(This is FilipinOnline's second in a series of posts about avoiding fraud. The first one dealt with fraud victim resources. Below is a Balitang America story I did about alleged fraud victims. - Yong B. Chavez)
And now, from the police, here are a few prevention tips to help minimize your risk of becoming a victim to a scam or other scheme:
Residents are reminded never to participate in street transactions, as they may involve lost/stolen property.
Call 9-1-1 if you are approached by anyone on the street regarding a transaction or business arrangement (i.e. car dent repair, painting, or lawn fertilizer services), especially if they are asking for money upfront. Check with the California Department of Consumer Affairs at (800) 952-5210 or http://www.dca.ca.gov/ for the license status of any contractor.
Call 9-1-1 if you are approached by anyone on the street regarding a transaction or business arrangement (i.e. car dent repair, painting, or lawn fertilizer services), especially if they are asking for money upfront. Check with the California Department of Consumer Affairs at (800) 952-5210 or http://www.dca.ca.gov/ for the license status of any contractor.
Seniors should be weary of strangers engaging them in conversation as you exit the bank, grocery store, or shopping area. Thieves specializing in real estate fraud, credit card fraud or other scams target the elderly at these locations looking for their next victim. Be cautious of any unsolicited stranger that offers "caretaking services" such as medical or financial errands. If you hire anyone as a "caretaker" always check references and discuss it with a family member, neighbor or trusted friend.
Refrain from accepting checks from unsolicited Internet based communications. Thieves scour Internet auction sites and draw victims in under false pretenses. Report any suspicious Internet fraud schemes to the National White Collar Crime Task Force at (800) 352-3221 or http://www.ic3.gov/.
Residents should be reminded never to let people they don’t know into their homes under any circumstances, unless they can verify their legitimacy. If residents observe any suspicious persons or activity, they should call police immediately.
Now that summer has arrived, residents are encouraged to keep their windows/doors locked at all times, and to invest in window/door securing devices that allow for proper ventilation.
· Keep track of your bank ATM/Debit card(s) and purchases. “Skimming” is a scheme where a device is used to capture account and personal information encoded on magnetic strips, which has become prevalent throughout the country. Make sure the cashier or restaurant server returns your card in a reasonable time frame. “Skimmers” are mostly used in restaurants and bars.
· When entering your “PIN” number, shield the keypad with your hand so others do not see what you are keying
· If you opt to donate to a charity, initiate the gesture on your own and beware of charity organization phone solicitors. State laws and Long Beach Municipal Codes prohibit the collection of unlawful donations. When in doubt of the truthfulness of a donation being solicited, you may ask the petitioner to present an identification card, which confirms that the solicitor has been validated. You may also request a written receipt for your contribution that is to be signed by the solicitor. This does not apply to a person who is soliciting on their own property or evangelical, missionary, or religious organizations.
If you are contacted by anyone claiming to be from the lottery, simply state they are not interested and hang up. Personal information should never be released or confirmed over the phone. If contacted by a bank, phone numbers provided by the caller should never be relied upon to verify their identity. Legitimate phone numbers can be obtained from bank statements and then called to verify the caller’s name, employee number, and purpose for calling.
The Long Beach Police Department suggests that you check and confirm the identification of anyone who requests to enter your property. Call the Police if you suspect any fraudulent or suspicious activity is occurring and keep an eye on any of your elderly neighbors who might be targeted by unscrupulous criminals preying on unsuspecting residents.
With the surge of reported identity theft cases, consumers are urged to take extra precautions to secure their personal information:
· Do not imprint social security or driver’s license numbers on your personal checks
Never give out your social security number or credit card account over the telephone unless you initiated the call
· Do not write your PIN number onto your ATM/Debit card or other credit cards
· Shred financial documents, including promotional “pre-approved” credit card applications
· Shred your printed ATM and sales receipts that list your account number
· Do not leave outgoing mail at your mailbox for the postal carrier to pick-up
· Keep track of and review all of your bank/credit card statements for irregular activity
Order a copy of your credit profile annually from all three (3) credit bureau reporting agencies, Experian (888) 397-3742, Trans Union (800) 680-7289, and Equifax (800) 525-6285, and review for unusual activity
If you suspect you or a loved one is an elder abuse victim (either financial or physical), please contact the Long Beach Police Department’s Forgery/Fraud Detail at (562) 570-7330 and/or Adult Protective Services at (877) 477-3646 and report the incident. California Penal Code section 368 defines an elder as an individual over the age 65 or a dependent adult (mental or physical limitations that restricts normal activities) between the ages of 18 and 64.
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