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

January 3, 2022

SMISHING SCAMS

SMISHING SCAMS

Courtesy AARP

The word “smishing” comes from combining “SMS” — for ‘short message service’, the technology behind texting. It is scammers practice of stealing personal or financial information through deceptive communications, primarily emails. Basically, it’s ‘phishing’ by another means, namely text messages on mobile devices.

Like phishing emails, smishing texts are social-engineering scams that aim to manipulate people into turning over sensitive data such as Social Security numbers, credit card numbers and account passwords or providing access to a business’s computer system. They rely on persuading you that the sender is a familiar or trusted source and that urgent action is needed to secure a benefit, resolve a problem or avert a threat.

For example, you might receive what looks like a text from a company you do business with, such as your bank, a mobile provider, or a tech service like Netflix or PayPal. It claims your account has expired or been locked on some pretext, maybe suspicious activity, and you need to provide personal information or click on a link to reactivate it. If you respond that gives the scammers means to steal your money or identity or to infect your device with malware.

Variations. A scam text might say you’ve won a lottery prize or a gift card, or promise a break on student loan debt. It could look like an alert from a government agency such as Social Security or the IRS, or a message from FedEx or the U.S. Postal Service about a package delivery. It may link to a phony invoice or cancellation notice for a product or service you supposedly bought.

Warning Signs

*A text message requests personal information, such as your Social Security number or an online account password.

*The message asks you to click a link to resolve a problem, win a prize or access a service.

*The message claims to be from a government agency. Government bodies almost never initiate contact with someone by phone or text, according to the FCC.

*The text offers coronavirus-related testing, treatment or financial aid, or requests personal data for contact tracing.

Do’s

*Do contact the company or organization that supposedly sent the text, using a phone number or website you know to be legitimate, if you think it might concern a genuine problem.

*Do forward spam and scam texts to 7726 (SPAM), the spam reporting service run by the mobile industry. This sends the text to your carrier so it can investigate. Cybersecurity company Norton has a guide to the process.

*Do consider using tools that filter or block unwanted messages or unknown senders:

Your mobile device may have built-in spam protection. Check the settings on its messaging app.

*Most major wireless carriers offer call-blocking services.

Some call-blocking apps (see “More Resources” below) also filter out junk texts.

Don’ts

*Don’t provide personal or financial data in response to an unsolicited text or at a website the message links to.

*Don’t click on links in suspicious texts. They could install malware on your device or take you to a site that does the same.

*Don’t reply, even if the message says you can “text STOP” to avoid more messages. That tells the scammer or spammer your number is active and can be sold to other bad actors.

*Don’t assume a text is legitimate because it comes from a familiar phone number or area code. Spammers use caller ID spoofing to make it appear the text is from a trusted or local source.

Have you experienced or know of a scam?

Call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360

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A Free Public Service

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

December 26, 2021

STUDENT LOAN SCAMS

Courtesy Federal Trade Commission

’Tis the season for student loan scam calls’ (Music).

If you have a federal student loan, likely you already know that the Coronavirus emergency relief program that has paused your payments is ending. Repayments will begin again after January 31, 2022. Scammers know it and are looking for ways to take advantage. They are calling, texting, and e-mailing to try to use any confusion about restarting your student loan payments to steal your money and personal information.

If you receive a call, text, e-mail, or message on social media from someone about your federal student loan, here are certain things to keep in mind:

*Never pay an upfront fee. It’s illegal for companies to charge you before they help you. If you pay up front to reduce or get rid of your student loan debt, you might not get any help — or your money back. Also, remember that there’s nothing a company can do for you that you can’t do yourself for free. And you never have to pay to get help from the US Department of Education.

*Never give out your Federal Student Aid ID, your Social Security number, or other personal information to anyone who contacts you. Scammers posing as student loan servicers can use this information to log into your account, change your contact information, and even divert your payments to them.

*Don’t sign up for quick loan forgiveness. Scammers might say they can get rid of your loans even though they don’t know the details of your situation. Or they might promise a loan forgiveness program — for which most people won’t qualify. They might even say they’ll wipe out your loans by disputing them. But they can’t.

Scammers use fake seals and logos to lure people in. They promise special access to repayment plans, new federal loan consolidations, or loan forgiveness programs. It’s a lie.

If you have federal loans you can go to the Department of Education directly at StudentAid.gov.

If a scammer contacts you, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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

December 22, 2021

 TORNADO CHARITY SCAMS

Courtesy Federal Trade Commission

Coping with the aftermath of a devastating series of tornadoes that roared across Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri is not easy

 But when scammers target people just trying to recover, it can be even worse. Here are ways to help avoid common post-disaster scams:

*Be skeptical of anyone promising immediate clean-up and debris removal. Scammers may quote outrageous prices, demand payment up-front, or lack the skills needed.

*Check them out. Before you pay, ask for IDs, licenses, and proof of insurance. Don’t believe any promises that aren’t in writing.

*Never pay by wire transfer, gift card, cryptocurrency, or in cash. And never make the final payment for work done until the work is finished and you’re satisfied.

*Guard your personal information. Scammers may say they’re a government official and then demand money or your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number.

*Be alert to rental listing scams. Avoid people who tell you to wire money or ask for security deposits or rent before you’ve reviewed and signed a lease.

Know that FEMA doesn’t charge application fees. If someone wants money to help you qualify for FEMA funds, that’s probably a scam.

Suspect 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.

December 6, 2021

UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE SCAMS

Courtesy Scambusters

Millions of unemployment insurance claimants are being targeted across the US in nationwide phishing schemes. Imposters are believed to have netted as much as $36 billion. There are even how-to-scam unemployment insurance guides shared in anonymous messaging apps.

The scam starts with a text or email message seeming to come from the victim’s state workforce agency (SWA) claiming there’s an error in their claim. This can be corrected, the message claims, by verifying certain personal details.

Victims following a link in the message are taken to a fake SWA page where they’re supposed to reactivate their claim by providing personal details.

It is an identity theft phishing attempt. Once they have your details, the crooks use them to file a benefit claim for themselves.

How do you know it’s a scam?

Government agencies don’t send text messages asking for verification or other confidential information. The messages are sent out at random. If you receive one it is a fake.

Crime Rings at Work

 Scammers who buy stolen personal information from other crooks at just $2 are also filing claims for people who are not entitled to payment.

“States have experienced a surge in fraudulent unemployment claims filed by organized crime rings using stolen identities that were accessed or purchased from past data breaches,” says the US Department of Labor (DOL). “Criminals are using these stolen identities to fraudulently collect benefits across multiple states”.

There are at least three tell-tale signs of this scam:

*Receiving an official message or even an unexpected payment when you haven’t filed a claim.

*You receive an IRS form 1099-G with wrong information about the benefits you’ve received or are expecting. The form may even come from a state where you haven’t filed a claim.

*You have a job but receive a notification from your employer saying it has received a request for information about a claim you’re supposed to have made (but didn’t).

Don’t just ignore any of these messages or keep money to which you’re not entitled. First, keeping the cash might be considered a crime. And second, it means someone has your personal financial details and this could be just one of several frauds that use your ID.

“Unless from a known and verified source, consumers should never click on links in text messages or emails claiming to be from an SWA offering the opportunity to apply for unemployment insurance benefits,” the Justice Department warns.

Instead, anyone needing to apply for unemployment benefits should go to an official SWA website. The US Department of Labor (DOL) has set up a page listing state-by-state phone numbers to report unemployment insurance fraud at https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/unemployment-insurance-payment-accuracy/UIFraudReporting.

You can also report any scam messages to the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) by calling 866-720-5721 or using the NCDF Web Complaint Form found at: www.justice.gov/disaster-fraud.

A Free Public Service

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

November 29, 2021

NEW JOB SCAMS  

Courtesy Federal Trade Commission

Searching online can be a start for locating a good job. But scammers are there too. They post fake job ads designed to trick you into sharing personal information or sending money in exchange for the promise of a job…that doesn’t exist.

Here are a few ways to spot and avoid job scams:

*Be suspicious if you’re offered a job without an interview. Scammers might say they’re out of town, too busy, or have another excuse for not talking to you by phone or in person.

*If you receive a check but have not started a job, it could be a scam. The person “hiring you” might say: it’s your first paycheck, to use the money to buy supplies, or — for caregivers hired online — that it’s for expenses related to caring for your loved one. But later they’ll tell you to send part of the money to someone else or return it to them. They’ll have excuses, but the main thing to know is this: the check is fake. By the time the bank realizes it is fake, the scammer has your money (if you sent it), and the bank will want you to repay the money you withdrew from your account.

*Check out potential employers before giving them any sensitive information. Search online for their name, email address, phone number, and even the text of the message they sent. You might find that others have had bad experiences and been scammed by the same people, or in a similar way.

Spot one of these scams? We want to hear about it. Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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

A Free Public Service

November 25, 2021

CROWDFUNDING SCAM

Courtesy Federal Trade Commission

Scammers could be behind crowdfunding efforts and take your money without delivering what they promise.

Crowdfunding can help raise money for beneficial purposes or to develop a new product or invention. To encourage investors, the organizer may promise something in exchange for contributions. Investors might benefit by receiving a payout once the invention is profitable, be the first to get the new product, or get the new product at a discount later.

When you give money to a crowdfunding campaign, it goes directly to the campaign organizer. But a dishonest organizer might lie about the project, product, and timeline. And they might lie about the rewards you will receive once the product is completed.

Before you pledge funds to any crowdfunding campaign, research appropriate related things:

*Who created the campaign? Find the name of the organizer on the crowdfunding page and do your own vetting. If you can’t find anything about that person, or the details don’t match what they’re telling you, that’s a sign of a scam. Search for the name of the organizer and project with the words “complaint,” “review,” or “scam” to see if anyone has already had a negative experience.

*What’s the purpose of the campaign? Be clear what the funds are for and what you should expect from your contribution. Not all campaigns promise you will receive anything in return.

*What happens if the project doesn’t succeed? There’s no guarantee that the project will be successful and completed. Find out what happens to your money if the project doesn’t get going. Can you expect a refund and how will you get it?

If you come across a crowdfunding scam, report it to ReportFraud.ftc.gov, your state Attorney General, and the crowdfunding platform.

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A Free Public Service

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

November 22, 2021

SCAMS TARGETING KIDS ONLINE

SCAMS TARGETING KIDS ONLINE

Courtesy Scambusters

Kids’ online activities are among the fastest growing scam targets in the nation. And it’s easy to see why. Youngsters are potentially gullible and inexperienced — the perfect target for crooks who steal tens of millions of dollars from them every year.

 And here’s a real shock – two-thirds of them are aged 8 or under!

What’s more, crooks also use the information and access that children give them to scam their parents.

COMMON ONLINE SCAMS TARGETING KIDS

How vulnerable children are to online scams depends on their age and how they use the Internet. But the most common tricks involve either identity theft or loss of money. Some of the high-risk areas include:

*Fake competitions, talent searches, and online events. Youngsters love the idea of winning something or having their work displayed, and they are gullible enough to fall for a ruse that requests their personal information or even an entry fee on their folks’ payment card.

*Games, quizes, and other online activities that impose a recurring fee or require payments to “buy” access to higher levels or power to advance in gameplay. More than 40 percent of parents told a recent survey that their kids played online games every day.

*Phony scholarships and grants, including fraudulent student debt relief schemes.

*Fake bargains and free gifts or trials. This is the juvenile version of the too-good-to-be-true scam that targets all of us. Children with access to payment cards are often not savvy enough to spot the tricks.

*Phishing via emails, online clickbait links, and text messages that directly request personal information and passwords that take them to fake sign-on pages or provide access to “adult” sites.

*Hacking of equipment such as web cameras or video-calling activities.

*Making friends with imposters on social media, including the risk of being groomed by online predators.

*Theft of mobile devices.

*Tricks targeting health, fitness, and appearance areas to which youngsters may be particularly vulnerable, such as diet, weight loss programs, cosmetics, and fashion clothing.

*Fake news, videos, and ads that influence their behavior or provide links to dangerous websites.

*Fake Identity

GUIDELINES FOR PROTECTING KIDS ONLINE

This alarming situation underlines the importance for parents to protect their kids when they use the Internet. It’s a big challenge. How do you safeguard children online when you are not always with them, don’t want to appear too controlling, or simply don’t know what to do?

There is no totally watertight way to prevent your children from encountering Internet scams but positive actions can both cut risks and educate them about the dangers.

Here are approaches:

*Talk. Having a dialog with kids about online scam risks is the single most important thing you can do. Of course, it’s not always that easy, given the way they may regard your advice and opinions. Don’t use threats or over-the-top scare tactics and look for real-life examples as learning opportunities. Focus on social media risks, the hazards of “sexting,” imposters, fake news, videos, and websites.

*Agree. Listen to their views and use them as a foundation for a family contract on acceptable usage. Highlight the sort of risks we have outlined above and then have a family contract on what is acceptable. This should include when and for how long they can be online and information that’s okay to disclose.

*Monitor. This can be tough, especially with teens. You can’t be looking over their shoulder all the time. If you do, it’ll destroy their trust. These days, many devices and apps offer the ability to limit time and site access. Use them. There are a few apps that effectively spy on activities. If you must, go down this route with extreme caution and by agreement with your kids.

*Observe. Look for changes in their behavior — perhaps signs of worrying, secrecy, need for money, or aggression. Listen for names or other information you’re not familiar with. Sit down and talk.

*Limit. Don’t allow your children, whatever their age, to have unlimited access to money or payment cards. Depending on their age, you might allow them to spend only with your permission. Again, this should form part of your family contract.

*Secure. Make sure all devices have up to date security protection, especially your home network and equipment linked to it. Explain the importance of strong and multiple passwords, the dangers of phishing, and providing information about themselves on social media. Explain why they should use lock screen and should not leave their phones and laptops unattended.

*Encourage. Stress the importance of openness. Let your kids know that everyone is vulnerable to scams and that they should tell you about their experiences without fear of punishment.

*Review. Unfortunately, you can’t just have a discussion and family agreement and leave it at that. It’s important to keep the dialog ongoing. Keep track of changing risks and technology and make it a point of conversation. Perhaps widen some of the boundaries you’ve previously agreed as they get older and show more responsibility.

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

November 15, 2021.

APARTMENTS SCAMS

Courtesy AARP

Beware Red Flags of Apartment Rental Scams During the Pandemic.

There is not one easy way to spot scams. But industry experts say it is critical to know the red flags. They include:

*Below-market rent rates.

*Unusual payment methods requested.

*The sender will not meet the targeted tenant in person — and offers a virtual showing of the rental unit only after a lease is signed.

* A listing with grammar or punctuation mistakes.

* A phony landlord with a “dramatic” story. You might be told to drive by the building — but you can’t go in, because the owner is working abroad or is in a faraway place serving in the military or doing missionary work.

* A refusal to speak or video chat, communicating only by text or email.

*A request to wire money, send it via Western Union or MoneyGram or pay with gift cards or bitcoin.

*The funds requested may be described as a security deposit, move-in fee or rent.

* A sense of urgency. Scammers want you to act fast and move in immediately, even if you haven’t seen the premises.

*Some scammers dangle the prospect of heavy interest from other potential tenants.

*A claim of affiliation with Apartments.com or another established site, which could be just another falsehood.

* A hard sell. “Fraudsters are very persistent … they just tend to be a little more aggressive,” says Kelsey Blakely, senior director of online security for Apartments.com. “Once they get a hold of your number, they’ll just be texting you all the time. And it’s like, ‘Hey, what do you think? Want to get this deal going?’”

APARTMENTS.COM

Limited apartment availability is listed at http://www.apartments.com. Apartments.com disclaimer says that it “cannot guarantee that our sites are 100 percent free from false or fraudulent listings.”

AARP’s Fraud Watch Network can help you spot and avoid scams. Sign up for free Watchdog Alerts, review our scam-tracking map, or call our toll-free fraud helpline at 877-908-3360 if you or a loved one suspect you’ve been a victim. http://www.aarp.com.

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A Free Public Service

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

November 9, 2021

HEALTH FRAUD RIP-OFFS

Courtesy US Food & Drug Administration

Rip-off Tips:

Here are six tip-offs to help you identify health rip-offs.

*One product does it all. Be suspicious of products that claim to cure a wide range of diseases. The FDA agency continues to send warning letters and take enforcement action as appropriate against companies marketing fake cure-all products. These miracle cures don’t exist – they’re bogus – and the only thing these companies are selling is false hope.

*Personal “success” testimonials. Success stories, such as, “It cured my diabetes” or “It immediately stopped my COVID-19 infection,” are easy to make up and are not a substitute for scientific evidence. Reviews found on popular online marketplaces and social media can be fake.

*Quick fixes. Few diseases or conditions can be treated quickly, even with legitimate products. Beware of language such as, “Lose 30 pounds in 30 days,” “protects from viral infections,” or “eliminates skin cancer in days.”

*“All natural” cure or treatment. Don’t be fooled by descriptions like “all-natural cure.” Such phrases are often used in health fraud as an attention-grabber to suggest that a product is safer than conventional treatments. These terms don’t necessarily equate to safety. Some plants found in nature (such as poisonous mushrooms) can be harmful or even kill when consumed. Moreover, the FDA has found numerous products promoted as “all-natural” cures or treatments that contain hidden and dangerously high doses of prescription drug ingredients or other active pharmaceutical ingredients.

*“Miracle cure.” Alarms should go off when you see this claim or others like it such as, “new discovery,” *“guaranteed results,” or “secret ingredient.” If a real cure for a serious disease were FDA-approved, it would be widely reported through the media and prescribed by licensed health professionals—not plastered on advertisements in social media and messaging apps, or buried in websites, print ads, and TV infomercials.

*Conspiracy theories. Claims like “This is the cure our government or Big Pharma doesn’t want you to know about” are used to distract consumers from the obvious, common-sense questions about the so-called miracle cure.

Health fraud complaints can be reported to www.FDA.gov.

A Free Public Service

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

October 29, 2021

Courtesy US IRS

The US Internal Revenue Service annually compiles a “Dirty Dozen” list of common scams that taxpayers may encounter anytime. Many of these schemes peak during tax return filing season as people prepare their returns or hire someone to help with their taxes.

The Dirty Dozen represents some of the worst of tax scams.

For a detailed description of certain 2021 scams please refer to the list below:

*IR-2021-144, IRS wraps up its 2021 “Dirty Dozen” scams list with warning about promoted abusive arrangements

*IR-2021-141, IRS “Dirty Dozen” list warns people to watch out for tax-related scams involving fake charities, ghost preparers and other schemes

*IR-2021-137, IRS urges caution with email, social media and phones as part of “Dirty Dozen” series

*IR-2021-135, IRS announces “Dirty Dozen” tax scams for 2021

Complaints can be forwarded to www.irs.gov.