Tag Archive for scam

A Failure of a Scam

March 15, 2017 Comments Off on A Failure of a Scam

Oooooooo…..I’m SOOOOOO scared and intimidated.  Not!  Whoever devised this scam is pretty stupid.

I got a phone call in which a halting, mechanical voice said this:

“This is in reference to a criminal lawsuit filed against you.  Your case number is [gives a number].  The moment you receive this message I need you to return the call.  The issue at hand is extremely time sensitive. The hotline to my desk is [gives number].  I repeat it’s [number again].  Don’t disregard this message.  Do return the call.    Now, if you don’t return the call and I don’t hear from your attorney either, then the only thing I can do is to wish you a good luck as the situation unfolds on you.  Good bye.”

Who says “criminal lawsuit” instead of “criminal case” or “hotline to my desk”?  How intimidating is “I need you to…call”?  And who can take seriously the childish threat of “I wish you [with ‘a’ stuck in  here] good luck”?

DUMB!  This is one bad guy who will do much better if he gets a real job instead of trying to pull off clumsy scams.

 

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Get Money Back for Grandma

March 14, 2017 Comments Off on Get Money Back for Grandma

Do you have a grandparent or elderly friend who was deceived into sending money to a relative overseas to, say, keep them out of jail?  The elderly are the ones most often taken advantage of by such scams, sending part of the money they need to live on off to a scam artist.  And how do they send it?  Western Union usually.

Western Union has admitted to the federal government that they have been letting these scams happen–aiding and abetting fraud, which is a felony.  As a consequence, they’ve agreed to several measures they’ll take, including paying $586 billion  They will refund “fraudulently induced money transfers.”

For more details, go to https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/western-union-admits-anti-money-laundering-and-consumer-fraud-violations-forfeits-586-million.

If you know someone who got caught up in this, especially an older person who may find it difficult or confusing applying for a refund, keep going back to https://www.justice.gov/criminal-afmls/remission#wu to check on the progress of the settlement.  Right now, the Dept. of Justice is looking for a claims administrator to oversee the program.  Once a person is hired, it won’t be long before the website will have instructions for filing claims.  The DOJ moves slowly.  Don’t give up.

 

 

 

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Gotcha, Telemarketers!

January 13, 2017 Comments Off on Gotcha, Telemarketers!

It works!  It actually works!  And it’s free!

This is NOT a commercial.  I’m just sharing my delight.

I’m one of those people who still have a landline.  I have my iPhone, too, of course.  But it’s the home line (which I still need for purposes I won’t go into) that has been driving me crazy with cold-calls, scam artists, and telemarketers, especially ones with only a recording on the other end to yell at or humans who won’t give up.  As you likely know, yelling does no good whether at man or machine.

Then I signed up with a company who stops robo-calls after one ring of my phone so I don’t have to deal with them.  They charge for the service to cell phones but not to landlines. Now I smile when my phone rings once and stops, and I think, GOTCHA!

I don’t miss the frequent calls from somebody “from Microsoft” asking me to turn over control of my computer so they can “fix” the dangerous bug in it.  Or the fake charities and telemarketers.  So far I’m not getting those calls on my cell, but eventually I know I will, at which time I’ll pay the $5 a month to add my iPhone.

If you’re interested, the company is Nomorobo.  You can find them at https://www.nomorobo.com.

All I can say is, It works for me!

 

 

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How NOT to Help

October 7, 2016 Comments Off on How NOT to Help

There are tragedies and suffering from catastrophes in various parts of the world, including floods in our own country.  You probably want to help somehow. For most of us, all we can do is to donate to charities that are on the scene helping the victims.  Go ahead.  But be sure those donations do some real good for real people rather than enriching scam artists or CEOs.  Clark Howard offers some tips:

  • Don’t give cash. Legitimate charities will take a check.
  • Don’t give out your credit card, bank account or personal information to telemarketers. If you want to donate, initiate the call yourself.
  • Don’t fall for Internet appeals if the cause does not look legitimate and doesn’t check out. Make sure to do your research!
  • Expect specific information. Ask what kind of relief this organization is going to provide. Don’t accept vague explanations.
  • Check out the charity with national, state, and local authorities. Established charities register with the Internal Revenue Service. You can search for specific non-profit organizations on the IRS website: irs.gov.
  • Beware of newly formed organizations. If the charity is new, you may have to rely on your relationship with the company or sponsor of the organization to determine whether you trust the group.
  • Report abuses to the nearest Better Business Bureau and the State Attorney General’s office. Both are listed in local telephone directories. You can also report abuses to the National Fraud Information Center at (800) 876-7060. NFIC also has a web-based complaint form at www.fraud.org.

And here’s one of my own:  Check to see how much of your donation will go to charitable work as compared to administrative costs (including CEOs) and fundraising costs.  Look them up at www.CharityNavigator.org or the Better Business Bureau site www.BBB.give.org.

For more tips on donating, check out Clark’s Donation Guide.

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25 of the Worst Charities

November 17, 2015 Comments Off on 25 of the Worst Charities

We’re entering the season of giving, the season when we’re most generous and open to those needing help.  Therefore, it’s the season to be particularly careful.  Think twice before giving in to knocks on your door, phone calls, and collectors-for-charities outside your supermarket.

Unfortunately, the season of love is also prime season for scams.

Last December, in my blog “Don’t be Charitable to Scammers,” I offered ideas to help you make sure your money goes to a reputable place who will help people in need or suffering terrible illness.  Today I suggest you go to a site that lists the top 25 terrible “charities”–some you may have heard about, some who may be calling on you soon.  This site also gives suggestions to avoid scams, including some from the IRS.

Before you give another penny, please go to http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/11/13/1449096/-25-of-America-s-worst-charities-plus-tips-on-how-to-avoid-getting-scammed?detail=email.

 

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Helping Nepal Sensibly

May 4, 2015 Comments Off on Helping Nepal Sensibly

Before you donate money to help the people of Napal, be sure the organization you’ll give your money to can–and will–actually do the job.  Some are well-meaning but don’t have the resources or experience to handle such a large task.  And some are out-and-out scams, preying on the vulnerable and our emotions.

Here’s a list of ones that have been vetted and are already helping in Nepal.  You can read a little about each and get a link to each at http://www.pri.org/stories/2015-04-25/how-help-nepal-7-vetted-charities-doing-relief-work-following-earthquake.

The organizations are (in alpha order) AmeriCares, CARE, Catholic Relief Services, Direct Relief, GlobalGiving, International Relief Teams, Operation USA, Save the Children, Seva Foundation, and World Help.  Two others currently working over there are UNICEF and Oxfam, also described on that webpage.

The people of Napal need every cent they can get to find their lost loved ones, recover, and rebuild.  Make sure that every penny you give actually helps them.

 

 

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END ROBO CALLS!

March 31, 2015 Comments Off on END ROBO CALLS!

I’m up to my ears in the &%$#!!! things now, and it’s only going to get worse, with election season about to start.  I’m sure you’re as irritated as I am with those phone calls from people who don’t know us and are often, in fact, not people but recordings.  They come at all hours, interrupt our lives, pitch scams at us, and make us mad.  Nobody likes those automatic, sequentially dialed robo calls!

Finally, an organization is gathering force to do something about it.  Watch this short video about the efforts of Consumers Union (the advocacy part of Consumer reports) at http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Consumers-Union-Pushes-for-End-to-Robocalls-297727451.html.

Then get on board to stop robo-calls–sign the Consumers Union petition at https://consumersunion.org/end-robocalls.

 

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Don’t Be Charitable to Scammers

December 15, 2014 Comments Off on Don’t Be Charitable to Scammers

You may be tempted to give in to charitable appeals between now and Dec. 31, the deadline to claim them on your 2014 taxes.  But be sure those donations do some real good for real people rather than enriching scam artists or CEOs.  Clark Howard offers some tips:

  • Don’t give cash. Legitimate charities will take a check.
  • Don’t give out your credit card, bank account or personal information to telemarketers. If you want to donate, initiate the call yourself.
  • Don’t fall for Internet appeals if the cause does not look legitimate and doesn’t check out. Make sure to do your research!
  • Expect specific information. Ask what kind of relief this organization is going to provide. Don’t accept vague explanations.
  • Check out the charity with national, state, and local authorities. Established charities register with the Internal Revenue Service. You can search for specific non-profit organizations on the IRS website: irs.gov.
  • Beware of newly formed organizations. If the charity is new, you may have to rely on your relationship with the company or sponsor of the organization to determine whether you trust the group.
  • Report abuses to the nearest Better Business Bureau and the State Attorney General’s office. Both are listed in local telephone directories. You can also report abuses to the National Fraud Information Center at (800) 876-7060. NFIC also has a web-based complaint form at www.fraud.org.

And here’s one of my own:  Check to see how much of your donation will go to charitable work as compared to administrative costs (including CEOs) and fundraising costs.  Look them up at www.CharityNavigator.org or the Better Business Bureau site www.BBB.give.org.

For more tips on donating, check out Clark’s Donation Guide.

 

 

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