Tag Archives for scam

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.

Technical Support Scam Running Rampant Across Nation

Published in Woonsocket Call on December 25, 2016

If one penny was given to me for every phone call I received from a “Microsoft employee” warning me about a virus in my 10-year-old computer, I could retire as a millionaire. The Washington, DC-based AARP says that thousands of consumers across the nation may have fallen victim to the ‘technical support scam,’ more than ever before. Last month, the AARP Fraud Watch Network launched a new initiative to raise the awareness of the scam and educate consumers about how they can protect themselves.

A survey released on November 14, 2016 by Microsoft found that over the past year two-thirds of consumers surveyed have experienced the tech support scam, in which the phone caller poses as a technician from one of the major computer companies. AARP’s efforts to educate consumers about this scam includes online content, advertising and media appearances featuring renowned security expert and Fraud Watch Network Ambassador Frank Abagnale.

The Nuts and Bolts of the ‘Technical Support Scam’

Executing the scam via telephone, email or even pop-up ads, the phone caller informs a targeted person that a virus or some other security problem has been detected on the victim’s computer, and offers to easily make a repair. Instead, their goal is to gain control of the computer, access personal files and pass words, and obtain credit card information to charge the consumer for the supposed repair or a warranty program – which proves to be worthless.

“If you or someone you know receives a call or an email from someone identifying themselves as a technician with Microsoft, Google, Apple or some other well-known technology company, it is likely to be a scam. Just hang up the phone,” said Abagnale, in a statement. The large computer firms never make proactive calls or send email to provide unrequested technical support.”

Microsoft’s survey findings indicate that 20 percent of the people surveyed around the world continued with a potentially fraudulent interaction to their computer, visited a scam website, or even provided a credit card or other forms of payment, after the initial contract. This means that the victim downloaded harmful software, giving the scammers access to their computer.

Interestingly, the victims who continued to interacting with the scammers, half were millennials (ages 18 to 34), the technology savvy generation. Thirty four percent were ages 36 to 54 and 17 percent were age 55 or older.

Abagnale advises consumers never to give control of their computer to a third party, nor to provide a credit card number to pay for unsolicited repair services or warranty programs.

Don’t Let Your Guard Down

Adds AARP Rhode Island Director Kathleen Connell, “We’ve had an enthusiastic response to our multi-media Fraudwatch presentation. “Many older Rhode Islanders are relatively new to the online world and they are the most vulnerable. But anyone who lets his or her guard down can suffer enormously at the hands of online scammers. And by no means have criminals abandoned their old-fashioned tactic via the U.S. Mail and land-line phones. Our presentation is based on the perspective of former con artists and we include a copy of AARP’s Con-Artist’s Playbook, which reveals the nasty tricks of the trade.

“As we often say, people hear about scams in the media and think, ‘I would never fall for that.” Well, of course not. You just watched a news story warning the scam is active. It’s the one you haven’t heard about that can be fatal because the cons know exactly which emotional and psychological buttons to push.

“We’re most pleased by how volunteers have stepped up to take our training and become presenters,” Connell added. “We couldn’t manage the demand ourselves.”

“Most consumers don’t have the technical skills to know that their computer has been infected with malicious software, exposing them to widespread theft and fraud,” said Attorney General Peter Kilmartin. “A growing number of consumers make purchases, pay bills, or monitor bank account information online. Giving a thief access to that information is akin to inviting them into your house to take whatever they want.”

Kilmartin suggests the following tips from Microsoft to protect from these telephone tech support scams:

Do not purchase any unsolicited software or services.

Ask if there is a fee or subscription associated with the “service.” If there is, hang up.

Finally, Kilmartin urges Rhode Islanders to never give control of your computer to a third party unless you can confirm that it is a legitimate representative of a computer support team with whom you are already a customer. Immediately report the scam call to the Consumer Protection Unit at the Office of Attorney General at 401-274-4400 (Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.) or email at consumers@riag.ri.gov.

Any group interested in scheduling a Fraudwatch presentation can call the AARP state office at 401-248-2674 and speak with Outreach Director Darlene Reza Rossi. AARP also offers free scam alerts via smart phone or computer. You can learn more about Fraudwatch in Rhode Island and enroll in the Fraudwatch Network at http://www.aarp.org/rifraudwatch.