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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A Free Public Service

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.

A Free Public Service

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

October 26, 2021

FREE EMERGENCY DEVICE SCAM

Courtesy Federal Communications Commission

Emergency broadband program impersonators

Have you seen ads on social media that offer to “help” you sign up for a government program that will give you a “free” device and internet service in exchange for money or personal information? If so, that’s a scam.

While there is a real government program to help people connect during the pandemic, there’s no payment required to enroll. The real government program is the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. Aimed at helping households connect during the COVID-19 pandemic, it gives individual persons a one-time discount to help them buy a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet. The program also gives people monthly discounts for internet service. It’s free to sign up for this program.

Government impersonators can look and sound real — using things like government names (in this case, the FCC, Federal Communications Commission) to convince you to open your pockets or share your personal information.

 Here are ways to guard against attempts to impersonate the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Program:

*Only apply through the FCC and its listed providers. The only way to sign up for the Emergency Broadband Benefits Program is at GetEmergencyBroadband.org. If another company says it can sign you up for this program, check first to see if they’re an approved provider.

*Never pay to sign up to get benefits. The Emergency Broadband Benefit program is free to sign up for those who qualify.

*Don’t give your financial or other personal information to someone who calls, texts, or emails and says they’re with the FCC. If you think a call or message could be real, stop. Call the Emergency Broadband Support Center at 1-833-511-0311 to check.

Did you pay a scammer? If so, act quickly to try to get your money back. If you think someone has gotten into your accounts or has your personal information, visit http://www.IdentityTheft.gov for steps to learn if your identity has been misused, and how to report and recover from identity theft.

This scam can be reported 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 22, 2021

FAKE AMAZON IMPERSONATORS

Courtesy Federal Trade Commission

Has Amazon contacted you to confirm a recent purchase you didn’t make or to tell you that your account has been hacked? According to the FTC’s new Data Spotlight, since July 2020, about one in three people have reported a fake Amazon impersonator scam.

These scams can look a few different ways. In one version, scammers offer to “refund” you for an unauthorized purchase but “accidentally transfer” more than promised. They then ask you to send back the difference. What really happens? The scammer moves your own money from one of your bank accounts to the other (like your Savings to Checking, or vice versa) to make it look like you were refunded. Any money you might send back to “Amazon” is your money (not an overpayment) — and as soon as you send it out of your account, it becomes theirs. In another version of the scam, you’re told that hackers have gotten access to your account — and the only way to supposedly protect it is to buy gift cards and share the gift card number and PIN on the back. Once that information is theirs, the money is, too.

Here are some ways to guard against an Amazon impersonator scam:

*Never call back an unknown number. Use the information on Amazon’s website and not a number listed in an unexpected email or text.

*Don’t pay for anything with a gift card. Gift cards are for gifts. If anyone asks you to pay with a gift card – or buy gift cards for anything other than a gift, it’s a scam.

*Don’t give remote access to someone who contacts you unexpectedly. This gives scammers easy access to your personal and financial information—like access to your bank accounts.

*Have you spotted this scam? Report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

*If you think someone has gotten access to your accounts or personal information, visit IdentityTheft.gov. There, you’ll find steps to take to see if your identity has been misused, and how to report and possibly recover from identity theft.

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A Free Public Service

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

October 20, 2021

MEDICARE ENROLLMENT FRAUD

Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission

Medicare is a national health insurance program in the United States. It primarily provides health insurance for Americans aged 65 and older, but also for some younger persons with disability status as determined by the Social Security Administration including those with end stage renal disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Scammers might call and pretend to be Medicare representatives or agents to steal your Medicare number or other personal information. They can use a fake CallerID name to impersonate Medicare or another organization you know. Don’t trust the name displayed on your phone’s CallerID screen. If anyone calls and asks for your Medicare, Social Security, or bank or credit card information, don’t respond—hang up. A scammer can use your personal information to file false claims, sign you up for a plan to which you didn’t agree, or even steal your identity.

During Medicare’s Open Enrollment Period (OEP), which begins on October 15 and ends December 7, Medicare beneficiaries can choose the plans that are best for them for 2022. You can get help comparing Medicare plans from your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), available in each U.S. state, territory, and the District of Columbia. Private insurance companies administer, market, and sell Medicare Advantage (MA, Part C) and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans (Part D), so it’s important to understand your rights and some of the limits on marketing. That way you’ll be prepared if an insurance broker or agent tries to enroll you in a Medicare plan that isn’t right for you.

Know your rights:

*If you request an appointment with an agent to visit or call to talk about your Medicare coverage options, remember you have certain rights and agents must follow the law:

*Agents must give you information only about items listed in the scope of appointment form you filled out when you asked for an appointment. They can’t talk about other Medicare or insurance products that you didn’t ask to talk about.

*Agents can’t set their own time limits for you to sign up for a plan. Everyone has until December 7 to enroll, and there aren’t any extra benefits for signing up early.

*They can’t threaten to take away your benefits if you don’t sign up for a plan or offer you gifts if you agree to sign up.

*Agents cannot suggest that Medicare endorses or prefers their plan.

*After you pick the plan that’s right for you, be sure you get all the details in writing before you sign up. Take your time to read all information and verify details. For example, before you sign up, reach out to your doctors to ensure they are in that plan’s network.

Report a marketing violation:

There are limits on how companies and agents selling Medicare plans can contact you and what they can say. For example:

You should never get a phone call from a company you don’t have a relationship with.

A company must not represent itself as Medicare, Social Security, or Medicaid.

You shouldn’t get information — like leaflets, flyers, door hangers, etc. — on your car or at home from a company you don’t have an appointment with.

An agent can’t come back to your home without an invitation.

They can’t mislead you about coverage for prescriptions or services. Always review your Explanation of Benefits (EOB) to be sure your coverage matches what was promised.

They can’t promise that you can keep your Medigap plan (supplemental plan) when you sign up for a Medicare Advantage plan. The truth is, you can’t have both a Medigap plan and a Medicare Advantage plan.

If you notice one of these marketing violations, please tell your local Senior Medicare Patrol or contact the Federal Trade Commission at: www.ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

For more information and help reporting Medicare fraud, errors, or abuse, visit smpresource.org or call 1-877-808-2468. To report an impersonator who pretended to be from Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE and visit ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you think someone misused your personal or financial information, report it at IdentityTheft.gov and start on a recovery plan.

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A Free Public Service

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

October 12, 2021

YOUR ACCOUNT SCAMS

Courtesy AARP

If you use a bank, shop, watch movies or stream music online, you may receive emails from the digital companies you do business with touting new products or alerting you to changes in their terms of service.

The fake email or text might seem genuine at first with familiar corporate branding at the top. But if a message appearing to be from, say, Apple, Netflix, Amazon or PayPal warns of a problem with your account you should proceed with caution: It is likely a phishing scam aiming to hook your personal data.

Legitimate online companies may contact you about a genuine issue with your account — for example, if the credit card you use for payment has expired. But they will not ask in an email or text for your login information, Social Security number or financial data. If you have any reason to believe there is a real problem, contact the company’s customer service department or check your account status on its genuine website or app.

The scammer message may be: You need to “update” or “verify” your login or billing information, which you can post by clicking a link or following the instructions in an attachment. (In a variation on the scam message it might include a phony invoice or receipt and ask you to confirm or dispute a purchase.)

Warning Signs:

*Instead of addressing you by name it may greet you generically (“Dear Amazon Customer,” for example), or not at all. The message will vary: “A payment has failed. There is a problem with your order. We lost your customer data. We’ve detected suspicious activity and locked your account”.

*The sender’s email address does not include the correct corporate domain (for example, @netflix.com or @paypal.com). If there is any variation after the “@,” such as extra characters or words, it’s probably not from the company.

*The email seeks login credentials such as username and password, personal data like your Social Security number, or billing info like bank account or credit card numbers.

*The email includes typos, bad grammar or foreign spellings (for example, “centre” instead of “center”).

*You are urged to act quickly, at the risk of losing your account.

Dos:

*Do hover your cursor over links in the body of the email. This will reveal the true destination URL. If the link is unfamiliar, do not click it.

*Do only use a company’s official website or app to update account information such as passwords or payment methods.

*Do contact the company directly, through an official website or customer service line, if you have concerns about an email or text message you received.

*Do use antivirus software and keep it up to date. Activate firewalls and other settings that block malicious files.

Don’ts:

*Do not open documents or download files from suspicious emails. They could install malware on your device.

*Do not click on links or open attachments to “update,” “unlock” or “verify” an account. Go to the company’s website or app to check your account status.

*Do not click on a link or call a phone number in a text “alert” to verify your identity or account status.

*Do not reveal personal or financial information in response to an unsolicited email. Legitimate companies will not ask you to provide sensitive data in an email.

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

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