By ELLIOTT GREENBLOTT
By Elliott Greenblott
As states consider or actually begin relaxing COVID-19 restrictions, criminals are continuing their hard work at separating us from our money. New scams appear constantly and keeping up awareness and skepticism remain critical. That means there is a need to understand a few basic realities:
1. If it seems too good to be true, it likely is.
2. Verify the source of the information you receive.
3. Government agencies do not make unexpected phone calls or send random email messages.
4. Government agencies will not ask you to provide personally identifiable information unless the request is made when you seek information from the government on a verifiable website.
5. Legitimate businesses and government agencies do not accept payments using gift cards or money grams.
Since January, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has received more than 18,000 reports related to COVID-19 scams coming with a loss of nearly $13,500,000. These numbers do not include fraud that was reported to other Federal and state agencies nor does it even estimate the number of cases never reported. The top reported complaints include stimulus payment scams, stimulus advance payment scams, fraudulent websites promising scarce supplies, masks and even coronavirus cures. There is also a rise in the number of scams related to refunds for cancelled travel plans (We can expedite your refund… What is the credit card number and expiration used in the purchase?). While the FTC notes a drop in the total number of robocall complaints, that reduction is nearly outweighed by COVID-19 pandemic calls impersonating government officials (IRS, CDC, SSA, FTC, CSS) and calls making illegal medical and health care offers. Beyond telephone calls and emails, criminals are sending text messages to cellular phones. These messages include links that download malware or spyware to the phone.
What can you do?
As mentioned in past articles, do not answer calls from unknown numbers. If you answer and the call is a scam or robocall, hang up. Obtain free copies of your credit report (www.annualcreditreport.com) and verify that the information on the reports is correct. I made this recommendation in the recent past and one reader emailed me to say that when he checked his reports he found three different addresses listed. Clearly, a correction to the file is needed (and be sure to order credit freezes).
A new suggestion: consider contacting the issuers of your credit cards and your bank(s) requesting card reissue with a new account number and new bank account numbers (and do not forget to change account passwords). While not a surefire way to protect financial accounts, the action will make you far less vulnerable. As a protective measure, only do this with one card at a time. Once the first card has been replaced, take action on a second card and continue the practice until you have replaced the cards for all accounts. You can also decide if you have too many accounts and possibly close any that are inactive.
New scam danger
Fraudulent emails are impersonating the media services provider Xfinity. The message looks official and leads with a message that has appeared on real emails from the company — “Xfinity – We are rolling over today!” — and contains official language crediting the message source. The text of the email states “mail needs to be updated today as we are rolling over to a new version” and includes a hyperlink on text that reads “click here.” A look at the email itself exhibits clear signs of a scam. The subject line spells the company name as X-FINITI, not Xfinity. The return address was to an individual, not Xfinity. Clicking the link opened a Google Forms page with the Xfinity logo asking for user ID and password. At the bottom of the form were the words “Never submit passwords through Google forms.” Bottom line of my message: enter IDs and passwords ONLY when you are certain of the origin of the web page.
Hear of any new scams? Let me know. Your tip may benefit your neighbors. Questions or comments? Contact me at [email protected].
Elliott Greenblott is a retired educator and the Vermont coordinator of the AARP Fraud Watch Network. He produces a feature CATV program, Mr. Scammer, distributed by GNAT-TV in Sunderland, Vermont.
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