SCAMS

“If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.”

Scams to watch out for!!

06-23-08

Last week APS (Adult Protective Services) in Contra Costa County received a financial abuse referral involving an old scam - Nigerian scam - with a new and very sophisticated twist.

The victim was told that his winnings would be deposited in a Bank of America account and held there until the tariffs; taxes, etc. were paid to the Nigerian government. To reassure the victim that the money ($15 million) had been deposited in a Bank of America account in his name, the victim was given an account number and a web page link to purportedly the Bank of America.  The web page is a true copy of the Bank of America web page, including logo, colors, etc.

When the victim inputted his account number on the website and his pin code, his name came up and his balance of $15 million dollars.  To further reassure the victim that this money is sitting in his account waiting for him to pay the tariffs, taxes et al, the victim was given a phone number that can only be accessed by cell phone. (we are not sure why it is only accessible via cell phone)

The victim calls the phone number and was greeting by "You have reached the Bank of America International Banking Center".  The victim was then asked to input his security code, then his account number, and then his pin number after which his recorded name was heard and "your balance as of June 23, 2008 is $15,345,000."

The victim gave APS (Adult Protective Service) staff his account number, security code and pin number as well as the website address. APS staff accessed both the website and the phone information and were stunned.  The website, especially, is so authentic.  Even more surprised was Corporate Security at the Bank of America.

On Friday afternoon, the victim was still hoping to access his BoA account and get the $15 million.  He and his housemate even had a bottle of champagne on ice in anticipation of this windfall.

This information shows us that we can not sit back and think we have all this figured out. The scammers will continually look for new ways to separate us from our money.

05-22-08

The FBI is asking people to beware of emails claiming to be raising money to help the victims of the recent earthquake in China. Some of the Chinese earthquake scam message claim to be offering free vacation trips to the largest donors and even use fake logos of legitimate online pay services to fool people.

Everyone should consider the following:

Do not respond to unsolicited (SPAM) e-mail.

Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as officials soliciting via e-mail for donations.

Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.

Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.

To ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes, make contributions directly to recognized organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.

Validate the legitimacy of the organization by directly accessing the recognized charity or aid organization's website rather than following an alleged link to the site.

Attempt to verify the legitimacy of the non-profit status of the organization by using various Internet-based resources, which also may assist in confirming the actual existence of the organization.

Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: providing such information may compromise your identity and open you to identity theft.

04-28-08

IRS Scam

Detective Case, one of our moderators of the push e-mail system and co-webmaster of Scamnot.org received an e-mail on his work account (extension .fresnosheriffs.org) from the IRS stating after review of his past fiscal activity he is eligible for a refund of $280.40.

The following are print-screens of the email recieved

This e-mail was a little cheesy but if you are not paying attention they could get by on it.

The main problem is the remainder of the e-mail. Once you click on the link provided in the original e-mail you are taken to one of the best cloned sites we have ever seen.

As you can see we have provided bogus information, letters instead of numbers for the social security card, expired credit card.

Once we hit submit, this is the screen that popped up. As you can see they tell us that our information is correct compared to their files and our money will be sent to us in 3 – 6 business days. When has the IRS ever done anything in 3-6 days!

After 5 seconds we were redirected to this page, the real IRS main page to make us think everything is on the up and up.

02-07-08

Publisher’s Clearing House Giveaway Scam

The following incident occurred at a Police Department Fraud Office in Arizona. This is the first we have heard of this type of scam and are passing along the information as an advisory.

The victim is called at home and advised she has won the Publisher's Clearing House giveaway. The victim believed it may be a scam type of call and is leery that she is actually a winner, although she did enter the sweepstakes.

The caller asked the victim for the number to the local law enforcement fraud office so he can verify to the victim his identity and legitimacy.  The Fraud secretary at the local law enforcement agency received a call on the following day, which is an inquiry type of call and transferred the call to one of their detectives.

The Detective stated that the caller indicated that his mother might be the victim of fraud. He begin to ask questions regarding how they proceed with investigations, such as do they fingerprint fraudulent checks and describes what probably is a Nigerian scheme. The Detective became suspicious after so many questions so he advised the caller to have his mother call and that she should have a police report taken. The detective believed he may have been talking to a suspect fishing for information. Prior to this person hanging up he asked the detective for his name and badge number and asked him to spell his name.

A short time later, the daughter of the victim called the law enforcement agency wanting to verify that the Detective had spoken to her mother. The suspect had apparently called the victim and identified himself as Detective **** and told her that the giveaway was legitimate. Detective **** indicated to the daughter that he had not spoken to her mother regarding the Publisher's Clearing House giveaway. The mother, who was still suspicious decided to make an appointment to talk to detective **** in person.

At this point it is discovered the entire series of phone calls was from a scammer attempting to defraud the victim.

Remember:  even if the person tells you they are law enforcement over the phone, do not assume that to be true.  Whenever in doubt, look up the phone number for the law enforcement agency on your own (do not trust the caller to give you the correct number) and call that agency and speak to the person who’s name was given.

01-16-08

Grandson/Granddaughter Scam

You receive a call from a grandson or granddaughter saying that are in trouble. The caller says they are in jail or have been in an accident either in Canada or Mexico and need money right away to pay fines or to receive medical attention.

Border states have seen an increase in this type of scam. Individuals in the states of Washington, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, California, and Texas report that senior citizens are being targeted by scam artists.

Many times the scammer knows the name of the family member so the senior does not question it and sends the money, only later to find out they have been scammed. The caller asks the victim not to discuss the matter with his or her parents for fear of angering them.

Things to do to insure you are not being scammed:

• Contact other family member before sending money, ask if they know of the situation.
• If the grandchild states that they are in jail or in a hospital, ask which one. Contact that institution to find out if the grandchild is actually in that facility. 
• Consider where the child wants the money sent. If it is to be sent to somebody else, do not do it. Remember, if the child is in jail, another prisoner could have gotten your information from discussions with the grandchild
• If you send money ask that identification be provided by the receiver before the money is paid out.
• Regardless of the request to not talk to the parents, confirm though another family member that what you were told is true or do not send the money

01-09-08

Medicare Scam

We received a call from our local HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program) alerting us that one of their members received a call yesterday (01-08-08) from an individual stating that he is from a government agency.

The caller stated that Medicare is in the process of changing out the old Medicare cards and needed her Medicare and Social Security card number.

The lady asked the caller for the name of the agency he was calling from and he answered, “I am from a government agency”. At this point the senor told the man that she did not believe him and hung up.

This type of scam has been seen in different parts of the country and now is in our area. Please get the word out to all your friends and family about this. If Medicare was in the process of changing out cards they would not call on the phone, plus they have this information and would not be asking for it. Let them know that it is OK just to hang up on the person.

12-18-07

Seasonal Scams

It is that time of year when certain scams start to hit around the country.

The first scam we want to bring to your attention is the Medicare/Medicaid scam.

Starting in November through December is open enrollment for Medicare recipients and the scammers know this. They call asking for personal information so they can update their database. Please remember that Medicare will never call on the phone for any reason. They always send a letter if they have an issue with a recipient.

If you receive a call from someone stating that they are with Social Security or Medicare tell them that you have their number and will call back once you have your information ready. If they pressure you to give the information right away or make threats do not give in, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 – (www.ssa.gov) or Medicare at 1-800-633-4227 – (www.medicare.gov) to verify that they need your personal information.

The second scam involves individuals calling senior citizens posing as Internal Revenue Service workers. They tell the senior that they are part of a program to help seniors get a refund on their taxes. They ask for the personal information needed to complete the IRS form, including Social Security number, date of birth, income and banking information. Once the scammer has this information they complete the IRS paperwork, tell the senior they have a refund due them and submit it to the IRS. The scammer also uses the information to access bank accounts, open charge card accounts, etc. On top of this, once the IRS realizes that it is a bogus return they demand return payment.

The next piece of information is not a scam but an unnecessary service. Businesses are sending out informational flyers stating they can help seniors and others who qualify for the Home Owners and Renters Rebate program complete the application to receive their rebate. They request that the person provide them with their Social Security number, income information and for a $34.00 fee they will complete the information and submit it to the Franchise Tax Board. As far as we know the businesses have not used this personal information for anything other than its request purpose. Individuals can receive a free copy of the form and submit it free of charge. The form is equal to the 1040 EZ tax form but has fewer questions.

For more information on where to order your free copy and receive assistance if needed contact the Fresno Madera Agency on Aging at (559) 453-4405 or 1-800-510-2020

09-20-07

Craigslist Scam

There are a number of scammers that are using Craigslist to complete their scam. They offer to buy something that is advertised on Craigslist and they offer to pay full price.

They send a money order or check to the victim that is for more than the purchase price, hundreds to thousands more. They give many different excuses for sending more than what the item costs.

They ask the victim to send the excess money to a relative of theirs or a shipping company via Western Union.

The original check will not clear the bank and the victim is out the money they sent and if they shipped the item that was for sale, they are out that as well. The only thing they have is a fraudulent check or money order that is worth nothing.

It is never a good idea to ship items until the funds are confirmed by your bank. Also it is never a good idea to send excess funds to the person purchasing the item. It is better to return the check if it is for more than the agreed upon amount and demand a check for the exact amount. The buyer is also responsible for shipping and paying the shipper.

09-12-07

Deed Service

We received a letter (see attachment) telling us that we need to obtain a certified copy of the deed to our house.  It stated “the U.S. Government Federal Citizens Information Center recommends that property owners should have an official or certified copy of their deed.”  The company is requesting $69.50 to get a copy of our deed for us.

We did an Internet search to verify this information and could not find anything related to the subject of needing to have a copy of your deed. What we did find was information on these companies from the Federal Citizens Information Center:  

“Notice - March 8, 2007 - The Federal Citizen Information Center has learned that a company is using the information in our Managing Household Records Consumer Focus article as a reason for purchasing a certified deed from them.”

Please follow the link below for the full article

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cfocus/cfhouseholdrecords03/focus.htm

We called the Fresno County Recorder’s office and inquired into the cost of getting a copy of a deed. The cost for a certified copy is $2.50 for the first page and $1.00 for each additional page. We also asked why would a person would need to have a copy of their deed and were told “there is no real reason why you would need a copy of your deed other than just to have it.”

This is not a scam but it is not something that a person needs to spend money on. Please tell everyone you know that if they get one of these letters to throw it away.

If you receive a letter or E-mail asking you to send money for a service have someone look over the letter to get a second opinion, many of these requests for service are not on the up and up.

08-23-07

Scam comes back with force

A report from Detective Case of the Fresno County Sheriffs Department.

In the past few weeks we have seen an increase in the number of on-line banking scams.

I get a listing every week of all the reported scams in California, normally 120 typed pages. The big one in the past was the Fake Check scam but the Banking scam is making a comeback.

They come from all over, Bank of the West, Wells Fargo, Bank One and Washington Mutual to name a few. The scammers send an official looking email with words making you think your account needs to be updated or some type of illegal activity has occurred and if you do not take action your account will be closed.

We all know that these are scams, we joke about them at the water fountain at work or with friends online. We think to ourselves how could someone fall for such a thing. But the fact remains, the only reason why the scammers keep sending them out is because people keep responding to them.

A person gets up in the morning, they may be thinking about the bills that are due, or maybe they will be taking their car to the shop. They jump online to see if an old friend or the kids responded to an email they sent the night before and what do they see – YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE CLOSED. Not thinking they complete the simple on-line form and the rest is a nightmare.

We need to keep visiting this issue, get the word out to everyone we know, most of all those individuals who are new to the Internet.

We always hear “I would never fall for that, it could not happen to me” but most people who are taken in by a scam say just the opposite “I did not think it could happen to me”.

07-16-07

New telephone scam targets Medicare users

This is a scam that has been making it’s way across the New England states and has the potential of making it’s way to the West Coast.

It is very important to tell everyone we know who are contacted to just hang up.

People who use Medicare are being targeted in a telephone scam.  Callers who claim to work for the government's health insurer for senior citizens insist they must issue a second Medicare card. All that's needed is a senior's bank account information.

Legitimate Medicare workers are allowed to call and explain their product. However, they are prohibited by law from asking for personal or financial information.

They cannot enroll you or ask for payment over the phone and are not permitted to come to your home unless you have contacted them.

Confusion over recent changes to Medicare makes users vulnerable to scams. People know Medicare doesn't pay for everything and that numerous supplemental plans are available. Users can get overwhelmed making sure they have completed the proper paperwork.

The callers hint that without this second card, Medicare will not work. The scary part is, these people who prey on the elderly know exactly which buttons to push.

We recommend that if you or a person you know have questions about Medicare to contact the local Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) at 559-224-9117.

06-11-07

Electricity Payment Scam

Seniors and other vulnerable populations need to be aware of a scam that is showing signs of moving across the nation. Reports are being made back east and in the southern parts of the nation.

Scam artists have stolen hundreds of dollars from victims including one case, a 91-year-old man and his wife who received a call from someone posing as a representative for the local electric company.

The caller, a woman, told the couple they owed $1,000 from what she called an "unpaid debt”.

The couple was told that their electricity would be cut off if they didn't pay right away.

The victim said he couldn’t afford $1,000, but he agreed to pay $750. Within an hour, a man showed up at the victims' home and collected the $750 in cash.

The couple realized they'd been victimized, and called the electric company and the police department.

A spokeswoman for the electric company said the utility would never send anyone to your home, to collect an overdue debt.

With temperatures set to top 100 degrees in the valley this week electric bills will start to increase. Scam artists are convincing and the threat of having your electricity turned off in the valley during the summer can be life threatening for our aging population.

If anybody claiming to be with your local electric company asks to enter your home or asks for money or anything like that you should ask to see photo identification, or call your local utility company to find out if the person is legitimate.

06-06-07

Bail Scam

This is a new scam that is happening back East and show signs of moving out West.

A woman has been charged in what police say was a scam in which elderly people were encouraged to turn over bail money for friends or relatives.

The woman identified herself as a bail bondswoman when she called an elderly man and told him a close friend had been arrested. The man withdrew money from his bank and gave her $1,500.

The woman is suspected of scamming at least six other elderly people in the area, netting about $5,000.

If you receive such a phone call, you should first verify that a friend or relative has been arrested.  Secondly, you should verify that your friend or relative is requesting that you assist in providing bail and what bail bondsman they are going through.  If this could not be verified, you should not provide anything to the person calling.

05-14-07

Scooter Scam

This information was sent to use over the weekend by one of our vigilant seniors who frequents the Scamnot web site.

Is there a scam going around regarding Medicare and the purchase of scooters and power wheelchairs?  The answer is yes. 

This information was recently put out by the Better Business Bureau in another part of the state but could very easily be in your part of the state. 

It is usually done by door to door salespeople and they are presenting what appears to be an authentic Medicare form.  They tell the recipient that he or she may be able to receive a free power wheelchair or one at little cost to them. 

One recent victim said “they asked for my Medicare card and my driver’s license.”  She said that the paperwork she signed looked legitimate- complete with a physician’s name, although one she did not recognize. 

Within a month or two, she received a summary notice in the mail showing Medicare paid nearly $5,000 and she could be billed for the remainder-nearly $1,200.  Her son called the company to pick up the chair.  A man showed up to pick up the chair at 11:00 p.m.  His vehicle was a cab and the trunk was filled with scooters and wheelchairs. 

At the time of this news release, Medicare had not been reimbursed.  The difference between what Medicare pays and what will be charged to you could be as high as $3,500 or more.  If you get caught up in this scam, you may not be eligible for future benefits when purchasing equipment. 

It is not safe to deal with door to door salespeople.  You should only deal with a reputable company.  If you think you or somebody you know has fallen or this scam, you should contact your local Medicare office immediately.

05-01-07

Fake Check Scam

This scam has hit the Tehachapi are very hard over the last week. The local police department has numerous reports from seniors who have received these checks and have turned them over to the authorities or their local bank.

”Practically anyone is a target and should stay alert for counterfeit checks arriving in the mail, not just e-mail, regarding a sweepstakes win” said the local spokesperson for the department.

The scams work like this: A check will arrive along with a letter declaring you the “winner” of a lottery. It goes onto explain that the lump sum payout can not be collected until the enclosed check, usually for $2,000 to $4,000, is deposited to pay for the “accounting, tax processing and clearance fees” regarding the prize.

Here’s the catch: the check will (most likely) never clear and the victim will call the phone number referenced in the letter. Then, the voice at the other end of the line will collect credit card, banking and other personal information.

If the check does clear, however, some of the award recipients are duped into wiring the money for those processing fees out of the country to these scam artists. They are sending money directly to the criminals.

This particular scam is similar to the Nigerian money transfer scams of the past, most often seen in e-mails. These “Canadian” sweepstakes have a return address in Montreal and the postage is metered, usually an indicator, since mail sent at a bulk rate means that thousands of other people are receiving the same thing.

Attached is a copy of a check received by a senior in the Tehachapi area. We do know of a senior here in Fresno who also received on of these checks two weeks ago. If you know of anyone who has received a letter with a “winning” prize check in it please contact Detective Dave Case at Dave.Case@fresnosheriff.org

04-30-07

Tax Return Scam

Seniors are being told to be cautious about a Tennessee company soliciting investments in a charity that supposedly offers a lucrative “tax-deductible” return.

Instead of making money, seniors may be signing away control over their life savings.

An investigation of complaints against National Foundation of America, headquartered in Franklin, Tennessee is under way and three states, Florida, Iowa and Washington, have filed cease and desist orders to stop NFOA. Iowa is seeking to impose as much as $150,000 in fines against the company.

On its Web site, the company claims it helps consumers support charities and at the same time fulfill their financial needs.

Investigators say NFOA advertises a way to divert money to charitable programs, but requires seniors to sign away their ownership rights in existing annuities or insurance policies.

Officials allege NFOA falsely represents itself as a tax-deductible charity, makes unsupported contract promises and sells unlicensed insurance products.

Giving to charitable organizations is a great way to leave a legacy but remind friends, family and neighbors that whenever contacted by any agency with a deal that sounds too good to be true it probably is.

Tell the person that you need to check on a few things first and will call them back. If they are on the up and up they will provide you with a return phone number.

04-25-07

AT&T Scam

We were contacted by a senior today who reported receiving a phone call from a person stating they were with AT&T. The caller stated that her phone bill was over due and if she did not pay immediately she would experience interruption in her service.

The caller asked for her checking account number and credit card information as a payment method. The senior told the caller that she was sure her bill was paid up and would contact her bank to make sure. She then asked the caller for a number where he could be reached, the caller gave her a 1-800 number to call back if she had any questions.

After talking to some people about the incident the lady called the 1-800 number the man had given only to find that she was calling an adult call line.

We want to make sure that everyone knows this is an isolated event so far. If anyone is contacted by these scammers or know of someone who has, please let us know. You can email us at Dave.Case@fresnosheriff.org

04-23-07

Medicare Scam

A Stockton woman received a call last week from a fast-talking caller, said he was from the Medicare office. He wanted to discuss with her about getting a new Medicare card, so the 78-year-old woman initially expressed interest.

He started by verifying her phone number and address, two bits of vital information he already had - and which are fairly easy to get.

Then he asked for the name of the bank where her monthly Social Security check was deposited.

"That's when the bells and whistles went off," she said, not complying with his request.

If he was truly with Medicare, he would already have access to this information.

The caller reluctantly gave up a name - Andrew Martin - and a location - the Medicare office in Los Angeles. But he wouldn't provide the lady with a return phone number so she could verify his legitimacy. Without the number, she warned, she was going to terminate the call. The caller said she couldn't do that. She hung up anyway.

After the call, the lady asked her friends on Medicare if they had heard about the government agency issuing new cards. No one knew anything, so she forgot about it.

Then something odd happened.

The same man called her back 10 days later. He was persistent in seeking her banking information, but she was just as persistent in peppering him with questions.

She told him that she was a paranoid old lady. She said he really didn't like to be interrupted when he was talking and became agitated.

This time, the man - frustrated over meeting resistance to his questions - hung up on her.

She did the right thing, do not give out personal information unless you are the person who initiated the call. Plus Medicare will not call you asking for this type of information.

04-17-07

Scam showing up in California

This is a very common scam back east, New England states, and is now making its way out west. So far we have reports that seniors in the San Diego area are being targeted and the scammers could move into the Central valley.

Police say the burglars knock on doors and con their way into the victim's home, either saying they are working in the area and ask for a glass of water or say they are inspecting broken water pipes and need access to their back yard.

In all cases, while the resident is distracted, an accomplice will make their way into the home stealing jewelry and other valuables from the home.

Authorities said they believe the burglars may be staking out homes to determine if there are elderly residents inside.

The only individuals who would come to your house asking for access to your back yard is PG&E or Edison for electrical problems and your local city for other types of repairs. If you do not see one of these trucks parked in front of your house or on your street do not let them in your home.

One thing to remember, you have to call a repairman to come to your house. Licensed and reputable repairmen do not drive up and down streets looking for work.

If you do allow someone into your house or back yard make sure to lock your doors behind you.

If someone says they are working in the area and want a glass of water tell them that they can get water from your outside faucet, never open your door to them.

04-09-07

Medicare Scam

Over the weekend we received information that an old scam is starting to make it’s way back, it is the Medicare scam with a few differences.

Late last week and over the weekend seniors were being targeted in Iowa and Nebraska, telling them that by updating their Medicare information they will receive a new walker, electric wheelchair or lift chair.

The reports list the questions as asking for Social Security number, Medicare number (which in most cases is their Social Security number) and some have even asked for credit card and bank account numbers.

The thing to remember and remind our seniors is that Medicare has their information and will not contact a person to update it. Any changes, whether it be a lost card or name change it is the responsibility of the person to contact Medicare.

03-01-07

Another variation to the Canadian Lottery Scam. 

We were contacted by Loraine from TRIAD who sent us this information.

This one is out of London (or at least they say they are) A elderly lady in Fresno received a letter in the mail telling them that she had won a lottery (this one was called the Mega 2000) but it could be called anything.  The lady was told that she had won over $120,000.  The suspects included a check made out to her for a bit over $2900.00 to assist in filing “international clearance fees” of $2840.00.  The lady only needed to send the suspects the $2840 and could keep what was left out of that check.  Once that money was received by the suspects, she would receive the remainder of the money.  She was told to contact somebody in Ireland to get the process going.  The check that was sent was from a landscaping company in Palm Desert California.

Red Flags- it is a foreign lottery which you can not play via the mail according to US law.  The lottery was in London, and the contact person was in Ireland and the check was drawn from an account in Palm Desert California.    The check was bad or stolen and had she sent the money, she would have lost the $2800 plus whatever the fees the bank imposed on her account for passing a bad check.  This is just another way to rip you off

11-02-07

Bogus FTC e-mail has virus

The Federal Trade Commission, which has declared war on Internet scams, warned consumers on Monday not to open a bogus e-mail that appears to come from its fraud department because it carries an attachment that can download a virus.

The e-mail says it is from "frauddep@ftc.gov" and has the FTC's government seal.

But it was not issued by the agency and has attachments and links that will download a virus that could steal passwords and account numbers, the agency said.

"It's a treasure trove for identity theft," said David Torok of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "We're concerned. The virus that's attached to the e-mail is particularly virulent."

The agency, which is one of several government agencies investigating cyber fraud, did not know how many people had received the e-mail.

"We've received hundreds if not thousands of calls and complaints, this one may have had a large distribution," he said.

Recipients should forward the e-mail to spam@uce.gov, an FTC spam database used in investigations.

Nine percent of people surveyed in a poll conducted in August and September reported having had their identities stolen, Bari Abdul, a vice president at security software maker McAfee, said at a cybersecurity conference on October 1.

10-15-07

Utility Bill Refund is a scam

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/10/energy_scam.html

With winter on the way and the U.S. Department of Energy predicting a sharp increase in heating bills, consumers are likely looking for any feasible way to cut expenses.

Scammers are apparently playing on those concerns in hopes of snagging the unwary in a new phishing scheme.

DOE says scammers are sending out spam email, pretending to be from the federal agency. DOE says it believes the purpose of the scheme is to infect victims’ computers with malware that will allow hackers to steal sensitive information, such as user names and passwords.

The subject line in the email says “Urgent Notification” and informs the recipient that an analysis of their bills shows they are due a refund from DOE for $480.58. To receive the refund, they must click on a link in the message. Doing so, says DOE, infects the computer.

DOE says the email appears to come from refund@energy.gov. The agency says that address does not exist. DOE also said it does not collect revenue from, or issue refunds to, the general public via email.

07-16-07

New telephone scam targets Medicare users

This is a scam that has been making it’s way across the New England states and has the potential of making it’s way to the West Coast.

It is very important to tell everyone we know who are contacted to just hang up.

People who use Medicare are being targeted in a telephone scam.  Callers who claim to work for the government's health insurer for senior citizens insist they must issue a second Medicare card. All that's needed is a senior's bank account information.

Legitimate Medicare workers are allowed to call and explain their product. However, they are prohibited by law from asking for personal or financial information.

They cannot enroll you or ask for payment over the phone and are not permitted to come to your home unless you have contacted them.

Confusion over recent changes to Medicare makes users vulnerable to scams. People know Medicare doesn't pay for everything and that numerous supplemental plans are available. Users can get overwhelmed making sure they have completed the proper paperwork.

The callers hint that without this second card, Medicare will not work. The scary part is, these people who prey on the elderly know exactly which buttons to push.

We recommend that if you or a person you know has questions about Medicare to contact the local Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP) at 559-224-9117.

06-06-07

Bail Scam

This is a new scam that is happening back East and show signs of moving out West.

A woman has been charged in what police say was a scam in which elderly people were encouraged to turn over bail money for friends or relatives.

The woman identified herself as a bail bondswoman when she called an elderly man and told him a close friend had been arrested. The man withdrew money from his bank and gave her $1,500.

The woman is suspected of scamming at least six other elderly people in the area, netting about $5,000.

If you receive such a phone call, you should first verify that a friend or relative has been arrested.  Secondly, you should verify that your friend or relative is requesting that you assist in providing bail and what bail bondsman they are going through.  If this could not be verified, you should not provide anything to the person calling.

05-01-07

Fake Check Scam

This scam has hit the Tehachapi are very hard over the last week. The local police department has numerous reports from seniors who have received these checks and have turned them over to the authorities or their local bank.

”Practically anyone is a target and should stay alert for counterfeit checks arriving in the mail, not just e-mail, regarding a sweepstakes win” said the local spokesperson for the department.

The scams work like this: A check will arrive along with a letter declaring you the “winner” of a lottery. It goes onto explain that the lump sum payout can not be collected until the enclosed check, usually for $2,000 to $4,000, is deposited to pay for the “accounting, tax processing and clearance fees” regarding the prize.

Here’s the catch: the check will (most likely) never clear and the victim will call the phone number referenced in the letter. Then, the voice at the other end of the line will collect credit card, banking and other personal information.

If the check does clear, however, some of the award recipients are duped into wiring the money for those processing fees out of the country to these scam artists. They are sending money directly to the criminals.

This particular scam is similar to the Nigerian money transfer scams of the past, most often seen in e-mails. These “Canadian” sweepstakes have a return address in Montreal and the postage is metered, usually an indicator, since mail sent at a bulk rate means that thousands of other people are receiving the same thing.

Attached is a copy of a check received by a senior in the Tehachapi area. We do know of a senior here in Fresno who also received on of these checks two weeks ago. If you know of anyone who has received a letter with a “winning” prize check in it please contact Detective Dave Case at Dave.Case@fresnosheriff.org

02-04-07

Year End Review

It has been another year of scams and thefts from seniors.  We have been confronted with the usual scams, the Canadian Lottery, the Nigerian Scam and a large number of variations.  The scammers have become more sophisticated with imitating banks and financial institutions.  They have learned from their mistakes and become more dangerous.  If we tried to list all of the scams that came out this year or that got harder to recognize, it would be an impossible task.  We received over 650 email scams alone this year. The bottom line is simple, if you won something and have to pay anything to collect your prize, you did not win.

If somebody says they are with any organization that needs your Social Security Number, credit card number, bank account number or any other personal number, it is probably a scam.

You should always hang up and if you feel it might be true, look up the correct phone number for the organization that they say the represent and ask if it is legitimate.

If you are told of a “deal” that sounds “too good to be true”, it probably is. Nobody is going to give you something for nothing. Do not send money overseas to “assist” somebody in getting money out of the country or to a charity.

The workload for law enforcement is going up due to the banks now being mandated to report financial elder abuse if they become aware of it. Thanks to the Fresno Madera Area Agency on Aging and the Fresno County Sheriffs Department working together, a program involving a retired Fresno Police Department Elder Abuse Detective, is going full speed and more first responders are being trained on how to recognize and investigate crimes against the elderly. 

Knowledge of how to recognize Elder Abuse is growing and more people are aware that it exists and are reporting it. The amount of Elder Abuse is not increasing, the number of people reporting it is. If we all work together, 2007 will be a good year for our seniors.

Remember, Scamnot…

Detective Dave Case- Fresno County Sheriff’s Department, elder abuse training coordinator - (559) 253-7863

Cory Scholtes- direct services supervisor, Scamnot web master, Fresno Madera Area Agency on Aging - 1-800-510-2020 or (559) 453-4405