Thieves are very inventive during the Christmas Holiday Season. Here are some scams that take place. Remember, if it SOUNDS too good to be true it is probably a SCAM. You did not win the lottery in Spain, The Netherlands, Canada or anywhere else. You didn’t buy a tix did you? A poor widow or bank manager does not need your help to move money from a dead person’s account to another place. The IRS is not electronically auditing you. The Jury Clerk never calls for your Social Security number. Bank and Credit Card companies do not email you to verify your information.
Scam artists use the information they obtain above to steal your identity. Don’t be a victim of the Scams below:
CAR PURCHASE WITH HIGH INTEREST:
You decide to buy a car and the dealer says they cannot accept your bank draft/check to pay for the car. They say that although your account might be okay, your bank has a history of bouncing checks and they blame the banking system. They are saying this to get you to buy a car on credit at high interest rates……….walk away.
THE HOTEL RECEPTIONIST CALL:
You would normally arrive at your hotel/motel and check in at the front desk. You give the front desk your credit card for incidental room charges during your stay. When you get to your room you settle in.
The SCAM is when someone calls the front desk and asks for (example) Room 620 – which happens to be your room. When the phone rings in your room you answer it and the person on the other end says ‘This is the front desk. We came across a problem with your credit card information when you checked into the hotel/motel. Would you please provide me with your credit card number and verify the last 3 digits numbers on the reverse side of your card.’
Thinking this is the front desk, you might give the caller your information. But actually, this is a scam where someone calls from outside the hotel/motel and asks for a random room number. They then ask you for your credit card and home address information. You provide the requested information because it sounds so professional and you think you are talking to the front desk.
If this happens to you, please tell the caller that you will be right down to the front desk to clear up any problems. When you get to the front desk ask if there was a problem. If there was none, advise the hotel manager that someone called to Scam you out of your credit card information by acting as a front desk employee.
ANYONE traveling should be aware of this SCAM!
JURY DUTY:
Someone calls pretending to be a court official who says a warrant has been issued for your arrest because you didn’t show up for jury duty. Sometimes they even ask you for a credit card number so they can process the cancellation. If you give out any information …your identity has just been stolen!
PHONE OFFERS:
If it sounds too good to be true……it is a scam. Don’t fall for the alleged relative/friend who has just had his wallet stolen in Europe and is contacting you for money to get back to the US. Anyone can set up a phony email account to contact you and pretend to be a friend or relative IN NEED.
CHECKS:
Never put your complete credit card account number on your check when paying a bill. You are better off using your work address and work number on your checks.
CREDIT CARDS:
Always write on the back of your credit card “ASK FOR ID”. Always make copies of the front and back of all credit cards so you will have that information if they are lost or stolen.
LUGGAGE:
Remove old airline tags from your bags and never list your home address on your luggage. That info makes it too easy for someone to know you are not home and burglarize your home.
ID THEFT:
If you think you are the victim of an ID Theft then cancel your credit cards ASAP, place a fraud alert on them and call the police to make a report.
REPORT POTENTIAL ID THEFT:
Equifax 1-800 525 6285; fraud alert 888 766 0008;
Experian (formerly TRW) 1-888 397 3742 to place fraud alert;
Trans Union 1-800 680 7289 for Fraud alert:
Social Security Administration (fraud line) 1-800 269 0271
DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE, CALL A TAXI, LYFT OR UBER………THEY ARE A LOT CHEAPER THAN GETTING IN AN ACCIDENT OR ARRESTED AND CALLING ME. LAW ENFORCEMENT WARNS “DRIVE SOBER OR GET PULLED OVER”.
Ideas for future columns contact Dale Gribow 760- 837- 7500 or dale@dalegribowlaw.com.
DALE GRIBOW
Representing the Injured and Criminally Accused
“TOP LAWYER” – California’s Prestige Magazine, Palm Springs Life (PI/DUI) 2011-22
“TOP LAWYER” – Inland Empire Magazine 2016- 2019
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