The “Dirty Dozen” of summertime scams

By ELLIOTT GREENBLOTT
Remember Mungo Jerry? If you are a Boomer you just might! Better than a “one hit wonder” but still a bit obscure, they, “In the Summertime” which made it BIG! In a key lyric “when the weather’s fine you’ve got women on your mind” (substitute men if you wish). I prefer “when the weather’s fine watch for scammers all the time.” Not that they have an off season, but con artists see great opportunities in the summer as we relax and let down our guard.

1. Beware of unsolicited home improvement special offers at your door. Don’t rely on the seller for information and regardless of how immediate, rare, or limited-time the offer may, do the necessary leg work – check references, local law enforcement, neighbors. Is the business licensed? What verifiable guarantees are offered?

2. Free or deep discounted home alarms and security systems. Often these come with multi-year, non-negotiable contracts. In some cases scammers pose as representatives of a company with which you may have a contract and state you are eligible for a system upgrade. In reality you are tricked into signing a second contract. In the worst case scenario, the “representative” asks to check your installed system but is really planning a breakin. 

3. Beware of “Door Knockers” who solicit for needy causes and disaster relief. Ask for identification and bypass any immediate cash or credit card donation. Check out the organization before committing your money.

4. Don’t fall for cheap or counterfeit products sold door to door. They may appear to be of high quality but fail to deliver when used. Any guarantee is virtually useless and money spent is often money lost.

5. If you are moving, be on the lookout for unlicensed “rogue” movers. Damages may never be reimbursed or covered by insurance and it is possible the mover may never deliver your items. Check for state licensing requirements or, for intersate moves, valid U.S Department of Transportation documents.

6. Student Loan scams rose 23% since May (Youmail, Inc.). Promises by con-artists to forgive or lower student debt result in fraudulent fees and Identity Theft. Ensure that the lender or agent are reputable and licensed before doing business. Walk away if the lender requires up front fees.

7. Don’t fall for summer job scams! Red flags includerequiring fees for background checks or training.  Legitimate employers will want references and do a background check. So should the job applicant.

8. Phoney ticket sellers love summer. Consumers are frequently tricked into wiring money or making gift card payments for hard to get concert and sports tickets. Often, the tickets do not exist.  Research the ticket vendors before putting down money or use known, legitimate sources where you have some protection against fraud.

9. The “Great Vacation Rental” scam is alive and well. Attractive vacation properties are promoted at VERY ATTRACTIVE prices. The advertisements require advance rental or fee payment but no contract comes or the property does not exist (or is rented to someone else). The Better Business Bureau recommends using dedicated third-party rental companies like Airbnb or HomeAway and to check out the location in advance.

10. When making on-line hotel reservations, know the website you are using. Scammers are famous for creating look-alike web pages to lure consumers into providing credit card information.  

11. A frequent con-artist tactic is to place late night calls to hotel guests impersonating the front desk. The call asks for credit card information claiming that there is a problem with the credit card.  Hang up, call the front desk and ask if there is a problem.  If not, report the incident.

12. Be cautious ordering food from menus left in hotel room.  Con-artists distribute menus to rooms with phone numbers that connect to them and the caller is asked for a credit card to cover the purchase.  A safe alternative is to place the order on-line using a verifiable web site or by phone to a number you have verified.

That’s my “Dirty Dozen” of summertime scams. Always keep this in mind:  If it is too good to be true, it probably is too good to be true!

 

Elliott Greenblott is a retired educator serving as the AARP Vermont Fraud Watch Network Coordinator