Category — Scams

Santa Rosa bankruptcy attorney Edmund Dechant suggests that the public be aware of the Federal Trade Commission’s warning of potential charity scams in connection with the recent floods and tornadoes that have caused damage in the Midwest.   FTC recommendations: 1. Ask for the name of the charity if the telemarketer does not provide it promptly; 2. Ask what percentage of your donation will support the cause described in the solicitation; 3. Call the charity to find out if it’s aware of the solicitation and has authorized the use of its name; 4. Do not provide any credit card or bank information until you have reviewed all information from the charity and made the decision to donate; 5. Ask for a receipt showing the amount of the contribution and stating that it is tax deductible; and 6. Avoid cash gifts. For security and tax record purposes, it’s best to pay by check – made payable to the beneficiary, not the solicitor. Full Story.

You never have to pay for information about job vacancies or employment opportunities with the U.S. government or U.S. Postal Service. But some scam artists are victimizing many Americans by selling information about federal job opportunities. These scam artists advertise in the classified sections of newspapers and offer – for a fee – to help job seekers find and apply for federal jobs. In truth, federal agencies and the U.S. Postal Service never charge application fees or guarantee that an applicant will be hired. Some fraudulent companies even try to confuse consumers by using names that sound like those of federal agencies, like the “U.S. Agency for Career Advancement” or the “Postal Employment Service.” Full Story.

A federal report shows that American consumers lose more than $40 billion a year to telemarketing fraud. It’s no wonder that con artists in foreign countries want in on the action. In many cases, crooks are sitting across the border - just far enough away from U.S. laws and jurisdiction to reduce the chances that American victims will ever recover their money. These frauds include Credit Card Loss Protection Offers that “inform” you that you are no longer protected by the $50.00 cap on unauthorized use of your card. That’s simply not true. Another scam are the Advance-Fee Loan “Sharks” who offer you a loan on the condition that you make an up-front payment. When you give your credit card info, your card is charged and you never hear from the huckster again. Full story.

The F.B.I.’s office in Indianapolis, Indiana, is warning the public about an ongoing scam involving jury service.

Individuals identifying themselves as U.S. court employees have been telephonically contacting citizens and advising them that they failed to report for jury duty. These individuals then ask to verify personal information to include names, addresses and Social Security numbers. If the request is refused, citizens are then told that they will be fined and/or arrested.

The judicial system does not contact people telephonically and ask for personal information such as your Social Security number or date of birth. If you receive one of these phone calls, do not provide any personal or confidential information to these individuals. This is an attempt to steal or to use your identity by obtaining your name or Social Security number. It is an attempt to defraud you. Full Story.