A Free Public Service

June 24, 2024

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

ADOBE SUBSCRIPTION FRAUD

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission, ftc.gov

Adobe used hidden fees to trap people into paying for subscription plans, as alleged in a lawsuit by the Federal Trade Commission.

Maybe you want to try out a product for a little while before you make a long-term decision. So, you sign up for a monthly subscription plan. Everything is fine until you want to cancel and it turns out to be a yearly subscription with monthly payments. Surprise! That’s what the FTC says happened to people who signed up for monthly subscriptions with Adobe.

When people signed up on Adobe’s website for access to its software, the FTC says Adobe pre-selected the option for its “annual paid monthly” plan that put subscribers on the hook for a whole year of payments, paid in monthly increments — a fact that Adobe failed to explain or properly disclose. The lawsuit says Adobe used similar tactics when people signed up for a free trial and didn’t cancel before the trial ended. Adobe automatically placed them on the “annual paid monthly” plan without making it clear they were entering a one-year contract.

When people tried to cancel before the year was up, they had to pay a hefty early termination fee (which was hidden during the signup process). The fee, along with other hurdles Adobe uses in its cancellation processes, made it difficult to cancel the subscription. Some subscribers who had contacted customer service even thought they had successfully canceled, only to find out later that Adobe was still charging them.

When you’re thinking about any subscription:

See what others are saying online. Search for the company’s name and the word “subscription” plus words like “complaint,” “problem,” “cancel,” and “fee” to see if people are having trouble with their subscription.

Check the terms and conditions for free trial offers. If the subscription includes auto-renewals, you’ll be charged unless you cancel before the end of the free trial period.

The law says businesses have to give you a simple way to cancel a paid subscription with automatic billing. If you have trouble canceling a subscription service:

Dispute unauthorized credit card charges.

If you’re in a subscription, you’ve tried to cancel, and the company won’t stop charging your account, dispute it with your credit or debit card company.

Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A Free Public Service

June 11, 2024

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

VOICEPRINT SCAMS

Attribution: AARP.ORG

Thanks to technological advances, it’s possible for thieves to capture a recording of your voice. They then use a software program to generate an imitation “deepfake” version that can be used to impersonate you.

 That voiceprint can be used for such things as to access your insurance, financial institution or apply for a driver’s license.  

Guard against voiceprint scams:

To prevent your voice from being duplicated, don’t answer the phone. If someone needs to get hold of you, they can text or e-mail you.

Be cautious about answering calls that appear to be from people on your contact list, since the call could be coming from a phone that’s been stolen or had its SIM card cloned.

Voiceprint scams can be reported to www.US FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION.GOV.

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A free Public Service

June 5, 2024

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

Hi, HOW ARE YOU? SCAM

Attribution: US FTC.gov

A text message from an unknown number that simply says: hi, how are you? seems harmless. Your first instinct might be to respond to see if it’s someone you know. Or maybe tell them they made a mistake. But it’s best to ignore these type of text messages. Scammers are using this tactic as a conversation starter, so don’t text back. If you do, here’s what happens next.

The person (a scammer) on the other end of the text will probably apologize…and find a way to keep the conversation going to befriend you. Then, once they have your trust, they’ll try to offer you advice on investing in cryptocurrency or claim they can teach you the secrets to making big money in the crypto markets. For a fee, of course. But it’s all a scam and they’ll just steal your money.

Even if you just reply to the text but don’t engage in conversation, you’ve still confirmed they reached a working telephone number. Which could lead to more calls and texts from scammers.

What’s the best way to avoid scams if you’re getting messages from numbers you don’t recognize?

Don’t reply to text messages from unknown numbers. It could lead to a scam. Delete and report them using your phone’s “report junk” option or forwarding unwanted texts to 7726 (SPAM) and unwanted emails to your email provider.

Never click links in an unexpected message. Some links might steal your information, or install malware that gives scammers access to your device.

Don’t trust anyone who says you can quickly and easily make money. Every investment has risks. Only scammers guarantee you’ll make lots of money in a short time with zero risk.

Have you lost money to a scam like this? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A Free Public Service

May 31, 2024

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

WEATHER SCAMS

Attribution: US FTC.gov

Weather forecasters are predicting an active hurricane season, but if you live in large parts of the country — including those hit by tornadoes over Memorial Day Weekend — you’ve probably noticed more active storms of all types. To get started preparing for hurricane season or any storm, while avoiding scams, check ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies for new information to help you spot, avoid, and report scams as you prepare for, deal with, and recover from extreme weather and natural disasters.

Like all the FTC’s free resources, the site is mobile-friendly — giving you ready access to information when and where you need it. When it comes to planning for a possible weather emergency, the more you know — and the earlier you know it — the better prepared you’ll be to avoid weather-related scams and frauds.

To stay ahead of weather-related scammers, here are steps you can take now.

*Update your insurance policy. To avoid surprises later, check to make sure your insurance policy is current and find out what is covered — and what isn’t.

*Check out contractors before you need one. Ask people you know and trust for recommendations. Then search online for the company’s name with words like “scam” or “complaint.”

*Research online sellers before you buy. Unusually low prices are a sign of a scam. If you see an ad for what seems like a familiar company but you’re not sure the ad is real, check it out. But go to the company’s website using a page you know is real — not the link in the ad.

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A Free Public Service

May 26, 2024

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

FREE MONEY LOTTERY SCAMS

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission

Say you’re scrolling through your social media feed and you see a post saying, “I’m the winner of $600 million from the Powerball lottery. I’m giving away $50,000 to the first one thousand people to message me.”

Would you answer? If you do, you could become the target of a scam.

Scammers are impersonating lottery winners on social media, often using the names of real winners to make their posts sound legit. If you reply to their posts, the fake lottery winner might ask for your phone number and send a text saying you won the money but need to act fast. That’s the first red flag. Why the time pressure?

Then they’ll tell you to put hundreds of dollars on gift cards, take pictures of the cards, and text the numbers from the back of the card to cover “processing and delivery fees.” That’s definitely a scam. Only scammers ask for gift cards as payment.

Just commenting on a post like this might seem fun and harmless. But it can lead you to engage with a scammer…and your feed will be bombarded with similar posts and even more scammers to deal with.

 Avoid them with these steps.

Don’t pay to get a prize. Real prizes are free. Anyone who asks you to pay a fee for “taxes,” “shipping and handling charges,” or “processing fees” to get your prize is a scammer. Stop and walk away.

Ignore “free money” posts. Anyone in your social media feed saying they have money to give you is a scammer.

Never send money to someone you met online. Especially one who insists you only pay with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or payment apps like Apple Pay, CashApp, PayPal, or Zelle. That’s a sign of a scam.

People who know about scams are more likely to be able to spot them. So, please share what you know with your friends and family, and report scams at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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A Free Public Service

May 16, 2024

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

PET INSURANCE SCAM

Attribution:  scambusters.org

It’s important to know that pet insurance is not a one-size-fits-all thing. There are basically three types – for health, for (end of) life, and for injury.

Within each classification, there are different levels of coverage. It’s a bit like human auto and health insurance – with considerations such as comprehensive, hospitalization, pre-existing conditions, waiting periods, bereavement counseling, and so on.

Many pet insurance scams involve tricking owners into buying coverage that doesn’t exist, or, of are limited value. Phony policies may have so many exclusions clauses that they are of little value.

Here are common tricks to look out for:

*Fake Policies: Fake pet insurance policies usually look exactly like the real thing, often with emotive photos, promises of great coverage, and incredible testimonials praising the provider. They may also use stolen photos, celebrity endorsements, and official (or official-looking) logos of animal welfare and insurance organizations.

*Misleading coverage: As with fake policies, some so-called “pet insurers” make all sorts of wild promises about the scope of the protection they provide. They may also appear to offer extremely low premiums. But when you need to file a claim, you discover the coverage is strictly limited or that your claim falls within some vague exclusion clause. You may be offered the opportunity to “upgrade” your coverage for a significantly higher amount.

*Unlicensed Insurers: The licensing of pet insurers is a bit of a gray area. According to insurance education organization A.D. Banker, some states allow organizations to operate with very limited coverage, while others can offer a full range. But then, there are the scammers who skip the licensing process altogether and just set themselves up as insurers. Even if they do provide a level of coverage, usually at a lower price than elsewhere, you’ll have no recourse if things go wrong.

Caution-Fine Print

 Read closely the ‘fine print”. This is part of a scheme to rip you off. look closely at the scope of coverage, the exclusions, the limits on claims and benefits, and the extent to which the policy aligns with your pet’s needs and medical history.

As always, beware of spectacular coverage promises and low premiums.

Finally, talk to neighbors, family, friends, and other pet owners, asking for their recommendations.

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A Free Public Service

May 16, 2024

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

FAKE SOCIAL SECURITY SCAM

Attribution: US FTC.gov

The phone rings. Your caller ID says it’s the Social Security Administration. You hesitate. You’re not expecting a call from them, and you’ve heard about impersonation scams. But something inside you makes you pick up. And everything you’re about to hear is designed to scare you into doing whatever the caller says.

The caller says he’s a Social Security Administration agent with an urgent warning: Your name and Social Security number are linked to serious crimes like money laundering and drug trafficking.

You’re panicked when he says there’s an arrest warrant for you and the courts want to seize the money from your bank and retirement accounts. The only way to protect it, he claims, is to buy gold. The agent says he’ll send someone to pick it up and will keep it safe until he can clear your name of any wrongdoing.

You’re in a rush because he says you must go to the bank immediately. You’re nervous, so the agent offers to stay on the line with you while you’re at the bank and tells you what to say.

You’re so stressed out. And terrified the police are coming to arrest you. You want to take a minute to call someone, but he says you don’t have time. And he insists you can’t trust anyone but him.

You hesitate. It seems strange that he’s telling you to buy gold. What if it’s a scam? You do a quick search and find that someone with the name he gave you is an employee at the Social Security Administration. But can you be sure it’s him? Maybe he’s just using that name.

On the other hand, the caller ID did say Social Security Administration. And he does know some personal details about you. Should you go ahead?

Stop. It’s a scam.

Anyone who tells you to buy gold, or withdraw cash, and give it to someone is a scammer.

Report them to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

If a caller tells you someone is coming to pick up gold or cash at your house, call the police.

This is an elaborate impersonation scheme to rip you off.

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A Free Public Service

May 8, 2024

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

DRINKING WATER SCAMS

Attribution: scambusters.com

Drinking water quality is a major concern for most of us, especially what comes out of the faucets in our homes.

Scammers have been cashing in on this by making false claims, adding potentially dangerous chemicals, selling useless testing kits, and installing expensive and unnecessary equipment. They’re not only ripping us off, but they could also be putting your health at risk.

Common Water Quality Scams

*Free water quality testing: This is a well-known foot-in-the-door tactic used by scammers. It’s happening across the US right now. The result is usually the bad news that you’ll need to install specialist equipment.

*Told to install filters on every faucet in their home at a high cost.

 *Fake claims: Scammers make all sorts of outrageous claims about the effectiveness of their testing processes and kits.

*Another claim is that an installed filtration unit is “maintenance free” – that’s just not true.

*Fake color tests: Scammers claim if the water they’re testing changes color, it’s unsafe. Then they drop in an innocent looking tablet that – guess what – changes the color of the water.

*Old kits: The chemicals used in testing kits have a limited shelf life, after which they start to degrade and may produce false results. These old kits are likely to be sold at huge knock-down prices – a surefire red flag.

Remote testing: Scammers send out bottles for you to fill with home water and send it off to them for testing in their supposedly super hi-tech lab. Unless you’ve established this is a reputable company (see below for link), you have no idea whether the “result” they send back is genuine.

*Fake endorsement or certification: Scammers may pretend to be working for a government agency like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), your local water utility, or the Water Quality Association. They may even show you forged business cards, permits, or badges.

How to Protect From Water Quality Scams

It’s important to be concerned about the quality of your home water – and by “quality,” we don’t necessarily mean “taste” – because many water authorities add chemicals believed to be safe (in appropriate amounts), like chlorine, to reduce or eliminate contaminants.

Protection guidance:

There are things you can do to avoid being tricked by scammers.

First, check the testing and analysis findings of your local water utility. These are usually called Consumer Confidence Reports and are generally published annually and freely available online.

Don’t get involved with door-to-door solicitors. Politely shut the door on them. The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns against it and the Water Quality Association, for example, says it never operates this way.

Say “no” to any unsolicited free testing offer, however you receive it. Why would anyone logical person do that for free unless they want to sell you something?

Fully research tested, reputable products. Check for proof of independent testing and certification. Compare pricing with other similar products to any you’re considering; crooks tend to heavily overcharge.

Scrutinize online reviews from other consumers, reading the negatives as well as the positives.

Beware of dramatic and exaggerated claims about what kits or installed equipment can actually do.

Don’t buy from unknown sellers. They may not even be licensed.

Check the expiry date on any testing kits you’re thinking of buying.

Check and verify the identification and permit or license of a supposed tester or equipment supplier, especially if they claim to be from official organizations. Note that having an EPA registration number doesn’t mean that a kit has been endorsed by the agency.

Get professional advice from your water utility or established, reputable testing companies. Use this link to check for certified testing labs: https://tinyurl.com/yy9uw7ck and this one for products certified by the Water Quality Association: https://tinyurl.com/56xdxa8x

Yes, good water quality is essential to a healthy life. So, it’s important to know the facts about what’s coming out of your faucets. But most of the information you need is readily available for free. And, if you want to double-check, make sure you’re working with and using a reputable testing or filtration product.

Report any water quality scams to US FTC.gov.

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A Free Public Serrvice

May 8, 2024

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

CELEBRITY ENDORSEMENT SCAM

Attribution: US Federal Trade Commission

Before you spend money on that celebrity-endorsed premium cookware, weight loss product, or can’t-miss money-making opportunity, pause. Take a breath. Are you sure a celebrity or influencer is really endorsing that product or program? Maybe a scammer is behind that online ad. Scammers are using fake celebrity and influencer testimonials and endorsements — complete with doctored video and audio that seems like the real thing — to generate buzz and profits.

“But it looks and sounds real, so it must be true,” right? Not so !

The technology to make fake endorsement videos is improving all the time. Your best bet is to do some research on your own. Before you click and buy, follow this advice:

*Check out that celebrity or influencer testimonial. Search online using their name, the name of the company or product, and words like “scam” or “fake.”

*See what others are saying.

*Resist pressure to commit quickly. Scammers want you to act fast, and the ad might say it’s a limited time deal. But it’s not true. They just don’t want you to do any research or think it through.

*Ask your health care professional about dietary supplements. The government doesn’t review or evaluate supplements for safety or effectiveness before they’re put on the market. Even a natural supplement can be risky depending on your health and the medicine you take, and your doctor knows your health better than a celebrity.

*Know the investment risk. If anyone says you can earn a lot of money on an investment with little or no risk, don’t buy into the hype.

*Investments always involve risk — there are no guaranteed returns. Visit Investor.gov, a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) website, for more advice on investing and avoiding fraud.

Have you spotted a bogus celebrity endorsement? Report it to the FTC.gov.

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A Free Public Service

April 30, 2024

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

MEDICAL BILL PAYMENT SCAM

If you’re paying a medical, utility, or other bill online, you probably expect to wind up on the company’s website. What might you not expect? An impersonator tricking you into paying them instead. But that’s what the FTC says a company called Doxo did. Here’s what you need to know.

According to the FTC, Doxo pretended to be an official payment site for big-name companies like AT&T, Spectrum, and Labcorp. The FTC says Doxo used online ads that looked like they were from the companies, and even used company names as keywords so Doxo’s ads would show up in search results.

If the bills got paid, what’s the problem?  Ther are lots of them, says the FTC.

People who paid their bills through Doxo often paid fees to Doxo on top of what they owed on the bill they were trying to pay. And, in some cases, the payment never got to the company that issued the bill. People only found out when they got a warning letter from a bill collector or had their utility service shut off. Some people wound up paying late fees to the actual company that billed them — or paid their bill a second time, just to avoid other problems.

If you’re looking to pay your bill online, know that search results might not get you to the right place. Instead, check your bill to find the online payment site. And, if possible, use a credit card. Credit cards offer the most protection against fraud, including the right to dispute charges if there are any problems.

Learn more about impersonator scams at ftc.gov/impersonators. If you spot an impersonator scam, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

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