable to get funeral price information by phone from some providers. For others, staff had to make several calls, especially after hours.

When FTC staff did get price information by phone, some providers gave different prices for the same services on different calls. Others gave out estimated prices or price ranges, instead of specific prices. And some didn’t disclose required third-party fees or government fees unless asked.

The Funeral Rule gives you the right to get accurate information over the phone. If you’re researching funeral costs by phone

• Ask the funeral provider what types of services they offer, how much these services cost and what’s included in the price. If they offer a package of goods and services, ask about itemized prices. They must let you buy only the services you want and need.
• Ask if there will be other costs. For example, fees to transport the body, get required permits or death certificates, or place obituary notices.

If a funeral provider won’t give you accurate price information over the phone, try calling another provider. To learn more, check out Shopping for Funeral Services by Phone or Online.

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A Free Public Service

November 25, 2024

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

FUNERAL  PRICES INFO SCAM

Attribution: US FTC.gov

Maybe you’re pre-planning a funeral for yourself or a loved one and decide to get some pricing information by calling a few funeral providers. Or you need to make urgent arrangements for a loved one who passed away in another state. When you’re making funeral arrangements, you have a right to get funeral pricing information over the phone.

A new FTC staff report about funeral providers’ practices revealed that it can often be hard to get clear and accurate price information over the phone. FTC staff made calls to funerals homes at all times of day. They were unable to get funeral price information by phone from some providers. For others, staff had to make several calls, especially after hours.

When FTC staff did get price information by phone, some providers gave different prices for the same services on different calls. Others gave out estimated prices or price ranges, instead of specific prices. And some didn’t disclose required third-party fees or gov.

If a funeral provider won’t give you accurate price information over the phone, try calling another provider. To learn more, check out Shopping for Funeral Services by Phone or Online.

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A Free Public Service

November 18, 2024

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

MEDICARE COVERAGE SCAMS  

Attribution: US FTC.gov

Looking to make changes to your US-Medicare coverage? Now’s the time:

Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period started October 15 and goes until December 7. But as you compare your coverage options, keep an eye out for scammers — they know about Open Enrollment, too.

Scammers often pretend to be from Medicare, or connected to Medicare, to try to steal your money or personal information. They might contact you and say they need your Medicare, bank account, or credit card number for your “new” Medicare card. That’s a scam — Medicare sends its cards to you automatically for free.

Scammers might also say they need your Medicare number for a “medical equipment claim” you don’t remember making. That’s a scam, too. They want to file fake claims using your Medicare number.

Don’t give personal information to someone who contacts you unexpectedly and claims to be from Medicare. Medicare will never unexpectedly call, email, text, or message you on social media to ask for your Medicare, Social Security, or bank account numbers. They also won’t try to sell you anything or tell you to pay for your Medicare card. That’s always a scam.

Don’t trust your caller ID. Your caller ID might show Medicare’s name or phone number. But caller ID can be faked. It could be anyone calling from anywhere in the world. If you think a call might be real, hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) to check.

Report Medicare impersonators and other Medicare scams at 1-800-MEDICARE

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A Free Public Service

November 12, 2024

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

VETERANS DAY SCAMS

Attribution; US FTC.gov

Every November, scammers put out social media posts to honor family and friends who’ve served in the military. But did you know that servicemembers and veterans reported losing more than $350 million to fraud last year? Chances are, fraud has happened to someone you know. This year, make sure your Veterans Day tribute includes ways to help veterans, servicemembers, and military families spot scammers.

When you talk about scams you’re seeing, you help veterans spot and avoid them too. So, tell your neighbor if you’ve heard about scammers who call claiming to help veterans file for benefits — but they’re really trying to steal their personal information or military benefits. Let grandpa know about a scam call you got that sounded real and said there’s something supposedly wrong, like unauthorized charges, with your bank account. You knew it was a scam because the caller told you to withdraw cash and deposit it into a specific Bitcoin ATM to protect it (big red flag!), so help your family members spot that scam. Offer to help your newly enlisted cousin sign up for free active-duty credit monitoring to restrict access to their credit report and protect against identity theft.

Once the conversation gets going, let them know you’re there to help. Share advice and resources to help them spot scams — and to know what to do if they were scammed.  Here are three resources to get you started:

MilitaryConsumer.gov/blog gives you the latest on scams. Subscribe to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

VSAFE.gov combines federal resources to help veterans learn about many different fraud types and how to handle them — from car-buying to housing to military and veteran benefits.

The National Veterans Financial Resource Center (FINVET) knows that financial well-being is linked to better mental health. Check out their tools to protect your money.

If you or someone you care about spots a scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A Free Public Service

November 6, 2024

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

PAYDAY LOAN

Attribution: US ftc.gov

With the holiday season approaching, you might be looking for extra funds to cover things like gifts and trips. But if you’re planning to borrow the money, make sure a payday loan isn’t your first — or only — choice. Sure, you might get the money fast, but the added fees and interest could make the payback really slow — or nearly impossible.

Payday loans offer quick cash for a fee to borrow the money for a short time. You walk out with the money you needed and a plan to pay it back in a few weeks. Easy, right? Not exactly. Watch this video to find out how payday loans work and why paying them back isn’t always as simple as it sounds:

The cost of taking out a payday loan racks up fast. The fees and interest alone could be in the triple digits. And if you can’t pay the loan back right away (which happens often), you might need to do a rollover — or pay extra fees to extend the loan. In the end, you’ll still owe the original loan amount and fees plus the new ones, too.

Before you get a payday loan, ask yourself: Are there any less expensive (and less risky) options to get the money? Maybe you ask for more time to pay your bills or see if you can borrow it from family or friends. Credit unions typically offer loans with lower interest rates than banks or other lenders. Check to see if a personal loan or “payday alternative loan” is a better choice. No matter what choice you make, make sure you know the real cost of any loan before you sign, and learn more about payday lending.

If you think a payday lender has been dishonest, report it to your state attorney general and the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A Free Public Service

November 6, 2024

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

SHRINKING PACKAGE SCAM

Attribution: US FTC.gov

If you’ve been grocery shopping lately, you might have noticed that the box, can, or bag you usually buy might feel a little lighter. Sure, sometimes brands repackage and freshen their designs — but sometimes everything is exactly as it was. Just maybe a little smaller with less inside.

Unless you have old packaging to compare to, it can be hard to know there’s been a change. Brands rarely advertise that they’re giving you less, especially if the price stayed the same (or went up). Some shoppers might feel the size or weight differences when they lift the familiar-looking packaging. Others remember that their recipe asked for a 15-ounce can…but now that can has 14.5 ounces, instead.

All packaging has to tell you how much you’re getting for your money, but it’s the unit price — usually posted on the shelf — that tells you what you’re paying per ounce, pound, or count. The unit price is one way to comparison shop on the price of things now and vote with your wallet if your usual brand feels, suddenly, very expensive.

The US Food and Drug Administration also says that labels on most food packages have to give you the serving size, which can be another clue that something has changed. Are there fewer servings in the container, or is the serving size smaller? If that familiar container now has a change to its servings, chances are there’s less inside.

Besides hitting your wallet, shrinking packaging can increase the frustration factor for many, particularly as Fall leads to a season of cooking, baking, and hosting family and friends. When you’re standing in a crowded grocery store aisle the night before a holiday or gathering, it’s hard to trust your family’s old recipe that calls for a can, bag, or box of something. Combining some up-front investigation of required recipe ingredient amounts with some unit price sleuthing can help protect your wallet…and your blood pressure. 

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A Free Public Service

November 3, 2024

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

LOW MORTGAGE INTEREST SCAMS

Attribution: US FTC.gov

Mortgage interest rates may be on the way down, but scammers’ false promises are likely on the way up. If you’re looking to lower your mortgage payment — by refinancing your home or VA loan — learn about your options and how to avoid mortgage relief scams.

Scammers will say just about anything to get you to trust them. Some scammers call or email claiming they’re from the Department of Veterans Affairs or your home loan servicer. They’ll promise to help you lower your mortgage payment — for an upfront fee or a retainer. But it’s illegal for a company to charge you before they help you with things like debt relief or improving your credit. And only scammers will tell you to cut off contact with your lender, housing counselor, or credit counselor. They might say they’ll handle any loan paperwork for you, but they’re just trying to steer you away from the real help you’re looking for.

Want to avoid a mortgage relief scam? Slow down and check things out for yourself. Always start by contacting your mortgage servicer or lender first. They’ll know the current status of your loan and can help you explore options to lower your payment. Here are a few other places to get legitimate help:

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Your local HUD office or the housing authority in your state, city, or county can help you find a legitimate housing counseling agency nearby.

Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA). If you have a VA home loan, contact them directly to get the most accurate information about your loan terms and help you check for options to lower your payment — for free. Just make sure anyone helping you is accredited by the VA.

Visit consumerfinance.gov/housing to get information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), HUD, and VA all in one place.

If you spot a mortgage relief scam, report it to your state attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.                       #

A Free Public Service

November 1, 2024

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

LOW MORTGAGE INTEREST SCAMS

Attribution: US FTC.gov

Mortgage interest rates may be on the way down, but scammers’ false promises are likely on the way up. If you’re looking to lower your mortgage payment — by refinancing your home or VA loan — learn about your options and how to avoid mortgage relief scams.

Scammers will say just about anything to get you to trust them. Some scammers call or email claiming they’re from the Department of Veterans Affairs or your home loan servicer. They’ll promise to help you lower your mortgage payment — for an upfront fee or a retainer. But it’s illegal for a company to charge you before they help you with things like debt relief or improving your credit. And only scammers will tell you to cut off contact with your lender, housing counselor, or credit counselor. They might say they’ll handle any loan paperwork for you, but they’re just trying to steer you away from the real help you’re looking for.

Want to avoid a mortgage relief scam? Slow down and check things out for yourself. Always start by contacting your mortgage servicer or lender first. They’ll know the current status of your loan and can help you explore options to lower your payment. Here are a few other places to get legitimate help:

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Your local HUD office or the housing authority in your state, city, or county can help you find a legitimate housing counseling agency nearby.

Veterans: Department of Veterans Affairs (the VA). If you have a VA home loan, contact them directly to get the most accurate information about your loan terms and help you check for options to lower your payment — for free. Just make sure anyone helping you is accredited by the VA.

Visit consumerfinance.gov/housing to get information from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), HUD, and VA all in one place.

If you spot a mortgage relief scam, report it to your state attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.               #

A Free Public Service

October 24, 2024

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

CHARITY GIFT CARD SCAM

Attribution: US ftc.gov

You get an email from someone in your place of worship asking you to buy gift cards for a worthy cause. It might look legit, but hold on. Some scammers pretend to be pastors, rabbis, imams, or bishops to steal worshippers’ money. Learn to spot gift card scams — or your money might end up in a scammer’s collection plate.

If you get an unexpected message from legitimate looking email addresses asking you to send them money, it might be a phishing scam. Scammers use real religious leaders’ names — and sometimes even your real name — in the message to get you to trust them. They’ll say they need your help buying gift cards for a mission project or a surprise staff appreciation gift (so you don’t tell anyone) — and that you need to act quickly. They might tell you to put money on specific types of gift cards like Apple, Target, or Google Play. Then, they’ll ask you for the gift card number and PIN on the back of the cards. That’s the scam. If you do it, it’s like handing the scammer cash.

Scammers don’t want to give you time to check out what they’re saying. But don’t let anyone rush you. Slow down and take these steps:

Talk to someone. Don’t trust the name on an email address or what the message says. Contact someone from your place of worship using a phone number you know is real, never one that’s in the scammer’s email. Ask if this is a real request.

Know how scammers tell you to pay. A leader in your place of worship won’t ask you to buy gift cards and give them the numbers off the back, but a scammer will.

Learn what to do if you already paid the scammer. Contact the company that issued the gift card. Tell them it was used in a scam and ask them to refund your money. The money you paid might be gone already, but it’s always worth asking if there’s a way to get it back.

Share this advice with your congregation and community. If someone spots a gift card scam, tell them to report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A Free Public Service

October 10, 2024

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

GIFT CARD SCAM

Attribution: US FTC.gov

Did someone tell you to buy a gift card to pay a fine or bill? Stop. It’s a scam. No real business or government agency will ever tell you to buy a gift card to pay them. Here’s how to spot and avoid gift card scams.

Gift card scams start with a call, text, email, or social media message. The person contacting you is, they say, from the government or a company you know. (They’re not.) They say to pay right away or something terrible will happen. (It won’t.)

Scammers rush you because they don’t want you to have time to think about what they say or talk to someone you trust. The scammer will tell you which gift cards to buy and where to buy them. Sometimes, they’ll stay on the phone with you while you go to the store and load money onto the card. They want you to think they’re helping you. (They’re not.) Once you add money to the card and give scammers the gift card number, your money is gone. If you get a call like this, hang up the phone.

If you bought a gift card and gave someone the numbers off the back of the card:

Report the gift card scam to the gift card company right away. No matter how long ago the scam happened, report it. Use the How To Contact Gift Card Companies list to report it. It helps to have the gift card and store receipt handy, if possible.

Ask for your money back. Some companies are helping stop gift card scams and might give your money back. It’s worth asking.

Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Your report makes a difference and helps protect your community from fraud and scams.                                   #