Tag Archives for Identity theft

Protecting your hard earned money from Holiday scammers 

Published in RINewsToday on December 18, 2023

f the Christmas holidays and consumers ramping up their holiday shopping, the Washington, DC AARP warns shoppers to be aware of the uptick of scams. A new 2023 AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM report puts the spotlight on how criminals target consumers during the holiday season.  

According to the report, 80% of U.S. consumers say that they have experienced some type of fraud in 2023 – many occurring during holiday shopping season.  The researchers say that these scams have increased from last year’s report, from receiving fake notifications about shipments, to online ad scams, and more.

“The concerning findings from our annual survey are that fraud is on the rise and that knowledge about how to stay safe from fraud is dropping,” said Kathy Stokes, AARP Director of Fraud Prevention Programs in a December press release announcing this year’s findings. “Education plays an important role in combating fraud, but we can’t educate our way out of what is now a rampant issue,” she said.

AARP’s report noted that in 2023 significantly more consumers plan on shopping online compared to the last two years. With this increase in internet shopping, scammers often place fake ads online and across popular social media sites offering steep discounts on the hottest items. 

Although peer-to-peer payment platforms such as Venmo, PayPal, Square Cash, and Zelle, etc. have been around for awhile, they have become increasingly popular as a way to make online payments to businesses. Consumers turn to these platforms for convenience, speed and security.  

According to AARP’s findings, the use of these services have increased significantly for a second year in a row. A large majority of respondents shared they do business those, or similar, apps – such as sending money to businesses they have no previous relationship with. In the unfortunate event of fraud, these apps provide little protection to scammed consumers, warns the report.

Gift cards continue to be popular gifts, 66% of those surveyed planning to purchase them this holiday season. However, 27% of consumers have experienced either giving or receiving a gift card with no monetary value on it. “Criminals have old-school ways of manipulating cards hanging on retail racks and high-tech ways of searching online for cards with balances and draining them,” says AARP’s Stokes. “It may be safest to purchase a gift card directly from the card issuer’s website,” she notes.

In a 10-question fraud knowledge quiz that was again part of this year’s AARP survey, most respondents failed with only 28% of being able to answer only 7 or more questions correctly.   The quiz results call for the need to make consumers aware that retailers will never request your login information to provide customer support.  

AARP’s recently released report suggests: 

It’s better to use credit cards for purchasing gifts because they offer the most consumer protections of any payment method.

It’s important to regularly accept some upgrade prompts for your devices because these updates are to patch known fraud vulnerabilities.

It’s risky to do a web search for a company’s customer support network because criminals buy ads impersonating those companies. Check billing and credit card statements for customer service, use the number on the back of your credit cards, or go directly to the company by typing in their web address, like www.aarp.org.

AARP Rhode Island – Fighting Fraudsters

“AARP Rhode Island works hard every day to make sure that Rhode Islanders have all the information they need to protect themselves and their families from scams, especially around the holidays,” said AARP Rhode Island State Director Catherine Taylor. “We hold regular fraud-prevention tele-town halls, our Speakers Bureau volunteers give free Fraud Watch presentations to audiences across the state, and we fight fraud via AARP’s Fraud Watch network (www.aarp.org/fraudwatch), which provides vital information and scam alerts. Anyone can subscribe for free,” she says.

“Last summer, AARP Rhode Island held free document shredding events around the state where more than 900 people dropped off nine tons of documents,” Taylor added. “And we are so pleased that the General Assembly passed our bill to address gift card fraud this year. Retailers are now required to post warnings to consumers that it is always a scam if someone asks you to buy a gift care to pay a bill or fee.  If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam,” she says.

Approaching holidays gives more opportunities for deception says RI Attorney General

“The best way Rhode Islanders can avoid falling victim to a scam during the holiday season, and year-round, is to stay vigilant and stay educated,” said Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha. “Scammers are becoming more and more sophisticated in the way they target their victims, and the holidays provide new opportunities for deception. Rhode Islanders can and should call our office or visit our website for advice and information if they are faced with a possible scam situation.”

Watch out for text or phone scams that appear to be from UPS, FedEx, or other mail services, warns the AG’s Consumer Unit. This can be as simple as a text message stating that UPS tried to deliver a package, but was unable to do so, or as deceptive as a phone call telling a consumer they will not receive their package unless they pay money in cash or gift cards. Consumers should not click on any links they receive via text message or Facebook message from numbers they do not know.

The AG’s Consumer Unit says that paying by credit card gives consumers more protection than other forms of payment. The payment apps mentioned (Cash App, Zelle, PayPal, etc.) cannot offer the same level of protection as paying by credit card. Gifts cards and cash payments are a red flag that a consumer may be the victim or potential victim of a scammer. Do not buy from individuals who request payment outside of a trusted online marketplace’s payment system.

Always do your own research.  A consumer may be able to quickly determine whether they are being targeted by scammer from a simple online search including keywords and “scam” or “complaint.” User feedback on the Better Business Bureau website may also help consumers identify whether the company they are interacting with is legitimate or fraudulent, says the AG’s Consumer Unit.  

Before spending hard-earned money on an opportunity, good, or service that may be a scam, consumers can reach out to our Consumer Unit with questions or concerns at (401) 274-4400 (prompt 1). An investigator or attorney will get back in touch as soon as possible. Alternatively, consumers may file a complaint online at http://riag.ri.gov/forms/consumer-complaint.

To read the full 2023 AARP Fraud Watch Network Report and learn more visit: www.aarp.org/holidayscams2023

Additional Resources:

Finally, AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM is a free resource that equips consumers with up-to-date knowledge to spot and avoid scams, and connects those targeted by scams with our fraud helpline specialists who provide support and guidance on what to do next. Anyone can call the helpline at 877-908-3360. AARP Fraud Watch NetworkTM also offers free, facilitated peer discussion groups that seek to provide emotional support for those experiencing fraud; and advocates at the federal, state, and local levels to enact policy changes that protect consumers and enforce laws.

For a copy of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, “Fighting Fraud: Top Scams in 2023, go to https://www.aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/fraud_book_2023__english.pdf.

Aggressive Scams Popping Up All Around the Ocean State

Published in Woonsocket Call on November 25, 2015

On Thursday morning, Mary Smith (not her real name) received a phone call from Sergeant Bradley from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office claiming she had missed jury duty and because so, there was a warrant issued for her arrest. Concerned, the older woman asked the man, who identified himself Sergeant Bradley, what she needed to do to fix the problem. She was instructed to go to a local CVS, purchase a pre paid debit card in the amount of $300 and to meet him in the parking lot of the Washington County Courthouse.

Thinking quick, Mary reported the troubling call to her local police. Like many older Rhode islanders, she had been a target of an aggressive scam now sweeping through the Ocean State, called the “jury duty scam.”

According to the Attorney General’s Office, in the latest rendition of the scam, an individual is calling Rhode Islanders claiming there is a warrant out for their arrest for failure to appear for jury duty. The individual, identifying himself as “Sergeant Bradley,” from either the “Washington County Sheriff’s Office,” the “South County Sheriff’s Office,” or the “Newport County Sheriff’s Office.” The caller ID shows the individual is calling from the 401 area code.

Here’s the scam

“Sergeant Bradley” tells the people he calls that they will be charged with a felony for failure to appear for jury duty and will then be held at the ACI for 30 days, after which they will be brought before Judge Suttell.

In order to avoid being arrested the scammer urges the individual to make an immediate payment using a pre-paid debit card. Mary did not fall for this old scam. It has been reported that at least one person paid more than $900 before they realized they were tricked.

Attorney General Peter Kilmartin calls on anyone receiving a similar phone call or threat to contact either the Rhode Island State Police to report the incident. Kilmartin says, “The individual making these phone calls has just enough information to make themselves sound legitimate.” This information, however, is readily available on the Internet to anyone with access to a computer, he notes.

“It is very important for anyone who receives a similar phone call to write down as much information as possible, don’t provide any personal information to the individual over the telephone, do not pay any money, hang up, and contact the State Police,” adds Kilmartin.

The state’s Office of Attorney General provides the following details about judicial process to keep Rhode Islanders from becoming a victim of the “jury duty scam.”
• Neither the Jury Commissioner nor the Rhode Island Sheriff’s Department makes telephone calls to prospective jurors threatening arrest or demanding that a fine be paid or a bond posted. If a juror who has been legitimately summoned in writing fails to appear, the Jury Commissioner will attempt to make contact and arrange to reschedule his or her service.

• Sheriffs in Rhode Island are a division of the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety and primarily work with the Courts. Unlike most other states, Rhode Island does not have sheriff departments based in counties. Each city and town has its own local police department.

Constant Vigilance Key to Fighting Scams

According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission list of top consumer fraud complaints last year, more than 6,200 Rhode Island residents were victims of imposter scams.

“These latest Rhode Island scams underscored the need for constant vigilance,” observed AARP Rhode Island State Director Kathleen Connell. “We like to remind people that when people hear about a scam, the first reaction often is ‘I’d never fall for that.’ Well, maybe that’s because you just read about it in the news. People need to remember that they are most susceptible to the fresh scam no one is talking about that comes out of the blue.”

AARP’s Fraud Watch Network, Connell said, is one way to keep current. If you register for the free service you can receive alerts via smart phone or your computer when a new scam surfaces. You also can report a scam going around your neighborhood that is shared across the network, she added. If you’re not connected to the Internet, you can receive alerts and tips via a quarterly newsletter mailed to homes (Lean more and sign up at http://www.fraudwatchnetwork.org).

“Identity theft and fraud costs seniors billions of dollars nationally – in most cases, money that has been set aside for retirement, “Connell noted. “Impersonating police officers, federal agents or financial service companies, scammers use their “authority” to scare a person into paying them. Or, they pretend to be a friend or loved one in trouble who needs money.

“We’re committed to fighting back,” Connell declared, noting that one recent effort was a “reverse boiler room” operation.

In September, Connell and AARP Rhode Island volunteers Alan Neville of Cumberland and Carlo Gamba of West Greenwich met up in Boston with more than 50 others. Borrowing a favorite tactic the con artists’ playbook, AARP Fraud Watch Network staff and volunteers from New England and New York operated their own telemarketing boiler room. Instead of hearing from scammers, local residents received tips and information on how to protect themselves from imposter scams.

Strong Connections Protect Seniors from Scams

“Friends and family are key partners in protecting senior citizens from financial exploitation,” remarked Elderly Affairs Director Charles Fogarty. “Isolation is a major reason that people get victimized, so ensuring that senior citizens living in the community have strong connections to family and friends helps to protect them from scams and exploitation.”

The Department of Elderly Affairs (DEA) monitors fraud and scam reports from a number of sources, and distributes those notices to a network of approximately 500 partners in the community. If the victim of a scam is referred to DEA, they immediately contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Unit. DEA does not investigate instances of scams perpetrated by strangers, but does investigate financial exploitation of an older adult by family or acquaintances.