Friday, April 01, 2016

SENIORS BEWARE

4/9/16 Up Date
Another phone scam today similar to one I've received in years past.    This was an accented English-speaking male stating he was with Windows technical department.  When I asked why he was calling me, he said they were receiving some technical signals my computer was seriously infected.  I ended the conversation.   Had I responded they would have determined I had a computer, requested other information that ultimately would lead to their being able to access my computer and/or threatening technical dangers if I didn't have them correct the problem -- for a charge, of course, by giving them a credit card number or other means of obtaining money from me.


Scams focusing on seniors -- other than political!  This is no April Fools Day joke.

Last week our local Kiwanis Club served a pancake breakfast preceding our local senior center's Senior Scam Stopper program.  California's Contractors State License Board (CSLB), State Senator Carol Liu, Assemblymember Chris Holden, and the City of Claremont presented this seminar.   Panel presenters from CSLB, Department of Business Oversight, Senior Medicare Patrol/Community Senior Services, U.S. Postal Inspection Services presented informative facts in an interesting, entertaining manner followed by discussion, along with having literature available.

Scams commonly used against older consumers range from auto repair to insurance and Medicare fraud.   Require written estimates, pay attention to the small print and guarantees and any work you're having done.    CSLB representatives discussed home repair fraud.  The importance of hiring licensed contractors,the need to require a written contract specifying costs, completion time, payments, along with all the precautions to be taken.  Get written change orders on any contract -- don't rely on verbal changes.

I occasionally watch TV's Judge Judy or People's Court with Judge Milian whose show features Harvey Levin at the conclusion of each court case.   He frequently reinforces Judge Milian's admonition in some cases to add the statement "Time is of the essence" to contracts which adds legal significance to completion time. 

The Medicare Representative advised we all need to check the forms we receive relative to our health care that report what Medicare and/or any supplemental insurance is paying out to be certain the charges are legitimate.  Given all the code numbers, honest mistakes are sometimes made, but billions are being paid out in intentionally false billings by individuals deliberately defrauding Medicare and our health care system that may be charged against our accounts.   Perhaps if we could prevent the bulk of these losses, Medicare could afford to provide dental care and hearing aids for all who need them rather than none at all or in the limited medical manner now.

Prevalent in recent years are phone scams to which I can personally attest to receiving.  Several times I've had calls with the IRS scam.   Before this scam was in the news my first call came on a Friday afternoon of a long holiday weekend.  The male accented speaker was very polite, but subsequent calls that day, and Saturday became much more aggressive.  I allowed all of those calls to be recorded on my answering machine.  I checked several sources and learned I could report these calls to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) web site which I did.  In more recent years I've received recorded alleged IRS messages spoken by an unaccented English-speaking female, but its the same scam in a different form. 

Just a few weeks ago I received my third Grandma/Grandpa scam phone call with which readers here may be familiar.   If I've answered the phone I resist the temptation of playing games with these people, but have been known to say, "Oh, you're full of BS!" and then I immediately hang up.  This time the phone rang again a few seconds later, but I didn't answer and no message was left.    Acquaintances of mine have told me stories about others known to them who have succumbed to these phone seductions to the tune of losing thousands of dollars.

In one case, one couple disregarded their bank teller's efforts to dissuade them from withdrawing a large sum which they subsequently mailed away.  To this day, they persist in being angry at their real grandson, because he's neither thanked them or paid them back the several thousand they sent.  They're convinced they bailed him out of a Mexican jail despite assurances from him and his family he had not been in Mexico, much less made that call.    Receiving such calls we should simply check with family regarding the alleged missing person or simply hang up on all these calls -- give NO information.

Calls from those representing themselves from banks, businesses, any institution or organization can be double-checked for authenticity by phoning them at official numbers previously known to you to verify the number and/or information you've been given before giving any information or taking action.

There are various means of credit card, especially debit card, fraud.   They discouraged use of debit cards.  Check your monthly statements and annual credit reports for any listing errors -- request yearly free copies.
Specifically mentioned were the risks being taken any time a credit card is taken out of sight to print the charge such as at a restaurant.

New credit cards with chips require protection since they can be readily copied from within a wallet or purse from a distance with electronic devices crooks have now -- some users thwart this copying by wrapping their chip cards in aluminum foil, or purchase protective cases designed to prevent access.  (I think credit card companies should provide protective covers with each chip card they issue but they don't.)

We computer users need to be on the alert to avoid all those defrauding email invasions which may or may not go automatically to spam.  Also, beware of those contests, notices you've won an inheritance, requests you loan money, etc., etc.  Ordering items whether on the Internet or other, you can be scammed, so make certain the padlock icon is present on the site at the very least, or pay through other associated secure sites.

Some of these scams can come through regular old-fashioned postal mail -- ads with a way to earn money from home by mailing packages they'll send you then cashing the check for postage they pay you.  The first small check or so might even clear the first time to lull you into trusting, but none for the big bucks will later.  Lotteries, foreign and domestic, are generally basically scams in one form or another -- some, where there never are any winners.

Coincidentally, local TV news has recently focused on love scams.  Seems there are many people, including some of us oldsters, who make friends on the Internet, including with others around the globe  -- eventually becoming so emotionally involved that requests for money/loans we favorably respond to.   Men and women going through significant life changes with the loss of spouses, other family, friends, or just feeling lonely are often emotionally vulnerable and can be most susceptible to establishing such new intimate friends or romantic connections.  A desire to help others can also be a seduction for many caring oldsters.   I expect many bloggers like me have received hard luck story emails, usually from another country, asking for financial help. 

I think what can be concluded is that if you're asked, sooner or later, to send any money, it's a scam.   So don't!   Also, I know it's simplistic, but don't let greed get in the way -- as the saying goes -- if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

21 comments:

  1. Good article. I did not know that about the chips. They left behind the photo ID which I preferred for chips. irritating as they aren't helping us avoid the scammers.

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    1. I guess the chips are supposed to be a bit more secure -- if you've protected them from those distance scanners with Radio Frequency Identification tags (RFID). Many businesses here don't have the chip processing device yet. Even with the chip, the U.S. is behind Europe who are beyond chips now as security. Yes, I liked having my photo on the cards, too.

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  2. Such an important topic! I am always on my guard, and fortunately my 86 year old mom has learned to be very careful as well. If she does not recognize the caller ID, she will not answer the phone. Her bank called her once, asking her to invest some money. She promptly called them to "call my daughter"!

    It's shameful that there are disreputable people and businesses that are intent on preying on those most vulnerable!

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    1. Welcome to "Along The Way"!
      Good for your Mom! My adult children have been very helpful educating me about this digital world -- especially in the beginning when I first started using the computer. I've made a point ever since trying to be aware of the changes which are never-ending. There's so much to keep up with we all need to share what we learn with one another.

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  3. According to AARP one of the worst scams is the fellow who knocks on your door and offers to take down a "dead" tree. Fortunately, I am not likely to fall for this scam because I know my trees well.

    Great post and very helpful. thanks Jo.

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    1. Ah-h-h, the dead tree scam! Just about everything offers those who would scam us an opportunity to do so if we don't pay careful attention.

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    2. Another phone scam to add to the list is the call I received just a few minutes ago with origin showing as "Private". A boiler room noisy background can be heard as the accented-peaking male says, "I'm Eric calling from the Windows technical dept." -- another message worthy of eliciting a "more B.S." response and hangup.

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  4. Thanks for all the info. We oldsters seem to be particularly prone to scams and it's a pity when we are used this way. I often use my kids as my excuse, such as when a so-called policeman calls asking for money and I say my kids won't allow me to give any money to anyone.

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  5. Checking out solicitations is always wise before giving to learn how much of what is donated actually goes to those for whom they say they're collecting.

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  6. My card has a chip. Suppose I should it protect it better. Good info. Thanks for passing it on.

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    1. Since writing this I requested in person from two different major banks branches protective sleeves for their credit cards with chips. One could offer only paper sleeves (they called pockets) and neither employee knew anything about RFID and thought these would be protective -- also true at another of their branches, but they attempted to defend card was now safe and that was why the chip added -- also that was what I was told when I phoned the bank credit card customer service but they didn't know anything about RFID either. The other major bank credit card customer service I phoned could offer no protective sleeve either, but described other options relative to controlling the account but more complicated to use (probably available at all banks). They were unfamiliar with RFID issue, too, but put my call on a brief hold while they found out about it. They had no further solution but said they'd followup and report to management -- very cordial.

      Exploring purchasing protective RFID sleeves, wallets, etc. on Internet has only raised questions for me. What I've read says the protective elements can vary so I'm not sure how one tells which products are the best ones to use. Without that information, it almost seems as though purchasing some of these items could present an opportunity for being scammed.

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  7. Good advice here. And timely for us--one of our credit card companies just put a hold on a card because some $2,500 in questionable charges showed up. Sure enough, somehow our number was hijacked. Glad the company security folks were alert, but as you say we all need to be alert for scammers.

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  8. Glad your credit card company caught the questionable charges and put a hold on your card. I had a bank with whom I don't even have a credit card catch two charges to a new account opened in my name by unknowns to me. I, too, was glad bank security caught it so early.

    x

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  9. I've gotten those same calls from people with an Indian accent. I have told them they should be ashamed of themselves and what would their mother say if she knew what he was doing. He kept insisting he was from Windows. I told him to also tell his scam company to stop calling us because they'd called us about 7 times already and we already know they're scammers. I'm waiting to see if I get another call.

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    1. I hope your admonition results in their not calling any more. I asked them why they were calling me because I didn't have a computer. They hung up.

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  10. I get my share of phone calls but only answer calls from family or friends so I have never had to deal with scammers.

    Do appreciate the heads-up with regard to the debit card chip. Just got my first one this past week from my bank. I have placed a piece of aluminum foil about the size of my credit card in the slot where my debit card fits in my billfold. According to my research this confuses and or blocks any loss of information by someone trying to access your card info.

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    1. Yes, if we have to do-it-ourselves instead of credit card companies providing safe protective sleeves, aluminum foil reportedly can be used.

      Answering calls only from known callers is wise and what I usually do, or let all calls go to my answering machine for my landline. Sometimes, if I'm in the mood, I'll answer some of those that show "unknown", especially if I'm expecting calls from individuals with whom I don't have regular contact so may not recall their number. This morning, for example, two calls came with one the obvious IRS scam that immediately hung up without giving the pitch; the other was the Windows tech dept. pitch. For my own laughs I told him I didn't need any windows -- that none of mine are broken. He, seriously, rushed to explain this was about my computer. I lied just like he was doing and acted like I didn't know what a computer was, then said that I didn't have one, so asked why they were calling me. I don't ordinarily waste my time doing this.

      I didn't mention previously, but I also periodically get calls I don't answer on my cell phone (a different number from my landline) that show they're from Verizon, but I've previously checked those numbers with my known Verizon office and they're phony from who-knows-who or what scam that probably is, as I've never answered them and won't -- also can find those numbers listed on Internet search trying to lure people to link to the site which I don't either. Apparently Verizon unable to prevent this misrepresentation.

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  11. I've got to think up a good comeback line........You're full of BS isn't bad.

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    1. Another call today which I hung up on, but whatever this pitch was going to be, the guy used another common approach by saying that we'd talked months ago and didn't I remember. I didn't even waste a response on him.

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  12. I have a standard answer to any request for money. I just say: "I am an old lady and my children won't allow me to send any money for any reason." It works ... especially since I hang up right after I say it !!

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