HURRICANE HARVEY- Watch Out for Scammers

If you have been following the disaster in eastern Texas as a result of Hurricane (now Tropical Storm) Harvey you may be motivated to give money for the victims. As unusual, scammers are trying to take advantage of people’s good will to take their money.

The Better Business Bureau has compiled a list of legitimate organizations who are helping in the Hurricane Harvey relief. Before giving to any organization, look at this information:

Better Business Bureau:

https://www.bbb.org/council/news-events/news-releases/2017/08/bbb-and-give.org-offer-tips-on-helping-texas-in-the-aftermath-of-hurricane-harvey/

Here is some general guidance about giving to a charity,

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0074-giving-charity

SCAM UPDATE- Fake Check Scam

Scammers may use a fake check to steal your money. This may be part of a phony prize award, fake job offer, mystery shopper scam or bogus online classified ad sale. The scammer sends you a check that might over pay an agreed-on price or salary/wage then instructs you to keep the amount that was agreed to, and send back the rest via Western Union, MoneyGram or prepaid debit cards or iTunes gift cards. The Better Business Bureau lists the fake check scam as the number 2 scam in its Scam Tracker survey.

The key to this scam is that the check is no good. But, it can take time, a few days or even a few weeks, for your bank to figure that out. And when they do, they take the money out that they originally credited to your account and may charge you a fee. So why didn’t they wait to credit your account until they were certain the check was good? By federal law they need to make the funds available in a short time, often before they know if the check is good.

Be leery of any scheme that has you sending funds back from a check no matter the reason.

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0159-fake-checks

NBC News:

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/consumer/fraud-alert-fake-checks-used-variety-costly-scams-n790211

SCAM UPDATE- New Social Security Scam

A new scam uses a new technique to collect your personal information. A scammer calls from the 323-area code, posing as a Social Security Administration (SSA) employee. They tell you that you are due a cost-of-living adjustment that increases your Social Security benefit. To receive your increase, you will be asked to verify personal information such as your Social Security Number, name, date of birth, parents’ name, etc.

This is another scam that you need to hang up on if they call.

AARP:

http://states.aarp.org/fraud-watch-alert-new-scam-targets-social-security-benefit/

SCAM UPDATE- No Secret Bank Accounts

The FTC and the Federal Reserve Bank of New York report that scammers are claiming that you can pay your bills with “secret accounts” or “Social Security trust accounts” and routing number at Federal Reserve Banks. The caller asks for your Social Security Number in exchange for a bank account number at a Federal Reserve Bank. There are no secret or Social Security trust accounts that you can use to pay your bills. This is a way to collect Social Security Numbers or other personal information that can be used to commit identity theft.

The FTC points out that only banks can have an account at the Federal Reserve Bank. So, as with all other phone scams, just hang up.

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/08/no-secret-bank-accounts-pay-your-bills

SCAM UPDATE- Make-A-Wish Sweepstakes?

AARP and the Make-A-Wish Foundation are warning everyone about scammers who pose as being from the “Consumer Protection Agency” or the Federal Trade Commission” making phone calls claiming that you have won second place, $450,000, in a Make-A-Wish sweepstake. You just need to send them $4,500 in processing fees to claim your prize. There is no such agency called the Consumer Protection Agency and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) does not offer sweepstakes.

If you receive a call telling you that you have won something out of the blue, hang up. It’s a scam!

Make-A-Wish Foundation:

http://wish.org/content/fraud-alerts#sm.0001um7anw1jbd1utfz1v9pallwn9

AARP- Fraud Watch Network

AARP provides many services for and to retired people. Older citizens can be susceptible to fraud and scams. AARP has taken on the mission to educate the elderly on scams and how to avoid them with the Fraud Watch Network (http://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/fraud-watch-network/). At its Fraud Watch Network web site, you can learn about fraud and scams, how to detect them and how to avoid them.

One of its new services is a scam-tracking map that allows you to see reports of scams near you. You can see scams nationwide or close to home. The map, located at https://action.aarp.org/site/SPageNavigator/FraudMap.html;jsessionid=00000000.app261b?cmp=RDRCT-ADV-FRAUD-050916&NONCE_TOKEN=257473E4AB228C4845962CC1424B9E3F, also lets you do a search for types of scams and report scams that may have occurred to you.

Knowing that scams have happened to your friends and neighbors is an important element in guarding against becoming a victim. While this may not be a comprehensive source, it is valuable in keeping you aware of current scams. Other sources are your neighbors, press releases from local law enforcement agencies and the news media. The Better Business Bureau has a similar scam tracker at https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker/us.

ROBOCALLS- Try to Spoof You

We seem to get them all the time. The phone rings, we answer it, and a recording makes an offer or tells us we have won something and tells us to call a phone number. We are firmly in the era of “robocalls.”

Some robocalls are legal if they are from political candidates running for office or from charities asking for donations. But if they are selling something, and they do not have your written permission, then the call is illegal. Many illegal robocalls are scams.

Since the beginning of the year, there has been a dramatic increase in robocalls. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) attributes the increase to technology. And, scammers have adopted a new technique to trick you into answering the call.

Called neighbor spoofing, the scammers have programmed their computerized robocall systems to show a phone number like yours on your caller ID. It’s designed to make you think that a neighbor or a local business is calling you. The area code and prefix might be the same as yours with different last four digits.

The FTC suggests that if you receive a robocall, hang up. Often there is a selection to talk to an agent or to be taken off their call list. Do not select any options that the robocall might give you. You might be added to a list, often called a “suckers list,” that tells the scammer, and any other scammers who have purchased your phone number, that you are an easy mark.

The FTC also suggests that you contact your phone provider and ask them to block the number. Some providers might charge for this service. Also report the robocall to the FTC online at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/#&panel1-1 or by phone at (888) 382-1222.

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0259-robocalls

For an interesting insight to robocalling, check out this podcast episode. Warning, there is some offensive language.

NPR Planet Monday Episode 789:

http://www.npr.org/sections/money/2017/08/18/544448670/episode-789-robocall-invasion

ATM SKIMMERS- Some Take Advantage of Bluetooth Technology

Police agencies have been warning the public about skimmers at ATM’s and gas stations for some time. Skimmers allow crooks to collect your account information from your credit or debit card.

Much of the advice in avoiding becoming a victim of this technique has included:

·         Look over the ATM or gas pump for any signs of tampering.

·         Grab the slot where you insert your card to see if it is loose.

·         At a gas station, try to use the pump nearest the attendant’s station on the theory that ID thieves would install skimmers furthest away from easy view.

New technology may have added another technique that you can use to ensure the safety of your information. For the last few years, ID thieves who have been using skimmers have added Bluetooth technology to their equipment. This is the same technology that is used to allow you to talk hands free on your cell phone or listen to music on a wireless speaker. Bluetooth allows them to swing by and download the information from the device to their laptop, tablet or cell phone. The range for Bluetooth devices is only about 30 feet. But someone can fill up their tank and surreptitiously collect the information without raising suspicions of people around them.

How can Bluetooth help you? When you pull up to a gas pump or approach an ATM, pull out your smartphone, go to the Bluetooth area of settings and look at the list of devices. If you see a device in the list with a long string of numbers and/or letters it is probably a skimmer. Tell the attendant, store employee or the bank that the ATM belongs to.

For more about skimmers go to,

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/avoid-skimmers-pump

KING TV:

http://www.king5.com/mobile/article/money/consumer/how-your-cell-phone-can-detect-atm-gas-pump-skimmers/465401167?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=599860839ebbef000778cd41&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter?utm_campaign=trueAnthem:+Trending+Content&utm_content=599860839ebbef000778cd41&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=twitter

KSAT12, San Antonio, TX:

https://www.ksat.com/news/your-phones-bluetooth-can-locate-illegal-skimmer-devices

Consumerist:

https://consumerist.com/2015/09/17/6-things-we-learned-about-bluetooth-atm-skimmers-in-mexico/

Cisco Blogs:

https://blogs.cisco.com/security/card_skimmers_using_bluetooth_demonstrate_security_challenges_for_borderles

SHERIFF’S OFFICE- Car Prowls are Up

This morning the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office issued a warning via Twitter and Facebook that car prowls are up in the county. While not providing specifics, it pointed out that car prowlers like to target cars parked at trailheads, parks, and beaches.

For some time, local police agencies have been encouraging drivers to not leave anything in view when they park their vehicles. The thinking is that car prowlers will break into a vehicle if they see anything inside and will not if there is nothing in view.

Car prowlers will take anything, but a bonus is when they can take a purse or wallet. They can spend the cash and conduct ID theft with credit cards and checks. If you do find that someone has stolen your credit cards or checkbook, you need to act to protect yourself from further theft. For guidance on what to do check out this link,

Identity theft Resource Center:

http://www.idtheftcenter.org/Identity-Theft/check-fraud-what-to-do-when-it-happens-to-you

Here is how you can prevent car prowls,

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/445

SHERIFF’S OFFICE- Crime Prevention Newsletter Talks About Transit Unit

Many Snohomish County citizens use buses, trains, and vanpools to commute to work or get around. This issue of “Partners in Crime Prevention” concentrates on the Sheriff’s Office’s Transit Police Unit and how it helps prevent crime in the bus system in Snohomish County.

Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:

https://snohomishcountywa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/5776

SCAM UPDATE- Tech Scam

According to Microsoft, tech support scammers are adding email to their techniques in taking money from their victims. Sending phishing emails allows scammers to cast a wider net to contact victims. The emails act much like typical phishing emails using social engineering to fool a victim into clicking on a link or an attachment that installs malware or takes the victim to a website that installs malware or asks for personal information. The difference, so far, is that the tech support scam email has links that takes the victim to a web page that tries to scare them into calling a hot line where they can be convinced to pay for unnecessary tech support.

Other techniques that tech support scammers use include:

·         Ads on sketchy web pages that direct the victim to tech support scam web sites.

·         Malware that displays fake error messages that try to scare the victim into calling a hotline.

·         Many tech support scammers use cold calls to contact victims, claiming to be from Microsoft, and trying to scare victims into purchasing unnecessary tech help.

For more details about the recent tech support scam trends go to,

Microsoft:

https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/mmpc/2017/08/07/links-in-phishing-like-emails-lead-to-tech-support-scam/

SCAM UPDATE- Scholarship Scam

Scammers also target college students looking for scholarships. Here are some ways to protect yourself:

·         Know who you are dealing with.

·         Beware of search services that guarantee you will receive scholarship money.

·         Get the details in writing.

·         Make sure you understand the refund policy.

·         Do your own scholarship search.

Fraud.org:

http://www.fraud.org/scholarship_scams

SCAM UPDATE- Grandparents Scam

You have heard about the Grandparents Scam. You may have even received a call claiming that a grandchild or other relative is in some sort of trouble and needs money right away to get out of it.

The Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have been warning consumers about a new twist to this scam. You receive a call from someone claiming to be your grandchild or young relative. They talk to you for a short time then hand you over to their “attorney” who tells you to pay cash for bail inside a magazine that turns out to be an empty house with an unattended mailbox.

Remember:

·         Never send cash through the mail.

·         Contact your loved one separately before sending any money.

·         Report the incident to the Sheriff’s Office via the non-emergency number (425) 407-3999 and to the FTC at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Information#crnt&panel1-1.

ITRC:

http://www.idtheftcenter.org/Current-Scam-Alerts/scammers-pretend-to-be-attorney-in-new-grandparent-scam

FTC:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/grandpa-spots-scammers?utm_content=bufferd870b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer