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Entry bubble Census 2010: Don't Be a Scam Victim

By: Joanne | October 20, 2009 | Category: Home and Family

hand holding a pen filling out a formYou’re probably aware that the Census Bureau is gearing up for the 2010 census, and you can bet there are people with bad intentions that will try to use the census as an opportunity to steal your personal information. I’ve already read reports that the scammers are getting started.

People contact us all the time about e-mail scams and fraud schemes. Sometimes fraudulent e-mails are even sent by someone posing as a government agency, so be careful and if you’re ever in doubt, check it out.

In March 2010 the Census Bureau will mail or deliver census forms to every household in the United States. It’s important that you know the difference between the official forms, and forms or e-mails that might be a scam.

Here are some highlights of the Census 2010 schedule:

  • February – March 2010: Census questionnaires are mailed or delivered to households.
  • April – July 2010: Census takers visit households that did not return a questionnaire by mail.

So keep yourself informed, and stay one step ahead of the scammers!

| Post a Comment | View Comments [9] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: 2010   census   fraud   joanne   scam  

 

Entry bubble E-mail Scams and Fraud

By: Joanne | April 21, 2009 | Category: Money

Money Matters: Tips from the Federal Trade Commission

Have you ever opened your e-mail inbox to find a message from a wealthy foreigner who offers you a huge payment to help him move money out of his country? All you need to do is provide your U.S. bank account number.

Or maybe you’ve been nominated for the “Oprah Millionaire Contest Show” and all you need to do to is send money for your airfare and tickets to the show.

Perhaps you’re personally eligible for some money from the Economic Stimulus package and all you need to do is provide bank account information so that the money can be deposited directly into your account.

Sometimes these types of scam emails come from e-mail addresses you should be able to trust: fbi.gov, irs.gov, even usa.gov.

Does all this sound too good to be true? It is!

The sad truth is that many, many unsuspecting people fall for these scams every day, and they pay dearly for their mistakes. They lose thousands of dollars, have their identity stolen and worse. But because these scams really work, people will continue to prey on the unsuspecting.

What can you do? Be alert and use your head – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

If you’re not sure if an email is legitimate or not, do some checking. A quick internet search can usually give you a pretty good idea. The Federal Citizen Information Center also lists fraud schemes and scams. If you don’t see it on the list, find yourself an alternate, trusted way to reach the alleged source of the email and find out if the offer is for real. You can report e-mail scams to the Federal Trade Commission. Your complaints help them detect patterns of wrong-doing, and lead to investigations and prosecutions.

| View Comments [2] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: e mail   fraud   joanne   money   nigerian   phishing   scam  

 

Entry bubble Scareware Scams

By: Colleen | December 17, 2008 | Category: Money

online scamIf you're anything like me, you've been doing your best to avoid any retail places during the holiday season. I'd love to shake the hand of whoever invented online shopping!

As always though, "buyer beware!" Scams and frauds are all over the internet, particularly during the "most wonderful time of the year."

The latest one preys on people actually trying to protect their computers. This "scareware" scheme comes in the form of a pop-up that appears on your screen while you have a web browser open. It might say something like, "Beware! Your computer has been infected!" Or, "Malicious software has been detected!" When you click on the pop-up, you will get an offer to buy software like "Winfixer" or "ErrorSafe" that claims to protect your computer from viruses. These different softwares will cost you around $30-40 and are totally bogus. They will tell you your problems have been fixed, when in reality, there was nothing to fix in the first place. But your wallet will be a tad lighter.

Over a million people have been duped by this type of fraud. The FTC has pushed for a court order to be signed to try and halt the broad-reaching scheme.

To best protect your computer:

  • Make sure you have legitimate anti-virus, anti-spyware, and firewall software.
  • If you get one of these pop-ups claiming you have a virus, close the whole browser. Do not click the link, or even the "x" box at the top.
  • Use the control/alt/delete function if your browser won't respond to your exit.

If you've been scammed by "spyware" you can report it at www.ftc.gov, or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP. For information on dealing with other types of scams and frauds, check out the Pueblo scam site.

| View Comments [5] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: colleen   fraud   internet   online   scam   scareware  

 

Entry bubble Cancer Treatment Scams

By: Colleen | October 22, 2008 | Category: Health

doctorBefore I dive into the serious stuff, I have to give a public shout-out to the Phillies, who are playing in their first World Series in fifteen years, starting tonight. Here we go Phils! "Why can't us?"

While baseball seems like the most important thing to me right now, Breast Cancer Awareness Month brings me back to reality, where we are all hard pressed to find anyone whose life hasn't been touched in one way or another by cancer. Personally, my maternal grandfather passed away due to cancer and by the young age of 20, I'd already had minor surgery to remove skin cancer cells.

When someone gets such devastating news, it is important to have an honest discussion with your doctor regarding the course of treatment that is best for you. Sadly, there is always someone out there looking to make a profit by being dishonest to consumers. Because of this, FTC recently launched a new site that encourages cancer patients who are curious about new treatments to ask their doctors first.

This site was developed in response to a group of companies who were selling fake cancer cures to cancer patients. FTC is suing 11 of these companies for false and deceptive claims. This site gives tips and advice to help people distinguish legit companies from scammers.

Always ask your doctor about any product you may have seen advertised, and do your research on the different treatments available to you.

How have you helped a loved one deal with a diagnosis of cancer?

| View Comments [4] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: cancer   cancer_treatment_scam   doctor   federal_trade_comission   ftc   phillies   scam   treatment  

 

Entry bubble Certified Deed Scam

By: Nancy | August 28, 2008 | Category: Home and Family

Recently, Gov Gab headquarters, aka the Federal Citizen Information Center, enjoyed a visit from investigative reporter Lisa Robinson from Baltimore's WBAL-TV. She was here to put together a story about one of our office's pet peeves: a consumer scam. We hate it when people try to rip you off and we do everything we can to keep you informed. So we like people, like Lisa, who are looking out for you, too.

deedOne of Lisa's viewers told her about a scam that's been circulating the country. It involves the deed to your home.

Like thousands of people nationwide, this viewer received a letter that looks like this from an official sounding company. It might also come to you in email form. The letter says that the Federal Citizen Information Center recommends that you get a certified copy of the deed to your home. Not sure where to get it? Lucky you—the company will provide it for you for just fifty-nine to eighty-nine bucks, depending on the version of the letter you receive. Oh, and don't forget the $4.50 shipping fee. I guess they photocopy your deed on especially heavy paper or something.

The truth is, we don't endorse that company or their service. You can get a copy of your deed yourself from your county clerk or registrar. In most places it's free or no more than ten bucks.

If you get any offer like this by mail, phone or email that sounds fishy, trust your gut and check it out with us, with your state or local consumer office or attorney general, or with your local consumer or investigative reporter, like Lisa.

Have you gotten one of these letters? What other scams have been hitting your area (or your inbox) lately?

| Post a Comment | View Comments [9] | envelope E-mail This Entry | Tags: deed   home   nancy   scam  

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