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

April 18, 2020

CHECK WASHING SCAM

Check washing is back. That’s the scam in which criminals steal checks from victims’ mailboxes and change the name of the payee (the person receiving the money) to themselves. Check washing works because it’s easy to do and difficult to spot.

According to the National Check Fraud Center (NCFC), scammers use the technique to get away with millions of dollars every year. The scam works because many people have either forgotten or don’t even know it exists. That includes bank tellers who hand over cash to the crooks.

The crooks erase payee details using chemicals found in common household cleaning products. They then take great care to try to match the ink color and remaining handwriting when they insert their own name. In most cases, they also alter the amount for which the check is made out. They use a fake name, of course, and then march into a bank with a matching fake ID, like a phony driver’s license, and ask for the cash.

The first knowledge the victim usually has is when the person or organization to whom they sent the money notifies them that they haven’t been paid, or when they discover a check that was sent to them never arrived.

In some cases, banks have agreed to compensate victims by refunding the lost money, but this depends entirely on the bank’s policy.

Protective Tips

Are you still using checks to pay bills, or to receive payments from others via the postal service? If so, consider other more secure ways of paying your bills — such as via credit or debit card or direct payment/transfer from your bank. Likewise, others can pay you via electronic transfer or PayPal.

Use a gel pen to write the check. This ink is reportedly more difficult to remove than regular ballpoint ink.

Don’t place payments checks in an unlocked mailbox. Ideally, post them at a post office. You could place them in a USPS mailbox, but these are also potentially vulnerable to thieves. Best practice is to place them in the box just before the last collection of the day.

If you have no alternative to using your own mailbox, place the payment check in the box just before your mail person’s normal collection time. At the very least, don’t leave it in the box overnight, on Sundays, or holidays.

If you expect to receive check payments in the mail, ensure you have a lockable box that self-locks on closing after the deliverer has placed the items inside.

Check your bank statement regularly to view copies of your paid checks. Most banks will either return presented checks to customers (on request) or make images of them available online.

Finally, if you’re discarding a check, perhaps because you made a mistake, or you deposited an incoming one electronically via a scanner, shred it. Don’t just put it in the trash where crooks may find it.

ATTB: scambusters.org

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

April 15, 2020

CORONAVIRUS MORTGAGE SCAMS

Because of the Coronavirus, many people are facing financial challenges, especially paying their mortgage. If you’re unable to make your mortgage payments, you could lose your home to foreclosure. Federal lenders and some private lenders are offering borrowers temporary help, like stopping or delaying foreclosure or modifying the mortgage.

Scammers

It’s tempting to hire a company that says they can get a change to your loan that will reduce your monthly mortgage payment or take other steps to save your home. Unfortunately, many companies use half-truths and even outright lies to sell their services, or they make promises but don’t deliver.

Don’t pay up-front for help.

Federal law says that even if you hire someone to help you with your mortgage, you don’t have to pay them until they deliver the results you want. It’s illegal for a company to charge you a penny until you’ve accepted their written offer for a loan modification or other relief from your lender, and you’re free to reject an offer you don’t like. Even if you hire someone, you should always feel free to contact your mortgage servicer directly to see whether they can offer you additional loan options.

Need advice?

You can contact an approved counselor. The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) lists approved housing counseling agencies in your state who can explain your options. Consider contacting the Homeownership Preservation Foundation (HPF) at 888-995-HOPE. HPF is a nonprofit organization that partners with mortgage companies, local governments, and other organizations to help consumers get loan modifications and prevent foreclosures.

Your state may offer additional support. Some states have frozen foreclosures. Find your state government’s website and look for the latest updates on help for borrowers.

Financial considerations of the Coronavirus.

A new federal law, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, creates two protections for some borrowers. The first is a temporary suspension – called a moratorium – of foreclosures for 60 days, starting March 18.

To be eligible, you must have a federally backed mortgage and be experiencing financial hardship because of the Coronavirus.

The second protection is a right to forbearance for 180 days. That means you can ask your loan servicer to reduce or suspend your mortgage payments for that time. If after six months, you’re still having trouble paying, you can request forbearance for another 180 days.

To know if your mortgage is federally backed you can call your mortgage servicer. You can get your servicer’s contact information from your billing statement.

More than half of U.S. mortgages are backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, and these mortgages count as federally backed.

To learn whether your mortgage is owned by Fannie Mae call (800) 232-6643.

To learn whether your mortgage is owned by Freddie Mac call (800) 373-3343.

If your loan is backed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (FHA mortgages), Department of Agriculture (USDA mortgages), or Department of Veterans Affairs (VA mortgages), you also may be eligible for relief.

You can contact your loan servicer for information, no matter what type of mortgage you have. Tell them your situation and ask what options are available to you. Even if your mortgage is not federally backed, you may still qualify for other help.

If you’re considering forbearance, keep in mind that it is not loan forgiveness. You can ask your loan servicer for information about what happens after the forbearance ends. Your servicer should be able to tell you if it will extend the loan term so you can make the missed payments later, if your monthly payments will go up to make up the difference, if you will owe the entire unpaid amount in a lump sum, and how forbearance could affect your credit.

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission

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

April 11, 2020

FAKE CORONAVIRUS TEST KITS

The torrent of Covid-19 scams seems unstoppable. Fake test kits are being peddled by door-to-door scammers.

The scammers are playing on fear and uncertainty about if or when tests will be more widely available and before proper home test kits become available online and in pharmacies (if that ever happens).

In an urgency, many consumers are falling for the doorstep con and handing over $50 for a worthless “test.” In some cases, victims say sellers claim they need to do the test themselves and have entered their homes and stolen items.

Don’t fall for this. Research shows that even genuine kits that are arriving from China are only 40% accurate. And if reliable home tests do become available, they’re unlikely to come from front door solicitors.

In the absence of a reliable home test, the best way to check for the infection and avoid wasting $50 is to monitor your personal health, looking out for symptoms.

Need to know more? Visit the new coronavirus.gov official site for information.

You can do your friends and families a favor by passing on this warning to them.

Attribution: scambusters.org

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

April 9, 2020

REMOTE LEARNING and CHILDREN’S PRIVACY

(Courtesy US Federal Trade Commission, http://www.ftc.gov)

“Social distancing,” “shelter-in-place,” “virtual happy hour” – these are some f the new expressions on everyone’s lips the past few weeks. For many kids, parents, and teachers, add “remote learning” or “distance learning” to the list. Because of Coronavirus-related school closures, millions of students are now learning from home. For parents who are concerned about the privacy and security of their children’s personal data while they’re learning online, here are some things to know.

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) generally requires websites and online services to get consent from parents before collecting personal information from kids younger than 13.

If your child’s school is providing remote learning: Under COPPA, schools can consent on behalf of parents to the collection of student personal information by educational technology services. If your school has consented, then the service may only use that information for educational – not commercial – purposes. If you have questions about a service’s privacy and security practices, first review its online privacy notice. If you still have questions, consider asking your school. Remember, please, to be patient with your child’s school, as many schools are working hard to implement distance learning and may not be able to respond quickly. If you’d like to learn more, check out the U.S. Department of Education’s Student Privacy Policy Office’s new guidance on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) – “FERPA and Virtual Learning.”

If you’re looking for remote learning opportunities for your child separate from school: Review the service’s privacy and security policies. Look for services that clearly explain their data collection and use policies.

While you’re at it, this is a good time to talk to your child about how to stay safe online. Discuss things like the importance of using strong passwords and the implications of posting or sharing information online. The FTC has guidance for parents to help keep kids safe online, including ways to avoid child identity theft and what to do if it happens. So, let the remote learning begin!
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SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal assistance for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

April 7, 2020

SCAMMER ERRAND RUNNERS

Older adults may be hard hit by the coronavirus – and scammers prey on that. Scammers are offering help with errands, and running off with the money.

If you or someone you know must stay at home and needs help with errands, you’ll want to be alert about this latest scam.

If you’re an older adult or a caregiver for one, you may need help picking up groceries, prescriptions, and other necessary supplies. If someone you don’t know offers to help, be wary. Some scammers offer to buy supplies but never come back with the goods or the money. It’s usually safer to find a trusted friend or neighbor or arrange a delivery with a well-known company.

If you’re ordering supplies online, know who you’re buying from. Phony online sellers may claim to have in-demand products, like cleaning, household, and medical supplies when, in fact, they don’t. Use an established delivery service, or order directly from the store. Many grocery stores and pharmacies are offering contactless delivery.

If you need additional help for yourself or a loved one, the Eldercare Locator, a public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging, can connect you to services for older adults and their families. That number is 1-800-677-1116.

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission.

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

April 5, 2010

ROBOCALL SCAMS

Robocalls calls have become epidemic.

Illegal robocalls include telemarketing spam (automated sales calls from companies you haven’t authorized to contact you) and attempts at outright theft by scammers. Prerecorded messages dangle goodies like all-expenses-paid travel or demand payment for nonexistent debts to get you to send money or give up sensitive personal information.

Scammers often use caller ID spoofing to mask their true location, making it appear that they’re calling from a legitimate or local number to raise the odds that you’ll pick up your phone.

If you do, the robotic voice on the other end might claim to represent a utility, a name-brand company or a government agency (Social Security and the Internal Revenue Service are popular poses). It might offer you a free cruise, cheap health insurance or a low-interest loan. It might claim you’ve won a lottery. It might tell you to press a certain key to learn more, or to get off a call list.

Whatever the message, don’t engage. Doing so can lead you to a real live scammer, who’ll pressure you to make a purchase or pump you for personal information, like a credit card or Social Security number. Even just pressing a key or answering a question will alert scammers that they’ve hit on a “live” number, and they’ll call it again and again.

It’s important to note that many robocalls are legal. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC.Gov) allows them for some informational or noncommercial purposes, such as polling, political campaigning and outreach by nonprofit groups (including AARP). For example, your dentist’s office can robocall you with an appointment reminder, or an airline with news about a flight change.

Warning Signs:

You receive an automated sales call from a company you have not given consent to contact you.
A prerecorded message tells you to press “1” or some other key to be taken off a call list.
The message offers you goods or services for free or at a suspiciously deep discount.
The message says you owe back taxes or unpaid bills and face legal or financial consequences if you don’t pay immediately.
The message says you’ve won a big lottery or sweepstakes prize and tells you to press a key or call a number to claim it.

Do’s

Do hang up on illegal robocalls.
Do add all your numbers to the National Do Not Call Registry operated by the Federal Trade Commission (www.FTC.gov). It won’t stop fraudulent calls, but it will make them easier to spot because most legitimate telemarketers won’t call numbers on the registry.

Do explore free and low-cost call-blocking options, such as apps and services that screen calls and weed out spam and scams. Ask your phone service provider if it offers any such tools.

Do verify the caller. If the robocall claims to be from, say, Social Security or your bank, hang up and look up the real number for that entity. Call and ask if they contacted you.

Do report scam calls to the proper authorities. Every report helps authorities frame together a fuller picture of what scammers are doing.

Do review a company’s privacy policies before you give it permission to call you. You might be authorizing them to share your contact information with others.

Don’ts

Don’t answer calls from unknown numbers. The Federal Communications Commission recommends letting them go to voicemail.

Don’t press any keys or say anything in response to a prerecorded message. If you do, this lets scammers know yours is a working number and will lead to more spam calls.

Don’t follow instructions to “speak to a live operator.” This will likely transfer you to a call center for an aggressive sales pitch or a phishing expedition.

Don’t judge a call by caller ID alone. Scammers mask their location by tricking your phone into displaying a legitimate government or corporate number, or one similar to your own (a practice called “neighbor spoofing”).

For guidance, call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360.
Attribution: AARP.

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

April 3, 2020

GRANDPARENT CORONAVIRUS SCAMS

“Grandma: I’m in the hospital, sick, please wire money right away.”

Grandparent scams can take a new twist – and a new sense of urgency – in these days of Coronavirus. Here’s what to keep in mind.

In grandparent scams, scammers pose as panicked grandchildren in trouble, calling or sending messages urging you to wire money immediately. They’ll say they need cash to help with an emergency – like paying a hospital bill or needing to leave a foreign country. They pull at your heartstrings so they can trick you into sending money before you realize it’s a scam. In these days of Coronavirus concerns, their lies can be particularly compelling.

So, how can we avoid grandparent scams or family emergency scams? If someone calls or sends a message claiming to be a grandchild, other family member or friend desperate for money:

Resist the urge to act immediately – no matter how dramatic the story is.
Verify the caller’s identity. Ask questions that a stranger couldn’t possibly answer. Call a phone number for your family member or friend that you know to be genuine. Check the story out with someone else in your family or circle of friends, even if you’ve been told to keep it a secret.
Don’t send cash, gift cards, or money transfers – once the scammer gets the money, it’s gone!
For more information, read Family Emergency Scams. And if you get a scam call, report it to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission

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

March 28, 2020

GOVERNMENT STIMULUS FRAUD

The US Government has announced a plan to send money to persons affected by the coronavirus pandemic. No statement has described how money will be delivered to eligible persons.
That gives fraudsters an opportunity to ply their heinous trade of scamming.
A caller purporting to be a government official may offer to deposit your entitlement directly in your bank account. For that to happen, the scammer would need your bank account number.

DO NOT give out your bank account number or any other personal information to this person.
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SCAMS BULETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal services for ow income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

March 23, 2020

TAX SCAMS

In the wake of the coronavirus crisis the Internal Revenue Service is reminding taxpayers that criminals and scammers try to take advantage of the generosity of taxpayers who want to help victims of major disasters.
Fraudulent schemes normally start with unsolicited contact by telephone, social media, e-mail or in-person using a variety of tactics.
Some impersonate charities to get money or private information from well-intentioned taxpayers.
Bogus websites use names similar to legitimate charities to trick people to send money or provide personal financial information.
They even claim to be working for or on behalf of the IRS to help victims file casualty loss claims and get tax refunds.
Others operate bogus charities and solicit money or financial information by telephone or email.
Help for disaster victims:
Comprehensive information on disaster-related tax issues, including provisions for tax relief, can be found on the disaster relief page on IRS.gov. In the case of a federally declared disaster, affected taxpayers may also call the IRS Special Services Help Line, 866-562-5227, with disaster-related tax questions. Details on available relief can be found on the disaster relief page on IRS.gov.
Donate to real charities:
To help taxpayers donate to legitimate charities, the IRS website, IRS.gov, has a search feature, Tax Exempt Organization Search, that helps users find or verify qualified charities. Donations to these charities may be tax-deductible.
Contribute by check or credit card. Never give or send cash.
Don’t give out personal financial information — such as Social Security numbers or credit card and bank account numbers and passwords — to anyone who solicits a contribution.
Taxpayers suspecting fraud by email should visit IRS.gov and search for the keywords “Report Phishing.” More information about tax scams and schemes may be found at IRS.gov using the keywords “scams and schemes.”

Attribution: US Internal Revenue Service

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

March 21, 2020

CORONAVIRUS CHARITY SCAM

Charity scammers are especially active during and following a disaster such as the Coronavirus pandemic. Many persons wish to help unfortunate persons who have suffered through these disasters. Scammers know of and capitalize on that goodwill.
Sham charities succeed by mimicking the real thing. Like genuine nonprofits, they reach you via telemarketing, direct mail, email and door-to-door solicitations. They create well-designed websites with deceptive names. (As hurricanes churn toward landfall, for example, scammers snap up URLs featuring the storm’s name.) Some operate fully outside the law; others are in fact registered nonprofits but devote little of the money they raise to the programs they promote.

Warning Signs:

*Pressure to give right now. A legitimate charity will welcome your donation whenever you choose to make it.
*A thank-you for a donation you don’t recall making. Making you think you’ve already given to the cause is a common trick that unscrupulous fundraisers use to lower your resistance.
*A request for payment by cash, gift card or wire transfer. Those are scammers’ favored payment methods because the money is difficult to trace.

Do’s:

*Do check how watchdogs like Charity Navigator, CharityWatch and the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance rate an organization before you make a donation, and contact your state’s charity regulator to verify that the organization is registered to raise money there.
*Do your own research online. The FTC recommends searching for a charity’s name or a cause you want to support (like “animal welfare” or “homeless kids”) with terms such as “highly rated charity,” “complaints” and “scam.”
*Do pay attention to the charity’s name and web address. Scammers often mimic the names of familiar, trusted organizations to fool donors.
*Do ask how much of your donation goes to overhead and fundraising. One rule of thumb, used by Wise Giving Alliance, is that at least 65 percent of a charity’s total expenses should go directly to serving its mission.
*Do keep a record of your donations and regularly review your credit card account to make sure you weren’t charged more than you agreed to give or unknowingly signed up for a recurring donation.

Don’ts:

*Don’t give personal and financial information like your Social Security number, date of birth or bank account number to anyone soliciting a donation. Scammers use that data to steal money and identities.
*Don’t make a donation with cash or by gift card or wire transfer. Credit cards and checks are safer.
*Don’t click on links in unsolicited email, Facebook or Twitter fundraising messages; they can unleash malware.
*Don’t donate by text without confirming the phone number on the charity’s official website.
*Don’t assume pleas for help on social media or on crowdfunding sites such as GoFundMe are legitimate, especially in the wake of disasters.

You can report any suspicious activity to the Federal Trade Commission: FTC.GOV, and call the AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline: 877-908-3360.

Attribution: AARP