BY TRACY LEE TATE
Times Editor
Scammers are everywhere and they all have one thing in common – they want your money and will take it if given the opportunity!
Scammers gather your personal information – things like your date of birth, Social Security number, address, phone number, bank account of credit card information and other seemingly harmless info like your age, gender, medical issues and even things like your preferences in books or other products offered online. Often, they get a single item of information and then use it to gather more from other places until they amass an alarming amount of information about you. You may never know until you see that your bank account has been depleted, or your credit card used to make purchases you know nothing about.
Scammers use various tricks to get your information – things like offering you a free gift but requiring you to pay the shipping or impersonating a government or financial representative “confirming” the information they say they have on file. They hack your social media for personal info as well, such as full names, birthdates and the names of family members. They can even access your cell phone records or the preprogrammed numbers you used frequently.
In a flyer, compiled by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs (SHINE and SMP programs) and available at the Union County Health Department, is a list of ways to report potential scams. Reporting scams tried on you, or even odd calls, emails or posts that you are not really sure about, is essential in stopping these thieves. Many banks also offer help in scam prevention and mitigation, but it takes a great deal of time and money to chase down the scammers and put a stop to their activities. Just remember…no one is safe from these predators and we all must work together to stop them.
Some of the suggestions to make yourself less “scammable” include:
Look in your purse and wallet. Do you really need to carry so much information about yourself in it. If might be best to leave the things you rarely need at home and just carry them when needed.
Never give out your Social Security number to someone without getting a valid reason for why they need it.
Use a variety of passwords on your online accounts and even your cell phone (if the model you have provides a way to do this.”
If you have a wireless network for the Internet at home, encrypt it. Your provider should be able to tell you how to do this or may do it for you.
Resist the urge to click on links or attachments found in emails from sources you do not recognize or have not communicated with. Also, do not respond to such emails, as this confirms your email address.
Using a debit card as “credit” rather than “debit” reduces the chances of the card information being stolen.
Do not click on Internet pop-ups.
Be circumspect about the information you put out on social media and networking sites. Limit what you say as to personal information, especially with new “friends” who have requested your friendship.
Check your credit report annually. You can do this free of charge by calling 1-877-322-8228 or online at www.annualcreditreport.com.
Now that you know how to be “Scam Smart” you also need to know what to do if you do become a victim of a scam. All scams (even ones you are not sure about) can and should be reported to your local sheriff’s office and/or police department, as well as your banking institution. There are also a number of organizations (many part of the Federal government) which take reports of scams and investigate them. Below is a list of some of these agencies and their contact information. For more ask for the flier at the health department.
To report healthcare scams:
Medicare – 1-800-633-4227 (www.medicare.gov)
Social Security Administration – 1-800-772-1213 (www.ssa.gov)
Florida Senior Medicare Patrol – 1-800-963-5337
To report money transfer scams:
MoneyGram – 1-800-666-3947
Western Union – 1-800-448-1492
To report mail, email or online scams:
FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center – www.ic3.gov
OnGuardOnline – www.onguardonline.gov
U.S. Postal Inspector – 1-877-876-2455 (https//postalinspectors.uspis.gov/)
To report and/or detect check fraud scams:
Postal Money Order Verification System – 1-866-459-7822
Florida Attorney General – 1-866-966-7226 (www.myfloridalegal.com)
National Consumers Fraud League – www.fakechecks.org
To report fundraiser and charitable scams:
Florida Attorney General – see above
Better Business Bureau – 1-703-276-0100 (www.bbb.org/us/charity)
National Association of State Charities – www.nasconet.org
Another number that may be of use is the “Do Not Call” list: 1-888-382-1222 (www.donotcall.gov). While this service will not stop all of the sales, robocalls and scam attempts coming to your home and/or cell phone it will certainly cut down on the volume.
Never be reluctant to call about a scam, or something you think may be one. Preying on a person’s lack of knowledge on how to identify a scam or how scams work is one of the major tools used to “get you under their spell.” Another help is to remember the old adage, “If it seems too good to be true it probably is.”
