Greg's Corner

Updates from December, 2023 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 14, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Christmas shopping ( 23 ), discreet shipping, online shopping ( 34 ), Scams ( 1,383 )   

  What is the discreet shipping scam? 

  

  By Greg Collier

  It seems the only news stories about scams this time of year are related to Christmas shopping. To be fair, the holidays are when scams are most active. With so much money being spent by consumers, scammers are looking to for any way to get their hands on some. Previously, we’ve posted about the text message delivery scam, gift card scams including the new gift card draining scams, porch pirates, and a myriad of online shopping scams. Now a new scam has emerged designed to take your money while Christmas shopping.

  It’s called the discreet shipping fee scam, and it is an addition to online shopping scams. In this new scam, a victim may be lured into using a website that isn’t on the up and up. Once the victim places their order, and even pays for shipping, they’re contacted by the vendor. The vendor will ask if they want to add ‘discreet shipping’ to their order. The problem is, discreet shipping can take many forms, but they all want to steal from you.

  For example, if a shopper is ordering something but doesn’t want their entire neighborhood knowing what they ordered. Some examples that were given in that instance would be legal but questionable items like cigars, CBD products, and vaping accessories. Another version of the scam will charge the customer the discreet shipping fee if they indicate their purchase is a gift. Also, if a shopper were to order an item from overseas, they might be charged for discreet package stamps, so their purchase will avoid customs.

  Unfortunately, by the time the vendor tries to charge a shopper discreet shipping fees, they already have the shopper’s money from the purchase, and the shopper may not receive the item they paid for at all. The best prevention in these cases is only using reputable websites for shopping. When shopping online, try to use a credit card as much as possible. Credit cards provide much more protection than most forms of payment. Don’t use payment apps such as Zelle or Venmo, as they’re designed to be used for friends and family. Most retailers will not ask for payment by these apps. Not only should you check the retailer’s reputation by doing a Google search about them, you should also check to see how long they’ve been around to avoid fly-by-night retailers.

   

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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 13, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Christmas shopping ( 23 ), gift card draining ( 3 ), gift cards ( 102 ), Scams ( 1,383 )   

  How common is gift card draining? 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Recently, we made a post about how scammers can drain the value of a gift card as soon as you buy one. The scam has been dubbed “gift card draining” by law enforcement. While it may seem like a new scam due to the news coverage it’s been garnering lately, it’s been around since stores started selling gift cards on racks and kiosks. We don’t like to repeat subjects too often on this blog, but gift card draining has been so prevalent in the news, we thought we’d take another look at it.

  In the gift card draining scam, scammers may tamper with physical gift cards available for purchase in stores. They may discreetly scratch off or expose the card’s activation code without alerting the store staff. Once the scammer obtains the activation code, they redeem the value on the card once it’s activated by an unsuspecting shopper. This makes it useless for the person who eventually purchases it.

  If you’re wondering how widespread this scam is, you may want to take precautions while doing your holiday shopping this year. In Northern California, police were patrolling a Target store when they noticed a man allegedly taking gift cards from their racks and doing something to the cards before putting them back. When police officers approached the man outside the store, they discovered the man had thousands of gift cards inside his car. The cards were taken from 54 Target stores in 12 different California counties. The cards were stolen at stores from Los Angeles to the San Francisco Bay Area.

  To protect yourself from potential gift card scams, consider implementing the following precautions. When purchasing gift cards, choose those from the middle of the pack, as they are less likely to have been tampered with. Conduct a thorough inspection of the card for any signs of alteration, especially if the security strip appears wrinkled or crooked, as these may indicate tampering. Keep the receipt when acquiring a gift card, as it can be valuable for assistance if the card is later found to be empty.

  In the unfortunate event that you detect a tampered card, promptly contact the issuing company using the customer service number provided on the back of the card. Although there’s no guarantee of recovering your funds, taking this step can significantly expedite the resolution process.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 12, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: charity scam ( 35 ), disaster relief ( 6 ), insurance ( 8 ), natural disasters ( 20 ), Scams ( 1,383 ), tornadoes ( 5 )   

  Charity scammers wasted no time after TN tornadoes 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Over this past weekend, a series of tornadoes touched down in Tennessee that destroyed hundreds of homes and tragically took lives. According to the Better Business Bureau, reports have already come in saying scammers are posing as charities to try to make a quick buck. This is nothing new, as scammers can almost always be found trying to take advantage of a natural disaster, regardless of the heartbreak it brings.

  The most prevalent scam that emerges in the aftermath of a natural disaster involves individuals offering cleanup or repair services at discounted rates. Fraudsters typically request full upfront payment, and instead of delivering on their promises, they often perform minimal work or none at all. It’s crucial to verify the legitimacy of contractors by asking for their licenses and proof of insurance before engaging in any transactions.

  Another scam related to disasters occurs when fraudsters claim to assist in qualifying for FEMA relief assistance. Notably, FEMA does not impose any application fees. If someone purporting to be from FEMA demands money, it is highly likely to be a fraudulent scheme.

  Similar caution should be exercised with scammers posing as representatives of your insurance company. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from your insurance provider, refrain from disclosing personal information. Instead, hang up and independently contact your local agent or the customer service number specified on your policy.

  Even for those residing outside disaster-stricken areas, vigilance against scams is paramount. While charitable intentions are commendable, exercise caution when donating to unfamiliar organizations purporting to support disaster relief. Legitimate charities never solicit donations through gift cards, money orders, or wire transfers. Additionally, be wary of scammers employing high-pressure tactics to coerce swift donations.

  The Better Business Bureau is also warning that charity scammers may be using names similar to real charities. The BBB gives the example of scammers using a name like Red Cross of the United States instead of the American Red Cross.

  To guarantee that your charitable donation has a meaningful impact, it’s essential to take specific steps to confirm the legitimacy of the intended charity. Resources such as Charity Navigator and Give.org offer a reliable platform to verify the authenticity of various charitable organizations. Furthermore, confirming the charity’s registration with the IRS serves as a trustworthy indicator of its legitimacy. These precautionary measures ensure that your contribution goes towards reputable organizations dedicated to making a positive difference.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 11, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: home shopping channels, impostor scam ( 16 ), online shopping ( 34 ), Scams ( 1,383 ), social media ( 81 )   

  Scammers pose as home shopping channels 

  

  By Greg Collier

  While the majority of shopping from home is done online, home shopping channels are still wildly popular in our digital age. They’re popular enough to the point where scammers are said to be imitating them on social media.

  The Better Business Bureau (BBB) has issued a warning about this new scam that is plaguing social media users. According to the BBB, these scammers have taken to various social media platforms like Facebook, TikTok and Instagram, where they’ve taken out ads that appear to sell many of the same items you’ll find on home shopping channels. In some instances, the scammers are using footage from these channels to make their scam seem more legitimate.

  If someone were to click on the ad, they would be taken to a website that is an imitation of the official websites for the shopping channels. While a customer thinks they’re making a purchase at a great deal, they’re actually giving their personal and financial information to the scammers. Many victims who fell for this scam, never received the product they ordered nor did they receive a refund.

  The BBB advises when shopping online to make sure you check the URL of the website where you’re shopping to make sure it’s not an impostor site. If the website belongs to a company you’re not familiar with, do a web search with the company’s name along with the phrases ‘reviews’, ‘complaints’, and ‘scams’ before you make a purchase. Lastly, if the ad is on social media, check the comments for complaints.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 8, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: advance fee scam ( 45 ), check scam ( 79 ), fake check ( 48 ), Publishers Clearing House ( 11 ), Scams ( 1,383 ), sweepstakes ( 25 )   

  New twist added to sweepstakes scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Scammers have often impersonated Publishers Clearing House (PCH) due to their famous sweepstakes that award winners large sums of money from their Prize Patrol van. Typically, fraudsters will pose as PCH in order to perpetrate what’s known as an advance fee scam. In that scam, the scammers will tell their victim they won a substantial monetary prize from the PCH Sweepstakes, but to claim the prize the victim needs to pay a processing fee or taxes before they can claim the prize. This scam can go on for months, with the scammers always claiming that more money is needed from the victim before the prize can be claimed. However, there is a new PCH-related scam that builds on the advance fee scam.

  An elderly woman from Florida recently received a letter indicating she had won a prize from PCH. Included with the letter was a check for $9,450 to assist with taxes and processing fees. She was instructed to call a phone number once the check had been deposited into her account. Thankfully, she did not fall for this scam and called her local news channel instead.

  Frequent readers probably recognize this scam as the fake check scam. The scammer’s goal here was to get the woman to deposit the check into her bank account, Once she did that, she would have been instructed to send that money to a third party to pay for the ‘taxes and fees’. With the check almost assuredly being a fake, the victim would be responsible for that money once her bank discovered the check was fraudulent.

  To protect yourself from a scam like this, it’s always prudent to keep the phrase ‘no purchase necessary’ in mind. It’s illegal to be charged a fee for a sweepstakes prize, even if a check is included to help pay the fees. Also, anytime a person you don’t know asks you to deposit a check before sending someone else the money, the odds are pretty good they’re trying to scam you.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 7, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: deed transfer ( 13 ), funeral ( 14 ), grieving ( 2 ), mourning, real estate ( 128 ), Scams ( 1,383 )   

  Scammer tried to steal homes of grieving families 

  

  By Greg Collier

  It wasn’t more than two weeks ago where we posted what, we thought, was the lowest scam we’ve ever heard of. That was when scammers were selling funeral plots to grieving families when the scammers didn’t own the plots in the first place. Now, we may have found one that is possibly even lower than that.

  An Indianapolis man was recently indicted on 16 separate federal charges. The suspect is believed to have targeted grieving families after finding their deceased loved one’s name in the obituaries. For two years, he’s believed to have tried to force these grieving families into selling their homes.

  As per the county prosecutor’s office, the accused tried to coerce the sale of a homeowner’s property, camouflaged a $50,000 bank loan, and employed forged heirship documentation.

  In one instance, the suspect is accused of forging a sales agreement to force a woman in a nursing home to sell her home to him. In another instance, the suspect is accused of forcing a woman with short-term memory loss to lend him $50,000 with no intention of paying it back.

  Scammers often target victims who are in a state of emotional crisis. The goal here is to pressure the victim into making a decision that benefits the scammer, that often appears as a way to help the victim.

  While these scams may have been isolated to the Indianapolis area, it probably won’t be long before someone else tries it while thinking they can do it better.

  Since this is somewhat uncharted territory, we don’t have any concrete ways of protecting yourself from such a scammer. However, we do have some suggestions. If you’re still mourning the loss of a loved one, take as much time as you need to grieve. If you feel like someone is pressuring you into making a financial situation during that time, research whatever they’re offering when you’re ready to. If you have a parent who lost their spouse, and they also have cognitive disabilities, you may want to look into assuming guardianship or power of attorney. While it may appear to them that you’re taking away some of their freedoms, it may protect them in the long run.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 6, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Christmas shopping ( 23 ), gift card draining ( 3 ), gift cards ( 102 ), holiday shopping ( 16 ), Scams ( 1,383 )   

  Police warn of gift card draining scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Gift cards are a great idea when shopping during the holiday season. If you have someone on your Christmas list who is difficult to shop for or lives far away, a gift card can be the ideal present. However, it should be known that gift cards are also prone to fraud. The fraud doesn’t come from the companies who issue the cards, nor does it come from the stores who carry them. Instead, it comes from scammers who are looking to make a quick buck at the shoppers’ expense.

  While most scams are perpetrated online these days, this gift card scam requires the scammer to have physical access to the card. This requires the scammers to shoplift the gift cards. After leaving the store, the scammers engage in a scheme where they extract the security strip from the card and capture its number. Subsequently, they affix adhesive strips to replace the security strips before strategically returning the cards to the store rack. Upon a customer loading money onto the compromised gift card, the scammers receive notifications and promptly deplete the card of its funds. Typically, customers remain oblivious to the fraud until an attempt to use the gift card is made, often weeks or even months after the initial purchase. Recovering the funds is exceedingly uncommon once the card has been emptied.

  Police in the Philadelphia suburbs recently issued a warning about this scam, as they have recently received reports of hundreds of prepaid debit cards and Apple gift cards being tampered with at a local supermarket chain.

  To safeguard yourself from falling victim to this gift card scam, consider taking the following precautions. When purchasing gift cards, opt for one from the middle of the pack, as they are less likely to have been tampered with. Thoroughly inspect the card for any signs of alteration, particularly if the security strip appears wrinkled or crooked, as these may indicate tampering. Retain the receipt when acquiring a gift card, as it can prove valuable in assisting you later if the card is found to be emptied.

  In the unfortunate event that you discover a tampered card, promptly contact the issuing company using the customer service number provided on the back of the card. While there is no guarantee of recovering your funds, taking this step can significantly expedite the resolution process.

  How common is gift card draining? is discussing. Toggle Comments

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 5, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: impersonation scam ( 148 ), paypal ( 11 ), paypal scam ( 13 ), Scams ( 1,383 )   

  Elderly victim loses $100K in PayPal scam 

  

  By Greg Collier

  An elderly man, from the Boston area, recently lost close to $100,000 to scammers who were posing as PayPal. PayPal is the oldest and possibly the most reliable online payment service. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not without its scammers.

  The scammers called the man and told him that $100 had accidentally been deposited into his bank account. The man was walked through directions on his computer by the scammers, which granted them remote access.

  Then, the man was shown what appeared to be a $100,000 deposit into this bank account. The scammers claimed that it was actually $100K accidentally deposited into his account and not just $100. Typically, at this point in the scam, the scammer will claim that they’ll lose their job if the victim doesn’t help them out by sending the accidental payment back.

  It’s unknown if that’s what happened in this instance, but the scammers convinced the man to send two cashier’s checks for $49,800 each. They even ordered the man to tell the bank the money was for a new car if they asked. Unfortunately, the bank did not question the large amount being withdrawn by an elderly customer.

  Even if a PayPal employee, or any similar company’s worker, were to make a mistake this large, it is never the customer’s responsibility to pay that money back themselves. If an error was made on PayPal’s part, it would be their responsibility to fix it. If the employee claims they’ll lose their job over the error, that’s not your problem. Also, please keep in mind, if the payment was made electronically, it can be reversed electronically by the company itself. If you’re ever instructed to ‘move’ your money for any reason by someone you don’t know, it’s more than likely a scam.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 4, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: Christmas shopping ( 23 ), delivery ( 8 ), holiday shopping ( 16 ), impostor scam ( 16 ), online shopping ( 34 ), Scams ( 1,383 )   

  New delivery scam in time for the holidays 

  

  By Greg Collier

  By now, many of us should be familiar with the text message delivery scam. In that scam, scammers send out text messages posing as popular delivery services such as UPS, FedEx, and even the United States Postal Service. The text message claims a delivery can’t be made to the recipient’s address, and asks the recipient to click on a link provided in the message for further instructions. Once the link is clicked, the recipient is taken to a malicious website that asks for personal and financial information, so the delivery could be made. In reality, the scammers are looking for this information to commit identity and financial theft.

  This is a popular scam throughout the year, but incredibly popular during the holiday season, when most people are expecting deliveries to their homes. Now, scammers are taking a more straightforward approach by calling their potential victims directly. The callers are identifying themselves as drivers for the various delivery services. The phony drivers claim they have a delivery for you, but can’t find your home. Then, like the text message scam, the scammers start asking for personal and financial information so they can supposedly make their delivery. If you tell them you’re not expecting a delivery, the scammers will try to tell you that you’re being sent a gift from a friend or family.

  The best way to protect yourself from this scam is to keep track of your deliveries and who they’re being delivered by. Most vendors will provide you with a tracking number from that delivery service. If you receive one of these scam calls, but still have concerns, hang up and call the delivery service customer service number from their website. They’ll be able to let you know if you’re receiving a legitimate delivery and its status. Never give out your personal or payment information, even if someone is claiming to be from a company you trust.

   
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  Geebo 9:00 am on December 1, 2023 Permalink | Reply
  Tags: cars ( 12 ), Scams ( 1,383 ), tow truck ( 2 ), towing scam ( 2 )   

  Watch out for tow truck scams this holiday season 

  

  By Greg Collier

  Like most holiday seasons, many people will be travelling by car to visit friends and relatives. Unfortunately, many people also have cars that may not be in the best condition, attempting to make a trip where their car might break down. Or winter weather may make for hazardous road conditions where a holiday traveler may have a small accident. All of this could happen in an area that the driver is unfamiliar with. They still need to call a tow truck, but which one should they call?

  Police in Western Massachusetts are saying don’t call the first tow truck company you find on Google as it may be a scam. According to local police, scammers have set up fake tow truck companies in their area. When someone breaks down, they’ll call one of these scam services and make a deposit with their credit card, but the truck never comes. The phony tow truck companies are just looking to get the deposit. Police in Greenfield, Mass., found four supposedly local tow truck companies that were using abandoned buildings as their business addresses.

  So, how can you prevent yourself from being victimized in a scam like this? The best way is to sign up for a road assistance plan like the ones offered by AAA. While some consumers may think the expense of a road assistance plan isn’t worth it, you’ll be glad to have one if your car breaks down in the middle of nowhere. Plans like this contract with legitimate shops and tow truck companies.

  But what if you’re stuck on the side of the road, and you don’t have a plan like that. What do you do then? You’re not going to like the answer, but you’ll need to do some research. Scammers like this often buy sponsored positions on search engines to make their listing appear in the top search results. If you call them, and they answer with a generic name like ‘Towing’, there’s a good chance they could be scammers. Check for towing companies with good reviews that have been around for a couple of years at least. Lastly, you may want to call the local police at their non-emergency number to see if there’s a garage or company they recommend.