Scam Prevention Dutchess County Office for the Aging Marcus J. Molinaro, County Executive Todd N. Tancredi, Director
Scams have been around since...
...even in Dutchess County. Traveling medicine show, downtown Rhinebeck, late 19 th century
Most scams have one thing in common:
Why do scammers target seniors? • Senior citizens are most likely to have a “nest egg,” to own their home, and/or to have excellent credit • People who grew up in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s were generally raised to be polite and trusting • Older Americans are less likely to report a fraud because they don’t know who to report it to, are too ashamed at having been scammed, or don’t know they have been scammed • Con artists know the effects of age on memory, and they are counting on elderly victims not being able to supply enough detailed information to investigators • Senior citizens are more interested in and susceptible to products promising increased cognitive function, virility, physical conditioning, anti‐cancer properties, and so on
(By this point in the presentation, somebody somewhere has devised a new scam)
Avoiding Phone Scams (The Really Short Version) Don’t answer If you answered, just hang up
Phone Scams – The Stats 4% of all calls in 2017 30% of all calls in 2018 50% of all calls in 2019? Lots of spoofing involving fake ‘local’ phone numbers Total losses, 2017: $332,000,000 ($700 per victim) Good news? FCC is seeking action by providers by late 2019
What’s ‘spoofing’? A means of disguising your phone number to phones with Caller ID LEGAL for doctors, police, and others with a legitimate interest in disguising their numbers ILLEGAL for anybody trying to defraud, do harm, steal, etc. If you think you’re getting an illegal spoofed call, don’t answer. If you already answered, just hang up.
The “Can You Hear Me?” phone scam Don’t say “yes” or “no” or anything else Don’t press 1 or any other button Just hang up Afterwards... • Ask your phone provider what service it provides to block unwanted calls • File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, either online (www.ftc.gov) or at 1‐877‐382‐4357 • On mobile devices, consider an app that catches known robocallers
Contracting Scams “I’ll need the money up front” ‐ Never prepay more than $1000 or 10% of the job total, whichever is lower “Take my word for it” ‐ Get it all in writing “I don’t need to pull a permit” ‐ Get the permit – it’s a valuable way to get an independent look at the work, and it protects you from future issues “Unforeseen problems” ‐ Make sure the contract includes procedures for change orders and extras “I’ve got extra materials for cheap” ‐ Never hire anybody on the spot. Check references and licensing
Dating scams – 7 things to watch out for 1. They make the first move 2. Too much interest, too soon 3. Avoids using their last name 4. Using phone rather than email 5. Has issues with telling your family 6. Seeking money or financial help 7. Seeking personal information Over half of US women over 65 are unmarried Over 10,000,000 US women live alone
If you really do need your deed, go to www.dutchessny.gov/countyclerk or call (845) 486‐2133
Door‐To‐Door Scams • Any legitimate salesperson or fundraiser will understand that you need to do your research before any money changes hands • Many local governments require permits for door‐to‐door sales • Door‐to‐door sales contracts MUST disclose a seller’s refund policy • You have cancellation rights. Federal and NY state law both give you three days in which to change your mind about door‐to‐door sales of $25 or more. • You don’t have to give a reason for cancelling a door‐to‐door sale. • Contact the NY state attorney general’s office for more information. Poughkeepsie office: (845) 485‐3900
Grandparent Scams Somebody calls pretending to be your grandchild...or an authority figure “I’m in jail and I need money right away” “And don’t tell mom or dad because they’ll be angry” “This is Judge So‐and‐So” “I don’t sound like myself because the cops broke my nose” How To Beat This Scam Stay calm – they’re trying to affect you emotionally Avoid sharing semi‐personal details on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Just hang up
Healthcare Identity Theft A stolen credit card number may sell for a few cents, but stolen medical files can go for $1000 Stolen identity data can be used to defraud your insurance company and/or Medicare/Medicaid Scammers stole June’s medical information and billed Medicare for... Lab work in New Mexico, Florida, California and Arizona Pregnancy test? Prostate exams?! $50,000 stolen from Medicare (2010)
How to prevent healthcare ID theft? Read all your bills and statements of benefits. Look for... • Medical services you didn’t receive • Medical services from places you’ve never been • A call from a debt collector about a medical debt you don’t owe • Any medical collection notices on your credit report that you don’t recognize • A notice from your health plan or insurer saying you reached your benefit limit • Denial of coverage because your medical records show a condition you don’t have How to get things back in order if your info was stolen • Gather documents • File reports to local authorities, FTC (www.identitytheft.gov) • If Medicare/Medicaid is involved, call 1‐800‐HHS‐TIPS • Contact your doctors to make sure your medical records are accurate • Ask for corrections as needed
11 characters, unique to you. No more SSN
IRS Scams Over 2 million Americans targeted 12,000 victimized and $60 million stolen Can look like a call from the 202 area code (Washington DC) Threats of arrest and/or deportation Trying to trick you into revealing personal info The IRS does not call (or email, or text) demanding immediate payment They do not ask for credit/debit card numbers over the phone They will not threaten to bring in local police to arrest you If you want to report IRS scam calls, go to www.tigta.gov or call 800‐366‐4484 Just hang up
There are only two situations where Medicare might call you: 1. A Medicare health or drug plan can call you if you’re already a member of the plan. The agent who helped you join can also call you. 2. A customer service representative from 1‐800‐MEDICARE can call you if you’ve called and left a message or a representative said that someone would call you back. And that’s it. Only give personal information like your Medicare Number to doctors, insurers acting on your behalf, or trusted people in the community who work with Medicare like the Office for the Aging. Don’t share your Medicare ID or other personal information with anyone who contacts you by phone, email, or by approaching you in person, unless you’ve given them permission in advance. If someone calls you and asks for your Medicare Number, just hang up and call Medicare at 1‐800‐MEDICARE (1‐800‐633‐4227).
Lottery/Sweepstakes Scams • Don’t respond • The scammer will try to establish a relationship... • ...then, using that information, will target his phony sales pitch, for example... • “You could send your grandkids to college!” • “You’re gonna regret missing out” • “We know where your relatives live”
Phishing/Smishing Scams Which link is legit? www. арр ӏ е .com www.apple.com When in doubt, go straight to the company’s website
Social Media Scams • That adorable cat video • The “news” item that tugs at your heartstrings • Even something that looks like a scam warning...can be a scam • Months after they get your “like” the scammer changes the page to reveal their true intentions
Tech Support Scams You get a call on your phone from somebody calling themselves “tech support” ‐ Just hang up Set up legitimate anti‐virus software on your computer ‐ Lots of them are free Keep your anti‐virus programs and browsers up‐to‐date Keep your passwords fresh... ‐ and easy for you to remember but difficult to guess
Telemarketing Fraud What the callers say... • You must act now • You’ve won $$$$$ but you have to pay for handling, postage, etc. • You can’t afford to miss this deal • You’re one of the chosen few What YOU say:
Avoiding Sales/Telemarketing Fraud • Before you get your next sales pitch, decide what your limits are. • Be sure to talk over big investments offered by salespeople with a trusted friend, family member, or financial advisor. • Always check out unfamiliar companies with your local consumer protection agency, Better Business Bureau, state attorney general, the National Fraud Information Center, or other watchdog groups. • Research charities and investments before getting involved. • Be wary of companies that want to send a messenger to your home to pick up money. • Take your time Never respond to an offer you don’t understand. Just hang up. • • If you have been victimized once, be wary of persons who call offering to help you recover your losses...for a fee • If you have information about a fraud, report it to state, local, or federal law enforcement agencies.
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