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

November 18, 2020.

HEALTH INSURANCE FRAUD    

Having personal health insurance can provide a welcome degree of comfort for the future.

But obtaining the right health plan can feel like navigating a maze, with bewildering coverage and cost choices. Most insurance policies contain much “fine print” that is not easily understood. Shady fraudsters count on confusion to sell insurance products and health services that deliver far fewer benefits than promised — or none at all.

These schemes proliferate when health care is in the news and on our minds. The coronavirus pandemic has brought robocalls and phishing emails peddling bogus “corona insurance” supposedly covering COVID-19 treatment.

Fraudsters try to convince you they have a simple solution to the complexity and expense of being covered. They cold-call potential victims or generate leads through websites, using paid advertising to get to the top of search results. They claim to offer “comprehensive” health plans that meet “Obamacare” or “Trumpcare” requirements.

Some crooks wrongly use the names and logos of well-known insurers or even AARP. People who respond are then peppered with misleading promises of full coverage with low premiums, deductibles and copayments. The resulting policies will likely turn out to be, at best, far skimpier than advertised and at worst outright fakes.

Often, victims are tricked into buying medical discount plans, in which they pay a monthly fee for reduced prices on specific services and products from participating health care providers. Some discount programs are legitimate, but as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns, they are not a substitute for health insurance.

Scammers impersonate representatives of the government-run health insurance marketplace. They will tell you they need personal information to verify an application or that they can help you choose the right plan — for a fee. This is an attempt to steal your identity.

Warning Signs

High-pressure sales pitches that push low-cost plans or offer special rates if you sign up right away.

Claims that a plan is licensed under ERISA, the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act. That is incorrect.  Insurance companies are licensed by the states, not by any federal body.

A plan requires you to join an “association” or “union” to get covered. These may be fake organizations designed to create the illusion that you are buying group health insurance.

Someone contacting you about health coverage claims to be from the government. No government representative will ever try to sell you insurance.

Do’s

Do compare rates. Premiums for comprehensive coverage that are far lower than what you see elsewhere are probably bogus.

Do confirm with your state insurance commissioner that a plan provider is licensed.

Do insist on seeing a statement of benefits or a complete copy of the policy before you sign.

Do learn the difference between medical discount plans and health insurance. The FTC offers guidance. Ask specific questions to make sure you know what you’re getting, http://www.ftc.gov.

Do research an association or union named in an insurance pitch. Look for a U.S. street address and phone number, and for evidence of activity other than selling health insurance.

Do check out an unfamiliar company that says it sells plans through a major insurer such as BlueCross/BlueShield. The affiliation should be confirmed with the big-name insurer.

 Don’ts

Don’t enter personal information on a website in exchange for a price quote. You likely are setting yourself up for identity theft or a barrage of sales calls.

Don’t keep talking to a sales agent who gives vague or evasive answers to coverage questions or tells you the details are “in the brochure.”

Don’t sign up for a plan if the bar or price seems too low — for example, if you are not required to get a physical or provide a medical history. Some scam sites claim you can get insurance by just filling out a form.

Don’t give bank account, credit card or personal information, or make a payment, in exchange for assistance in getting coverage. Help navigating the health insurance marketplace is available free. Go to HealthCare.gov and click “Find Local Help.” Real health insurance marketplace representatives will not ask you for personal or financial data.

More Resources

If you suspect there is a health insurance scam, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission www.ftc.gov, or call 877-382-4357. Also, report to your state insurance department.

HealthCare.gov, the official Affordable Care Act website, has information on preventing and reporting suspected Health Insurance Marketplace scams.

You can call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360

ATTRIBUTON: AARP

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

November 16, 2020

SOCIAL MEDIA SCAMS     

Fraudsters are committing fraud on popular social networks like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Many online shopping scams originate with deceptive social media ads, usually on Facebook or Instagram says the US Federal Trade Commission.

Crooks intend to have you send money or click on malware-loaded links. They may simply put a social media spin on older online frauds. Your social feeds are as likely as your email spam folder to be full of fake corporate giveaways, bogus investment tips, nonexistent government grants, supposed sweepstakes winnings and ads for questionable health aids.

There’s more

Romance scammers create legitimate-looking profiles on social media and use them to woo potential victims (a practice known as catfishing). Their purpose is to obtain personal information and eventually money after establishing a romantic relationship.

Be wary of strangers who attempt to forge close bonds or romantic relationships on social media. if they start asking for money—cut off all contact!

And be cautious about innocent-sounding queries about your high school mascot or first car. Con artists know these are common security questions used by banks and financial firms use to protect accounts.

Warning Signs

Ignore posts and ads that offer super low prices on popular name-brand goods or free trials of miraculous health and beauty aids. If a discount or product claim seems too good to be true, it probably is not true.

Ignore all posts that ask for money, even if they appear to be from someone you know.  

Think carefully before you post information about yourself and your whereabouts. Hackers can use personal information for identity theft, and a seemingly innocuous vacation photo can signal to criminals that your home is empty.

You can report a scam by calling AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360

ATTRIBUTION: AARP.ORG

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

November 13, 2020

CAR BUYING SCAMS

Car buying is a gamble. If you buy a used one, you’re betting that it won’t quickly let you down. If you buy a new one, you don’t know if you bought a lemon or if you overpaid. A lot of crooks are ready to scam both car buyers and sellers.

A scam can be disarmingly simple. For example, in a recent New York incident, a fake buyer and a would-be seller met up and took a vehicle for a spin. Partway through the drive, the pair stopped and got out to inspect the vehicle, leaving the engine running. Then the scammer jumped back in and drove away, injuring the owner as he tried to stop the theft.

There have been incidents in which a phony buyer out on a test drive with an owner has pulled a gun and ordered the owner out — basically a gunpoint hijacking.

Another common fake buyer trick is a version of an advance payment scam in which the seller receives a dud check for the car being sold.  Extra dollars may be added to be forwarded to a third party to pay for phony shipping and insurance. In this case, the scammer is relying on the victim to wire this additional sum back to them before the fake check is identified.

Scammers target buyers by luring them into paying for autos they never receive, receiving flood-damaged vehicles, having a rolled back odometer or disguised vehicle title.

Escrow scam

A recent report has identified a surge in car-purchase and escrow scams. This scam is used to persuade a buyer to deposit money with a supposed escrow company that will hold the cash until the buyer receives the car and then pass the payment to the seller.

The problem is that the escrow company doesn’t exist, or at least it’s a fake operation set up by the scammer. So, when the victim sends the money, it goes straight into the scammer’s pocket.

The situation is worsening as more people opt to buy online. Scammers are also using self-isolation or lockdowns as an excuse for refusing to meet the potential buyer. Instead, they convince the victim that using an escrow will ensure the seller gets paid and the buyer is happy.

Warning Signs

Common warning signs of this con trick include extremely low prices; claims of a family death, divorce or military deployment forcing an urgent sale; excuses so the “seller” avoids meeting the would-be buyer or letting them see the vehicle; claims that the deal is secure because of escrow or some type of (non-existent) guarantee from the likes of eBay, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace or even Amazon.

Even if you can’t easily see the vehicle, you can pay a legal car inspection service to view and report on it.  You can insist you have an opportunity to personally inspect the title.

If you want to use an escrow service, insist that you be allowed to make the company choice.

The most effective way to avoid nearly all of these tricksters is to deal only with someone you can meet face-to-face and who has a vehicle and a title you can inspect. No matter what the story or how tempting the prices, never buy from an individual sight unseen.

You can learn more about fraudulent escrow sites here: https://tinyurl.com/escrow-fraud and read the full BBB report, which includes examples of the car buying con tricks, here: https://tinyurl.com/BBB-cars

ATTRIBUTON:  scambusters.org

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

October 31, 2020

FREE TRIAL OFFER SCAM

Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission

Free Trial Offer. “Try It Now… For Free!!!”

A chance to try something out for free? What have you got to lose?

If you’re interested in a particular product or service, an opportunity to try it before you buy might seem like a no-brainer.

Caution: Read the fine print!

 What starts as a free trial — or for a very low cost — might end up costing you real money.

The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to know that some companies use free trials to sign you up for more products — sometimes lots of products — which can cost you lots of money as they bill you every month until you cancel.

Whether it’s for a teeth whitener, vitamin or kitchen gadget, all free trials eventually end. If you don’t want to buy what you’ve tried, you may need to cancel or take some other action before the trial is up. If you don’t, you may be agreeing to buy more products.

Some dishonest businesses make it tough to cancel, hiding the terms and conditions of their offers in teensy type, using pre-checked sign-up boxes as the default setting online, and putting conditions on returns and cancellations that are so strict it could be next to impossible to stop the deliveries and the billing.

The “free trial” might come with a small shipping and handling fee. You think you’re only paying a couple of dollars, but you’re really giving over your credit card information, resulting in much higher charges after the trial.

Strings Attached

Other “free” offers enroll you in clubs or subscriptions. For example, a company might offer you an introductory package of free books, CDs, magazines or movies. If you sign up, you may be agreeing to enroll in a club that will send you more products and bill you until you cancel, or to a subscription that’s automatically renewed each year.

So how can you avoid the costs that might be hiding in free trials?

Research the company online. See what other people are saying about the company’s free trials — and its service. Complaints from other customers can tip you off to “catches” that might come with the trial.

Look for small print that sets terms and conditions for the offer. That includes offers online, on TV, in the newspaper, or on the radio. If you can’t find terms and conditions, or can’t understand exactly what you’re agreeing to, don’t sign up.

Watch out for pre-checked boxes. If you sign up for a free trial online, look for already-checked boxes. That checkmark may give the company the green light to continue the offer past the free trial or sign you up for more products — only this time you have to pay.

Mark your calendar. Your free trial probably has a time limit. Once it passes without you telling the company to cancel your “order,” you may be on the hook for more products.

Look for info on how you can cancel future shipments or services. If you don’t want them, do you have to pay? Do you have a limited time to respond?

Read your credit and debit card statements. That way you’ll know right away if you’re being charged for something you didn’t order.

If you see charges you didn’t agree to, contact the company directly to sort out the situation. If that doesn’t work, call your credit card company to dispute the charge. Ask the credit card company to reverse the charge because you didn’t actively order the additional merchandise.

Where to Complain

If you’ve been wrongly charged for a free trial offer, report it to the FTC: http://www.ftc.gov/complaint. You also can contact your local or state consumer protection agency and file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

ATTRIBUTION: US Federal Trade Commission—www.ftc.gov

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

October 28, 2020

POLITICAL SCAM  PACs  

What is a scam PAC?

Legitimate political action committees (PACs) are federally registered groups formed to raise and spend money to elect or defeat candidates or support a favorite cause.

 Scam PACs exist primarily to raise money for themselves. Scammers are eager to take advantage of your civic engagement by tricking you into contributing to a bogus political action committee.

If you are a person with strong political beliefs, you might be tempted  by a chance to give a few dollars to support a candidate who shares your views, or an organization that advocates on an issue you care about

Scammers may claim to support a particular politician or cause, but the vast amount of donor dollars goes to cover fundraising costs and enrich the organizers. They collect big salaries or run affiliated companies that charge the PACs inflated fees for services.

Some PAC scams imitate charity scams, soliciting money to supposedly support law enforcement officers, veterans or cancer research. Whatever the pitch, it is a scam.

Warning Signs:

*A PAC has a name that sounds more like that of a charity. PACs registered with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) are supposed to focus on political activity.

*The PAC’s website does not list the names of the people running it or provide contact information.

*A caller claiming to be a pollster or elections official asks you for personal or financial data.

Do’s

*Do go to a candidate’s official campaign website to learn about the candidate or to donate.

*Do check out a PAC before you donate. You can look up individual groups and get detailed information on their fundraising, spending and leadership at the websites of the Federal Election Committee, or the nonprofit Center for Responsive Politics.

*Do create a “refusal script” with potential responses to high-pressure fundraising requests. For example: “Let me review the organization and get back to you,” or, “I’ve already determined my donations for the year.”

Don’ts

*Don’t make donations or provide personal or financial information to organizations that contact you out of the blue.

*Don’t give in to pressure to contribute by a particular method. Scammers may push you to send a check, for example, ostensibly because it means processing fees will not be taken out of the donation but really because it makes it harder to dispute the charge.

*Don’t give to a PAC that does not ask about your citizenship status and employment. Real PACs do so because they are legally barred from taking donations from federal contractors and foreign nationals.

*Don’t provide private information to political canvassers. They should not ask for personal information other than whether you are registered to vote and who you plan to vote for. 

Have you experienced this scam?

You can call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360

ATTRIBUTION: AARP

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

October 23, 2020

RANSOMWARE SCAM  

What Is Ransomware?

Ransomware is defined as vicious malware that locks users out of their devices or blocks access to files until a sum of money or ransom is paid. Ransomware attacks cause downtime, data loss, possible intellectual property theft, and, in certain industries, an attack is considered a data breach.

Ransomware is a particularly devious type of malicious software, or malware. You can inadvertently download it onto your computer or device by clicking on an online ad, email or opening an attachment.

Some online scammers have combined ransomware with extortion, employing malware that generates a fake message purportedly from the FBI accusing victims of watching child pornography or downloading illegal files, and freezes victims’ computers until they pay a “fine.”

Nightmare Scenario

 You’re doing work, answering emails or browsing the web when suddenly your computer or mobile device stops working. A taunting message takes over your screen, informing you that some faceless internet villain has seized control of the machine and all your data. To get it back, the message claims, you will have to fork over a ransom, usually in a cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin.

Business Owners Victims

Small business owners should be especially vigilant. Nearly two-thirds of ransomware attacks reported to cybersecurity firm Beazley in the third quarter of 2019 targeted small firms. But cybercrooks are increasingly going after bigger fish.

Public Service Victims

Attacks against state and local government computer networks have severely affected public services in major cities.

Dos.

Do set your computer operating system, web browser and security software to update automatically so you’re always protected against the latest threats.

Do back up all your important data. You can do so to a portable drive, but consider also signing up for a cloud-based backup service that automatically backs up your files and saves previous versions so you can get them back unencrypted.

Do unplug portable drives from your computer when not in use, to lessen the chances that they, too, will be encrypted in a ransomware attack.

Do use an ad blocker program or browser extension to help protect your device from malware planted in web ads.

Do disconnect an infected computer from your home or office network to prevent ransomware from spreading to other devices.

Don’ts

Don’t click links in emails without first checking them out. Hover your cursor over the link, so you can see if the internet address, or URL, looks suspicious.

Don’t open an email attachment unless you’re expecting a file from someone and you know it’s safe.

Don’t click pop-up ads offering free software products that remove malware from your computer. Some ransomware developers use pop-ups to transfer their programs.

Don’t go to websites that contain pornography, pirated movies or other unsavory stuff. Crooks often plant malware in those places.

Don’t pay a ransom to online crooks if your computer is attacked. They may up the price, then destroy your data or leave it encrypted anyway.

To sign up for Watchdog Alerts tips on avoiding scams, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360

ATTRIBUTION: AARP

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

October 17, 2020

REVERSE MORTGAGE SCAMS

A reverse mortgage is a type of loan that is designed to give homeowners access to the equity they have built up in their homes — basically, it is the property’s current value minus any outstanding loans or liens.

The homeowner gets what is, in effect, a tax-free advance on their equity. It can be in the form of a line of credit, fixed monthly payments or a lump sum. For most reverse mortgages, the borrower must use part of the proceeds to pay off any existing mortgage. The loan comes due when the owner moves, sells the house or dies.

For scam artists, this can be a lucrative tool to fleece people age 62 and older out of large sums of money, or even their homes.

Available to homeowners age 62 and over, reverse mortgages are complex, and they can be risky. Fraudsters take advantage of that complexity to draw older homeowners into bad or outright bogus deals. They may market reverse mortgages in ads and “investment seminars” as a cure-all for financial worries in your golden years, providing “free” income or a means to delay filing for Social Security.

It is often a group effort, with unscrupulous mortgage brokers or financial advisers joining forces with corrupt appraisers, attorneys and loan officers. They will finagle an inflated appraisal of a home’s value, thus inflating the equity and the potential loan, and try to persuade the owner to take out a reverse mortgage. The team of crooks will handle the paperwork, close the loan and come up with a pretext to get the money or even take title to the house.

Warning Signs

A smooth-talking “broker” or lender uses high-pressure tactics to try to talk you into a reverse mortgage loan.

REMEMBER. The scammers bottom-line goal is simple: They want to put into their pockets the home equity you spent years building.

They claim the loan is safe because it is insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The FHA does insure some reverse mortgages, but that coverage does not protect the borrower; it is for the lender, in case of default.

Scammers do not disclose the fees, conditions and risks that come with taking out a reverse mortgage, including the possible loss of the home, which serves as collateral.

Do’s

Do get information on reverse mortgages from reputable sources, such as HUD or the Federal Trade Commission.

Do talk to a trusted financial adviser or attorney before you sign anything. If the reverse mortgage is a federally insured Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM), as most are, you are required by law to meet with a government-approved counselor.

Do be wary if someone selling home improvement services suggests taking out a reverse mortgage to pay for renovations or repairs.

Do be suspicious of claims that a reverse mortgage will get you free income or a free home.

Do know that you usually have the right to cancel a reverse mortgage within three days after closing.

Don’ts

Don’t respond to unsolicited advertisements pushing reverse mortgages.

Don’t sign any loan paperwork that you don’t completely understand.

Don’t buy other financial products, services or investments in order to obtain a reverse mortgage.

Don’t take out a reverse mortgage using just one spouse as the borrower. A reverse mortgage in one borrower’s name comes due when that person dies, and the surviving spouse could face collection proceedings and lose the home.

For more information call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360

ATTRIBUTION: AARP

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

October 11, 2020

IDENTITY THEFT

Courtesy US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

What is identity theft?

Identity theft occurs when someone steals your identity to commit fraud.

Stealing your identity could mean using your personal information such as your name, Social Security number, bank account number or credit card number without your permission

Identity thieves use that stolen information to rent apartments, get credit cards, or start other accounts in your name. You may not learn about the theft until you review your credit report or a credit card statement and notice accounts you didn’t open, charges you didn’t make, or until you’re contacted by a debt collector.

Information about how you can spot identity theft, report and recover from identity theft is available on  https://www.identitytheft.gov.

What do I do if I think I have been a victim of identity theft?

If you think you have been a victim of fraud or identity theft, contact one of the nationwide credit reporting companies and place a fraud alert in your credit report.

You can contact the three nationwide credit reporting companies, Equifax , Experian , and TransUnion with a fraud alert:

CALLING or MAIL

Equifax Alerts, (800) 685-1111    Equifax Consumer Fraud Division, PO Box 740256, Atlanta, GA 30374;

Experian Fraud Center, (888) 397-3742, Experian, P.O. Box 9554, Allen, TX 75013;

Transunion Fraud Alert, (888) 909-8872  TransUnion Fraud Victim Assistance Department, P.O. Box 2000, Chester, PA 19016.

A fraud alert requires any future creditors who check your credit report to take steps to verify your identity before opening a new account, issuing an additional card, or increasing the credit limit on an existing account based on your request. When you place a fraud alert on your credit report at one of the nationwide credit reporting companies, it must notify the others.

There are two main types of fraud alerts: initial fraud alerts and extended alerts.

INITIAL FRAUD ALERTS

To file an identity theft report, you must file either a police report or a report with a government agency such as the Federal Trade Commission, http://www.ftc.gov.  

You can place an initial fraud alert on your credit report if you believe you are (or are about to become), a victim of fraud or identity theft. Credit reporting companies will keep that alert on your file for one year. After one year the initial fraud alert will expire and be removed. You have the option to place another initial fraud alert at that time.

An initial fraud alert requires that a potential creditor take reasonable steps to make sure the person making a new credit request in your name is you. If you provide a telephone number, the lender must call you or take reasonable steps to verify whether you are the person making the credit request.

When you place an initial fraud alert in your file, you are entitled to order one free copy of your credit report from each of the nationwide credit reporting companies. These free reports do not count as your free annual report from each credit reporting company.

EXTENDED ALERTS

You can place an extended alert on your credit report after your identity has been stolen and you file an identity theft report.

When you place an extended fraud alert in your file, you are entitled to order two free copies of your credit report from each nationwide credit reporting company over a 12-month period.

An extended alert is good for seven years. An extended alert requires that a potential creditor contact you in person or through the telephone number or other contact method you designate to verify whether you are the person making the credit request.

SECURITY FREEZES

Under federal law you can freeze and unfreeze your credit record for free at the three nationwide credit reporting companies – Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. A security freeze also called a credit freeze, stops new potential creditors from accessing your credit file and others from opening accounts in your name, until you lift the freeze.

There is an exception. The federal law requiring free security freezes does not apply to someone who requests your credit report for employment, tenant-screening, or insurance purposes.

Unlike fraud alerts, if you place a security freeze with one credit reporting agency it will not notify the other credit reporting companies. You must contact each credit reporting company individually if you would like to place a security freeze with all three nationwide credit reporting companies.

Because most businesses will not open credit accounts without checking your credit report, a freeze can stop identity thieves from opening new accounts in your name. Be mindful that a freeze does not prevent identity thieves from taking over existing accounts.

ATTRIBUTION: US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

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

October 3, 2020

PACKAGE DLIVERY SCAM 

Scammers are increasing their use of the fake package delivery scam. In a typical scam of this type, consumers receive a text message, email, or phone call informing them that they have a package waiting for them, or that the delivery service (e.g., FedEx, UPS, or USPS) was unable to deliver. 

To have the package delivered, the consumer asked you to click on a link and “verify” personal information, or supply payment information (like a credit card or bank routing number). In other cases, the scammers’ messages may direct recipients to a phony authentic-looking website (for example, a phishing site that looks like an Amazon customer satisfaction survey).

These delivery messages can be quite convincing—but they are fake and generated by scammers trying to extract valuable information from consumers. As consumers come to rely more on e-commerce for day-to-day needs, they may be more likely to assume these messages are legitimate.

Here are the steps you can take to reduce your risk:

*Do not click on any links or attachments in text messages or emails claiming to be from a package delivery service. If you receive a phone call from someone claiming to be with a package delivery service, hang up. Do not press “1” (or any other number) to be connected to a representative.

*If you do click on a suspicious link, do not supply any personal information such as your Social Security number, mailing address, credit card number, or bank account routing information, even if it is just to “verify” your identity.

*Do not be alarmed by language in text messages, emails, or phone calls that claim your response is “urgent.” This is a common tactic that scammers use to get you to act before thinking.

*If you are unsure whether you have a package waiting for you, go the delivery service’s website (e.g., amazon.com, usps.com, or ups.com) for verification.  

If you suspect that you have become a victim, report it immediately. You can file a complaint at Fraud.org via their secure online complaint form. They will share your complaint with their network of law enforcement and consumer protection agency partners who can investigate and help put fraudsters behind bars.

ATTRIBUTION: www.fraud.org

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

September 27, 2020

PYRAMID SCAMS

Hard financial times are luring more people than usual into money-losing pyramid schemes.

Invitations by names like Blessed Bloom, Gifted Circle or Secret Sister may sound promising.  It could be attractive if you need money.  But it is a get-rich-quickly pyramid scheme.

Pyramid schemes work on the promise investors will receive back a profit on their money.  In fact, money received from later investors is used to pay back money to earlier investors under a false pretense of earned profit. Later investors receive nothing when scammers take the money and the scheme collapses.

The way the scam works is that a person is invited, usually by someone they know, to put in their money and then to find eight other people whom they invite to do the same thing.  They, in turn, must find another eight participants.  And so on.

Each person who “joins” is asked to send money to the person who invited them, usually via an online app, which often makes it nearly impossible for anyone who realizes they’ve been duped to get their money back.

The best way to avoid this scam and other pyramid schemes is to ignore easy-money or get-rich-quick promises, especially those that claim to multiple your money in return for recruiting others to take part.

“Pyramid scheme promoters may go to great lengths to make the program look like a business, such as a   legitimate multi-level marketing (MLM) program,” says the Security Exchange Commission.  But “there’s only one possible mathematical result.”  Financial disaster for all but a few.

You can see the SEC’s general guidance on pyramid schemes here:  https://tinyurl.com/SEC-pyramid

The US Federal Trade Commission advises “Just don’t send money”. http://www.ftc.gov.

ATTRIBUTION:  scambusters.org

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