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

March 15, 2019

SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS

Fraudsters are calling saying they are from the Social Security Administration. They may show the real SSA phone number (1-800-772-1213) or a number close to it on your caller ID.

Since January 2018, the Federal Trade Commission has received more than 63,000 reports of this scam. Victims have lost $16.6 million (with a median loss of $1,484).

The calling scammer may say your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended because of suspicious activity, or because it’s been involved in a crime. The scammer may want you to confirm your SSN to reactivate it. He may say your bank account is about to be seized – but promises if you add money on your gift cards and give him the codes, SSA can help keep it safe. (Of course, you never want to do that, because then your money is just gone.)

Never give your SSN, credit card or bank account number to anyone who contacts you.

Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended by the SSA.  Your bank account is not about to be seized. The real Social Security Administration will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards.

You can’t believe the numbers on your caller ID. Scammers can easily fake those. But if you’re worried, call the real SSA at 1-800-772-1213. You can trust that number if you dial it yourself – just not on your caller ID.

To report a Social Security scam, go to ftc.gov/complaint. But if you already gave one of these callers your SSN and you’re worried about identity theft, you can visit IdentityTheft.gov/SSA for more information.

SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS

Fraudsters are calling saying they are from the Social Security Administration. They may show the real SSA phone number (1-800-772-1213) or a number close to it on your caller ID.

Since January 2018, the Federal Trade Commission has received more than 63,000 reports of this scam. Victims have lost $16.6 million (with a median loss of $1,484).

The calling scammer may say your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended because of suspicious activity, or because it’s been involved in a crime. The scammer may want you to confirm your SSN to reactivate it. He may say your bank account is about to be seized – but promises if you add money on your gift cards and give him the codes, SSA can help keep it safe. (Of course, you never want to do that, because then your money is just gone.)

Never give your SSN, credit card or bank account number to anyone who contacts you.

Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended by the SSA.  Your bank account is not about to be seized. The real Social Security Administration will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards.

You can’t believe the numbers on your caller ID. Scammers can easily fake those. But if you’re worried, call the real SSA at 1-800-772-1213. You can trust that number if you dial it yourself – just not on your caller ID.

To report a Social Security scam, go to ftc.gov/complaint. But if you already gave one of these callers your SSN and you’re worried about identity theft, you can visit IdentityTheft.gov/SSA for more information.

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

COMPUTER TECH SUPPORT SCAMS

March 9, 2019

If you need tech help with your computer, where do you go?

In 2018 the Federal Trade Commission received nearly 143,000 reports about tech support scams. This type of scam has been around for years. But one piece of information in the FTC’s newest Consumer Protection Data Spotlight was an eye-opener. People age 60 and over were about five times more likely than younger people to tell us they lost money on this scam. Although, they were less likely than younger people to say they lost money to other types of scams.

Most of us probably search online. But your online search can lead you to scammers who con you into thinking your computer is in dire need of repair. Their scheme is to trick you into paying for costly security software that you don’t need.

The scammer may direct you to fill out an online form and give your contact information. Then, a phony caller will ask to get online access to your computer – supposedly to check for problems. Once you have allowed access to your computer, the caller will show you fake “evidence” of viruses or other threats that, they say, had to be removed right away.

Then comes the sales pitches to trick you into paying hundreds of dollars for unnecessary repairs and maintenance programs. If you find yourself needing help, here are some steps you can take:

*For tech support, go to a company you know and trust, or get help from a knowledgeable friend or family member. If you search online for help, search on the company name plus “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.”

*If you receive a phone call you didn’t expect from someone who says there’s a problem with your computer, hang up.

*Never call a number in a pop-up that warns you of computer problems. Real security warnings will never ask you to call a phone number.

*If you think there’s a problem with your computer, update its security software and run a scan.

If you spotted a tech support scam report it to ftc.gov/complaint. And after you report it, use information from ftc.gov/passiton to inform your family and friends about what happened so they can avoid being scammed.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who serves low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

March 4, 2019

TOP FRAUDS OF 2018

Every year, millions of victims tell us (Federal Trade Commission) – and our partners – about the frauds they spotted. Last year, we heard from 3 million.

 Here is some of what we learned from their reports:

We collected more than 1.4 million fraud reports. In 25%, victims said they lost money to fraud.  Victims reported losing $1.48 billion (with a ‘b’) to fraud last year – an increase of 38% over 2017.

The top scam reports in 2018 were: imposter scams, debt collection, and identity theft.

Younger people reported losing money to fraud more often than older people. Think about that.

It’s what the data have been telling us for a while, but it’s hard for people to grasp. Last year, of those people who reported fraud and their age, 43% of people in their 20s reported a loss to fraud, while only 15% of people in their 70s did.

When people in their 70s did lose money, the amount tended to be higher: their median loss was $751, compared to $400 for people in their 20s.

Scammers like to get money by wire transfer – for a total of $423 million last year. That was the most of any payment method reported, but we also saw a surge of payments with gift and reload cards – a 95% increase in dollars paid to scammers last year.

Tax-related identity theft was down last year (by 38%), but credit card fraud on new accounts was up 24%. In fact, misusing someone’s information to open a new credit card account was reported more often than other forms of identity theft in 2018.

The top 3 states for fraud and other reports (per 100K population) are Florida, Georgia and Nevada. The top 3 states for identity theft reports (also per 100K) are Georgia, Nevada and California. You can check fraud activity in your state.

 Meanwhile, keep reporting fraud activity to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint. We can use the reports to investigate and bring legal cases against the scammers. We might be able to recover money for scam victims.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who serves low income seniors in San Mateo County, California

February 27, 2019

FOREIGN STUDENT SCAM 

Scammers pretending to be from the federal government are scaring international students into paying them money. The Federal Trade Commission has received reports that foreign students, particularly from South Asian countries, are receiving phone calls that look like they’re from the government.

A scam caller typically knows about a student’s immigration status and the program or school they’re attending. They will say there is a problem with the student’s immigration documents, or visa renewal. And then demand immediate payment, often thousands of dollars, for a service fee or bogus immigration bond. These callers make threats, including arrest or deportation, if the students don’t pay.  They ask to be paid with gift cards (like Google Play or iTunes) or a cryptocurrency (like Bitcoin).

What makes a call suspect?

*The federal government will not make such calls,

*The federal government will not make such threats,

* The Federal will not ask for such payments.

 Any callers who want to be paid with gift cards or cryptocurrency are scammers. They like those payment methods because the money will disappear without a trace, never to be recovered.

If you get a call that is anything like this, hang up the phone. If you’re not convinced it was a scam, talk to someone you trust about the call. Several people report that they figured out the call was a scam after talking with a relative, the local police, or a school official. It’s likely that others in your community received the same call. Talking about the call could help others in your area. And if you’re concerned about your visa or immigration documentation, call USCIS’s National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283.

If a scammer has contacted you or someone you know, please report it to FTC.gov/Complaint. That could help someone else avoid being scammed.

February 24, 2019

MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE SCAM

The possibility of losing a home to foreclosure can be terrifying. An offer of help may be very inviting. But the Federal Trade Commission warns that scam artists are preying on desperate homeowners. Many scammers say they can get a loan that will reduce your monthly mortgage payment, or take other steps to save your home.

Unfortunately, many scammers use half-truths and even outright lies to sell their services. They promise relief, but don’t deliver. In fact, many leave their homeowner victims in worse financial shape.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, wants you to know that there is a rule in place to protect homeowners. The Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule makes it illegal for anyone to collect any money until a homeowner has actually received an offer of relief from his or her lender and accepted it. That means even if you agree to have anyone help you, you don’t have to pay until it gets you the result you want.

How the Scams Work:

Fraudsters use simple, but deceptive messages tactics to find homeowners in distress. Some sift through public foreclosure notices in newspapers and on the internet or through public files at local government offices, and then send personalized letters to homeowners. Others take a broader approach through ads on the internet, on television or radio, or in newspapers, posters on telephone poles, median strips, and at bus stops, or flyers, business cards, or people at your front door.

Warning Signs:

If you’re looking for a loan modification or other help to save your home, avoid any entity that:

*guarantees to get you a loan modification or stop the foreclosure process – no matter what your circumstances;

*tells you not to contact your lender, lawyer, or housing counselor;

*claims that all or most of its customers get loan modifications or mortgage relief;

*asks for an upfront fee before providing you with any services (unless it’s a lawyer you’ve checked out thoroughly);

*accepts payment only by cashier’s check or wire transfer;

*encourages you to lease your home so you can buy it back over time;

*tells you to make your mortgage payments directly to it, rather than your lender;

*tells you to transfer your property deed or title to it;

*offers to buy your house for cash for much lower than the selling price of similar houses in your neighborhood; or

*pressures you to sign papers you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand.

If you have been a victim of a scammer, or contacted by a scammer, the Federal Trade Commission requests you to report it to http://www.ftc.gov.

SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who serves low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

ONLINE DATING SCAM  – February 20, 2019

Online dating can be fun and convenient, but falling for a sweetheart swindle can be costly. Be wary of “friends” you meet online who develop a relationship with you only to con you out of hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Falling in love with a con artist has consistently been ranked as one of, if not, the most expensive scams for the victims who have shared their stories.  It’s not hard to see why. Love is a powerful emotion. Most of us would do practically anything to help out a friend or loved one in need. Fraudsters know this, which is why they devote significant time and energy to developing friendships and “love” with their marks. However, these criminals aren’t looking for a soulmate. They’re looking to take money from victims.

Many of the scams begin the same way. The victim is first approached on an online dating website, a social media platform such as Facebook, or another type of online forum. The con artist may claim to be interested in the victim romantically. When the victim responds, their new “friend” tells them a story about how they are located far away from the victim, often overseas.

As the relationship develops and false trust is built, the “friend” asks the victim to send money to help them out of some fake situation. The “friend”—who is, in reality, a con artist who is likely running the same scheme on other victims—may claim that they need the money to visit the victim, for medical bills, to get out of jail, or some other reason. If the victim agrees to pay, there will inevitably be more requests for money to cover other fictitious expenses until the victim comes to realize it is a scam and stops paying, or worse, runs out of money.

How can you spot a romance scam and avoid falling victim? Here are red flags that the person you’re dealing with is after your cash, instead of your heart:

*The scammer requests that you wire money or to cash a check or money order for them.

*The “relationship” becomes romantic extremely quickly, with quick pronouncements of love or close friendship.

*They claim to be a U.S. citizen who is abroad, very wealthy, or a person of important status.

*They claim to be a contractor that needs your help with a business deal.

*They make excuses about not being able to speak by phone or meet in person.

*They quickly ask you to communicate via email, instant messaging, or text messaging instead of the online dating sites’ messaging services.

*They claim to be American, but make frequent spelling or grammar mistakes that a native English speaker would not.

If you’ve been approached by someone you think could be a romance scammer, DON’T keep speaking with that person. Ignore their emails, phone calls, IMs, or other communications. Instead, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, http://www.ftc.gov.

February 19, 2029

HOME IMPROVEMENT SCAMS

If you’re thinking about building a deck, getting new windows, redoing the kitchen, repaving the driveway, or adding a fresh coat of paint to your home’s interior, it might makes sense to hire a pro rather than take on the job yourself. Finding a good contractor is important — a home improvement project gone wrong can cost you big time. Choosing the wrong contractor can cost you more than money; it can lead to delays, subpar work, and even legal problems.

Before you hire a contractor, get several estimates and ask plenty of questions, including: How many projects like mine have you completed in the last year? Will my project require a permit? What types of insurance do you carry? And be sure to get a written contract. Contract requirements vary by state. Even if your state doesn’t require a written agreement, ask for one. It should be clear and concise and include the who, what, where, when, and cost of your project.

How can you tell if a contractor might not be reputable? You may not want to do business with someone who: knocks on your door for business, just happens to have materials left over from a previous job, pressures you for an immediate decision, only accepts cash, asks you to pay everything up-front, or asks you to get the required building permits.

For more around-the-house tips, check out Home Improvement.

You might like your financial advisor to predict the future in ways that could help you get rich. But legitimate advisors won’t promise to know what comes next – and you shouldn’t invest with anyone who guarantees you riches. It’s kind of a rule of thumb about investing: there are no guarantees, and anyone who promises you big money is likely running a scam.

A fortuneteller is someone who might read palms, tea leaves, tarot cards, and who generally predicts the future. Fortune tellers can be good entertainer.  Many people seek them out – whether for fun or in all seriousness.

But fortunetellers are not financial advisors. Period. Actual financial advisors are trained and licensed. If you want to confirm a person is a real financial advisor, you can look for an identifying licensed.

Here are things you need to listen for: Is a person telling you how to spend or invest your money? Do they see great wealth if you invest in a particular business? Do they see someone approaching you tomorrow with the opportunity of a lifetime – if only you’ll invest? Do they promise you more details about your future if you’ll pay an extra $50 ($100, $200) right now? Cautionary note: If a person starts pressing you for money, or giving you investment advice, walk away. And help protect the people you care about by telling your local police and the Federal Trade Commission at http://www.FTC.gov.