Everyday Scams & Identity Theft
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- Bertram Parker
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1 Everyday Scams & Identity Theft How To Avoid Being A Victim Nicholas Synowiec Deputy Director Public Inquiry& Assistance Center Office of Attorney General Maura Healey
2 The Job of the Attorney General Attorney General Maura Healey is the chief lawyer and law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
3 Who the AGO Serves & How Who: The Commonwealth How: Four Major Ways this Work is Executed Residents of the Commonwealth and their public interests State departments, officers, and commissions Investigation Enforcement Groups of consumers Prevention Policy 2015 Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
4 Where the AGO is located Attorney General Maura Healey and her staff engage with every city and town of the Commonwealth. The Attorney General s Office also runs a statewide Public Inquiry and Assistance Center, and supports over thirty regional local consumer and face to face mediation programs, which you may choose to contact. Western Massachusetts 1350 Main Street Springfield Central Massachusetts 10 Mechanic Street Worcester Boston One Ashburton Place and 100 Cambridge Street Southeastern Massachusetts 105 William Street New Bedford 2015 Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
5 Scams & Identity Theft how are they related? If you are scammed, the offender can gain access to your personal information: Taking funds from your bank accounts Effecting Your Credit Line Stealing Your Identity (Social Security)
6 Scams overview Different types of scams Methods in which scams will take place Reporting scams Protecting yourself from scams If you are a victim, how to protect your Identity
7 Scams rules to know If it sounds too good to be true, chances are it s a scam Potential consequences: lost money; lost time; ruined reputation; target of legal action Read the small print Always guard your personal information Research well before agreeing to anything
8 Types of Scams Phishing Lotteries/Sweepstakes Winnings Pyramid Schemes Investment-Fraud Schemes Work/Job Offers
9 Methods Used to Scam Door-to-Door Mail Solicitation Internet Telephone Credit/Debit Card Skimming
10 Door to Door Scams Home Improvement Charity Magazine/ Newspaper Subscription
11 Internet Scams Type Social networking Example Seeking friends Classifieds Employment Selling/buying or renting Government jobs, secret shopper, job recruiter Payday and online loans Usury 20% Free Trial offers Vitamins
12 Mail Solicitation Scams beware of Checks addressed to you Winning a Prize/ Sweepstakes Letters (victim of war) Products (magazines, medication) Offering help to lower your debts/mortgages Free trip
13 Phone Scams Deceptive Calls Deceptive Services Credit and Loan Phone Offers Robo Calls (automated calls)
14 Fake Checks definitions Could start with someone Offering to buy something you advertised Pay you to do work at home Give you an advance on a sweepstakes you ve supposedly won Pay the first installment on the millions that you ll receive for agreeing to have money in a foreign country transferred to your bank account for safekeeping
15 Fake Checks beware of You don t have to wait long to use the money, but that doesn t mean the check is good. You are responsible for the checks you deposit. There is no legitimate reason for someone who is giving you money to ask you to wire money back.
16 Scams beware of Promoters using the names of government agencies, saying they are supervising the giveaway Promoters urging you to pay quickly, using services like Western Union, Money Gram Mailings designed carefully to look like official government documents Thinking that buying more merchandise betters your chance of winning Letters or calls encouraging you to be home on a certain day Phone numbers: make sure you are dialing right
17 Where to Report Scams Telephone Scams Federal Trade Commission Mail Scams United States Postal Inspection Service Internet Scams Federal Bureau of Investigation
18 Identity Theft If you are a victim File a complaint with the Attorney General s Office Contact financial institutions (banks, credit card companies, etc.) File a police report with Local Police Department File a complaint: Federal Trade Commission ID theft hotline 877-ID-THEFT ( ) If social security number has been compromised, contact the Social Security Administration: To put a fraud alert / security freeze on your credit report. Contact one of the 3 major credit reporting bureaus; Equifax, Experian, Trans Union
19 Identity Theft the aftermath You Are vulnerable to being a victim again Need to continually check your credit report May consider putting a Credit Freeze Can learn from your situation and be on alert.
20 Contact Us File a Complaint about an Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practice Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
21 Resources Have a Complaint or Question? General Assistance Consumer Hotline: (617) E-Complaint form: Specific Hotlines HomeCorps (617) Elder Hotline (888) Fair Labor Division (617) Civil Rights Division (617) Medicaid Fraud Tipline (617) Insurance Fraud Tipline (617) Insurance & Health Care Consumer Helpline (888) Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
22 Resources Would your organization like a presentation? Staff from the Attorney General s Office provide free outreach and education presentations statewide on a variety of topics: Civil Rights The new Earned Sick Time law The new Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Worker s Rights and Fair Labor Laws Scams and ID theft Contractual agreements (ie: home improvement) Landlord and tenant rights Shopping Rights Purchasing a vehicle Financial awareness 2015 Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
23 Resources Could your situation use mediation? Mediation, a free and voluntary service offered by the Attorney General's Office, helps resolve matters between consumers and merchants outside of court. The AGO supports over thirty regional local consumer and face to face mediation programs, which you may choose to contact. To find their contact information: 2015 Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General
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