Consumer Alerts & Scams

Today, thieves are coming up with more and more devious ways to try and trick you into giving them your personal information, one of which is through scams. Scams can take the form of emails, text messages, phone calls, through social media accounts and more.

It is of prime importance to know the scams that thieves use to trick you into giving information. They then use the information to steal your identity.

The FTC has identified several types of fraudulent and deceptive schemes that affect and are targeted specifically toward seniors:

Sweepstakes, prize promotions and lotteries
Timeshare sales and resales
Health care products and services
Investments, business opportunities and work-from-home programs
Technical support services
Charitable donations

What information do thieves want?

Social Security Numbers
Bank account or credit card numbers
Driver’s license number
Insurance policy numbers (medical and auto)
Date of birth
State or employee identification number.

Universal Rules

If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
A bank, credit card company, or utility company will never ask for your personal information by email, whether you have an account or not, period.
Never give out personal information, credit card or account numbers on calls/emails/texts that you didn’t initiate.
Before clicking on any links within emails or text messages, be sure to confirm the sender is legitimate.
Always be on the lookout for bad English and grammatical errors.

Types of Scams

The Home Security Scam: This scam involves replacing or installing a new home security system. The majority of the salespeople are not licensed to sell door to door. The contract may actually be a three phases scam: installation, monitoring and sales, with each representative collecting a part of the commission. Canceling the contract becomes a nightmare and typically the consumer will hang up out of frustration.

Lottery, Prize Scams: Lottery scams target consumers under the guise of winning the lottery. The scam begins with a telephone call congratulating the consumer. Once the caller convinces the consumer of their new-found wealth, the only thing left to do is claim the jackpot. To do this, the consumer is told they have to send money to cover fees and taxes associated with their winning.

Financial Scam: Without your knowledge, someone opens a bank or credit card account or took out a loan in your name, using your personal information. How did they get the information? They took it from your street mailbox, from your trash or off the internet, or even by listening to a conversation at a store checkout. Shred any documents that contain personal information. Get a lockbox mailbox. Be extra careful what you post on social networks.

Unclaimed Property Scam: A company calling themselves The Florida Department of Financial Restitution has been contacting consumers claiming to be on contract with the Department of Financial Services and trying to collect a $600 upfront fee to recover unclaimed property. There is no legal entity named The Florida Department of Financial Restitution, and consumers should not agree to this offer, sign a contract or send any money to the Florida Department of Financial Restitution.

Social Network Scam: Someone goes into your account, steals your ID and pix, basically goes in reports the account has been compromised, changes the password and has access to your personal information and contacts.

Banking Scams: Someone pays you by check or asked you to cash a check for them. You present it to your bank and learn it is a fraudulent check. You receive a check, perhaps for a refund or as a prize for merchandise you did not order or a contest you did not participate. You cash the check. By cashing the check, and not reading the fine print, you agreed to purchase some wonder drug every month for the discounted price of $125 or entered a legal agreement to purchase a new car.

Medicare – Insurance Scams: This can range from enrollment scams for supplemental or drug coverage to doctor visits or prescription meds. The scammers may ask to confirm your personal information, credit card or banking information. This could be presented as wanting to clarify information, or to confirm information prior to sending out to insurance cards. Charged might show up on your monthly or quarterly statements implying you have received treatment and incurred costs when you did not.Your health plan rejects your legitimate medical claim because the records show you’ve reached your benefits limit. A health plan won’t cover you because your medical records show a condition you don’t have.

Government Will Pay Your bills for you Scam: The presentation usually happens to church congregations where the speaker announces that for an upfront administration fee, the government will take over the automatic payment of your bills. The government will NEVER pay your bills for you!