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.

                                                            #

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.

                                                    #

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.

                                                        #

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.

                                            #

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.

                                                      #

A Free Public Service

April 30, 2024

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

TORNADOS DAMAGE SCAMS

Just as people in Nebraska, Iowa, Oklahoma, and other Midwestern US states are reeling from the catastrophic damage caused by tornados and other severe weather, scammers are taking advantage. They use all kinds of stories to try to trick those doing their best to recover and anyone who tries to help.

Scammers falsely offer help but demand pay up front for clean-up or repairs.

A great place to help yourself and others spot and avoid scams after a disaster is http://www.ftc.gov/WeatherEmergencies. If you’re pressed for time as you focus on recovery, remember this:

FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and the Small Business Administration don’t charge application fees.

Only scammers say they’re a government official and demand money to help you qualify for FEMA funds or government grant. Places to get information are http://www.FEMA.gov or http://www.SBA.gov if you are a business owner.

 And don’t hire anyone to do repair work who refuses to give you copies of their license and insurance, and a contract in writing.

Take time to research legitimate charities. That could help avoid charity scammers.

Do you suspect a weather-related or other scam? Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

                                                              #

A Free Public Service

Aprril 23, 2024

FastRak Scam

FASTRAK SCAM

Attribution:  From: Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service

FasTrak is a local San Francisco transportation system.

Some customers have reported receiving texts notifying them of tolls due and providing a link to one of several fraudulent websites where they can pay. The websites provided are scams and are not related to FasTrak. If you receive such a text, please do not click on the link. FasTrak does not request payment by text with a link to a website. Please conduct your business at http://www.bayareafastrak.org or call the FasTrak Customer Service Center at 877-BAY-TOLL (877-229-8655).

If you have made a payment to one of the fraudulent websites, please consider contacting your bank or credit card company immediately to report the charges.

Please do not reply to this message. This is an automatically generated notification. If you wish to contact a Customer Service Representative, please call the FasTrak Customer Service Center at 877-229-8655 (BAY-TOLL).

Sincerely,

Bay Area FasTrak Customer Service Center

                                                #

A Free Public Service

April 22, 2024

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

WEIGHT LOSS SCAMS

Attribution:  scambusters.org

Don’t Get Scammed Trying to Lose Weight

We’re in a new era of seemingly effective weight loss drugs, like Ozempic and Wegovy. Hundreds of diet meal programs, drinks and wearables, provide crooks opportunities to rip us off.

So, if you plan to try to lose weight, it’s important to know about the scores of fake slimming pills and diet programs that look too good to be true – because they are fake.

Common Weight Loss Scams:

*Fake Ozempic: Slimmed-down celebrities have turned this diabetes management drug into a star for those who want to lose weight. The trouble is fake versions that could be downright dangerous.

*Other fake weight loss schemes:

If the description uses words such a “magical”, “works fast” or “money back guarantee” it is fake.

Even without the “Ozempic” name, fraudsters sell all types of supposed weight loss drugs that just don’t work and, again, could be dangerous.

*Home meal kits: Since the pandemic, millions of people have switched to having pre-cooked meals delivered to their homes by crooks.

*Detox teas and cleanses: Sometimes, these simply use laxatives or

diuretics for water weight loss.

*Body wraps and waist trainers: They are claimed to reduce fat cells and tone muscles.

That gives some idea of the scale of potential scams threatening people trying to lose weight in the US today. Make sure you’re not one of the victims. Your wallet and your health could be at risk.

Reports of drug scams can be reported to US Food and Drug Administration http://www.fda.gov and US Federal Trade Commission http://www.ftc.gov.

                                                  #

A Free Public Scam

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

April 16, 2024

COLLEGE STUDENT JOB SCAMS

Attribution: US FTC.gov

Getting hired might feel like the ultimate high for a college student. But finding out it was just a scammer trying to steal your money will bring you — and your bank balance — right back down. Many college students look for virtual jobs they can do while going to school, but if a new employer mails your first paycheck before you even start working, that’s your cue to stop! — it’s a scam.

Scammers post ads for fake jobs for personal assistants on common job sites and social media. Or they might send emails that look like they’re from someone in your community, like a professor or an office at your college. If you apply, they’ll mail you a check to deposit at your bank. Then, they’ll ask you to send some of the money to another account. They tell you a convincing story, but the check is fake and the whole thing is a scam. The check will eventually bounce and the bank will want you to repay the money you withdrew. Meanwhile, the scammer will have walked away with the money you sent them.

Here are some steps to help you guard against a job scam:

*Look up the name of the company or the person who’s proposing to hire you, plus the words “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.” See what others are saying about them.

*Reach out directly. If the email looks like it came from a professor or an office at your college, call them directly. Confirm that they’re really looking for someone for this position.

*Get it in writing. Ask the proposed employer to send you details of the job duties, the pay, and the hours. If they refuse, that could be a sign of a scam.

*Talk to someone you trust. Show them the offer and see what they think. This also gives you vital time to think about the offer.

Your boss should be paying you, not the other way around. If they tell you to deposit a check and use some of the money for any reason, that’s a scam.

 If you suspect a scam, report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

                                                          #

April 8. 2024

A Free Public Service

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

TIMESHARE SALE SCAM

  Attribution: US FTC.gov

Maybe you weren’t thinking about selling your timeshare — but suddenly, someone calls and tells you they’re a real estate agent and have an interested buyer. They might have information about you and your property, so the offer seems credible. Then, the so-called timeshare expert asks you to pay upfront to finalize the deal. Stop. That could be a scam!

Scammers are getting using public records to target people in the U.S. who own timeshares abroad — including a focus on older adults, who may not use their timeshares often. These “real estate agents” start by asking for a small fee, promising to help you make big money selling your timeshare. But that ask turns into demands for thousands of dollars…before you find out there’s no buyer, your money’s gone, and that “agent” was a scammer.

Timeshares are hard to sell and only a scammer will tell you they already have a buyer or can find one fast. If you want out, it’s best to start by contacting the timeshare company directly.

To guard against a timeshare resale scam:

*Don’t pay upfront fees. Only scammers demand fees before they help you sell your timeshare.

*Do some research online. Search online for the company name or person who contacted you plus the word “scam” or “complaint.” See what other people are saying about their experience.

*Watch your bottom line. Sometimes scammers ask you to pay more than you originally paid for the timeshare. That’s a sign to walk away.

*Check out the agent and ask for references. Check with the real estate licensing agency in the state where the timeshare is located. Deal only with real estate agents and brokers licensed in that area.

*Then ask for references from satisfied clients — and check them out.

Report known or suspected violations to FTC.gov/fraud.