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Local fraud activity increasing |
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Thursday, 29 July 2010 |
By MELANIE MOORE
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BLACKFOOT — Consumers are constantly plagued by marketing fraud over the phone, in the mail or in e-mail. Locally, the Better Business Bureau is making people aware of two frauds surfacing in Eastern Idaho.
The first targets recipients of Social Security benefits. According to calls received at the BBB, the potential victim receives a call from someone claiming to be an employee of the Social Security Administration. The caller tells them they are due to receive a new Social Security card or that they are entitled to free “medical” cards. The caller then asks for personal information including Social Security and checking account numbers in order verify direct deposit information.
According to Fred Sica, Regional Executive Director of the BBB, “this is a scam that the Social Security Administration has previously warned consumers about.” Remember, the federal government or legitimate businesses will not ask you for bank account or Social Security numbers over the phone.
In the second scam, the caller identifies themselves as an employee with the Security and Fraud Department at VISA calling to verify a falsified purchase. When the individual states they did not make the purchase, the caller asks to verify that the individual is in possession of their credit card and asks for the three-digit security code on the back of the card. They then use the credit card illegally to make purchases.
These and many other scams target people in Eastern Idaho and throughout the nation everyday. Blackfoot Police Captain Kurt Asmus said people should simply not respond and not give out any personal information.
“We get a lot of calls,” Asmus said. “The scammers change tactics daily.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigations has a hotline consumers can call to report suspicious telemarketing calls, junk mail solicitations or advertisements. Individuals should call the National Fraud Information Center at 1-800-876-7060 to file a report.
The FBI advises individuals to never pay for a prize or send money to improve your chances of winning, don’t be intimidated or bullied into buying something right away, don’t give your your bank account number or credit card number and never wire money or send money by an overnight delivery service unless you initiated the transaction.
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Last Updated ( Friday, 30 July 2010 )
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