Showing posts with label fraud. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fraud. Show all posts

AG Ferguson wins refunds for victims of COVID-19 “vaccine” scam

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced June 22, 2020 that, as a result of his lawsuit, the maker of a so-called COVID-19 “vaccine” will repay his victims and is permanently barred from marketing vaccines without testing and evidence.

The legally binding agreement comes just over a week after Ferguson filed a lawsuit and nearly two months after he sent Stine a “cease and desist” letter to stop marketing the “vaccine.”

Click here to read the full story




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AG Ferguson sues debt collection agency for deceptive collection letters over old, legally unenforceable debts

Saturday, July 4, 2020

State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a consumer protection lawsuit against the national debt collection corporation Convergent Outsourcing for pushing consumers into “settlements” to resolve old debts that were past the statute of limitations for a collection lawsuit.

These “settlement” offers created a deceptive impression that Convergent could sue consumers when it could not, and implied Convergent was prepared to sue consumers if they did not pay.

Click here for more details



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KCSO: If it's too good to be true - it's not true

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

From the King County Sheriff's Office


On Tuesday, June 9, 2020 a man thought he had stumbled on a great deal. The suspect, driving a black Charger, approached the victim in the parking lot of a Shoreline grocery store and explained he had just moved here from California and needed money, so he was selling a jewelry collection.

The jewelry appeared to be gold, and the victim thought he could get a great deal while helping out someone in need. So, he purchased the jewelry for $500 cash.

The next day the victim went to a pawn shop, only to learn that all of the jewelry he had purchased was fake.

Remember to be very cautious buying anything from a stranger, especially jewelry. If the deal seems to go to be true, it probably is.

Another parking lot scam: "I'm out of gas and don't have any money." The grifter points to a car with kids in it. When one person replied that they had no cash on them, the grifter helpfully offered to accompany them to a nearby cash machine.



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Shoreline police warn residents about phone scam

Friday, May 29, 2020

Shoreline police are not calling you!
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Thursday, the Shoreline Police Department  was inundated with phone calls about someone calling residents saying he was Lt. Travis Pitch, with the Shoreline Police Department. 

He claims to have an urgent legal matter that he needs to discuss with them. 

If the resident calls back or talks to him, he tells them they have missed a summons of some kind and there is a warrant out for their arrest.

He tells them they need to take care of it by paying a fine by either gift cards, wiring money, or some other means, sometimes bitcoin.

The number he is calling from, 206-492-8491, comes back to an internet phone line.

Police are looking into this. In the meantime, please be aware this is a scam!

There's a version of the same scam where the caller claims to be from a utility and says your power will be shut off because you missed a payment. That one is particularly potent under the current circumstances. Utilities won't call - they will flood you with mailed reminders and try to work something out with you.

In another version, the caller will tell you that you missed jury duty and you have to pay a fine immediately or you will be arrested.

What they are all counting on is scaring you enough that you act before thinking. The people calling the police Thurday were aware enough to check it out. If you didn't call the police and did get caught, see if you can stop the payment and then file a police report.

--Diane Hettrick



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Was your name used to open a fraudulent unemployment claim

Tuesday, May 19, 2020

From the LFP Police Department

During the last several days, many police agencies in our region have received multiple fraud reports involving unemployment claims.

To check if your name and SSN were recently used to start a fraudulent unemployment claim, go to the Washington State Employment Security Department website esd.wa.gov and start to open a SAW (SecureAccess Washington) account.

Follow the required steps, and if you receive an error indicating that you have already an account, try to reset your password. 

If it shows a partial email address, an email address that you don't recognize, or it shows that a claim has been recently accepted, it means that your name and your SSN have been compromised. 

You can then make a claim on their fraud page accessible from esd.wa.gov

(Ed. and file a police report)




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Fraudulent unemployment claims

Friday, May 15, 2020

The Seattle Times reports:

Washington state officials said Thursday they’re stopping unemployment payments for two days while they attempt to block a gush of fraudulent claims aimed at stealing some of the billions of dollars that Congress directed to workers left jobless amid the coronavirus pandemic. 
Between March and April, the number of fraudulent claims for unemployment benefits jumped 27-fold to 700, the state Employment Security Department (ESD) told The Seattle Times. During that same period, the amount of money bled off by suspected fraudsters jumped from about $40,000 to nearly $1.6 million.

The Employment Security department advises you to go to their website and make a report HERE

The King County Sheriff's Office is seeing the rise in fraud reports related to unemployment claims:

Reports of fraudulent unemployment claims continue to come in at an alarming rate. In the past 24 hours, 135 reports of ID theft have been filed on our online system and that does not include reports forwarded to other agencies.
So here is a reminder: If someone uses your identity to file a fraudulent unemployment claim, and you live in the King County Sheriff's Office jurisdiction or any of our contract cities, make a report online at reporttosheriff.org. Select "Identity Theft" as the crime you are reporting.



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AG Ferguson sends cease and desist letter to Seattle business selling COVID-19 “vaccine”

Wednesday, April 29, 2020



Attorney General Bob Ferguson is warning a Seattle-based business to stop selling and administering a so-called COVID-19 “vaccine.” Ferguson warns that if the company, North Coast Biologics, or its owner, Johnny T. Stine, don’t stop making false or unsupported claims about the product, they could face a lawsuit from Ferguson under the state Consumer Protection Act.

In a social media post, Stine claims to have developed a “vaccine” that has made him immune to COVID-19, and offers his “vaccine” for $400.

“Remember: If something seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Ferguson said. 
“Scammers take advantage of fear and uncertainty to make you go against your better judgment. There is currently no proven treatment or vaccine for COVID-19. We will use all of the tools at our disposal to protect consumers during this public health emergency.”

In the letter, Ferguson notes that no effective treatment or vaccine for COVID-19 has been identified, and that “consumers should not have to worry about being misled about the health benefits of products that have not been evaluated or established as effective to treat or prevent the virus.

Ferguson calls on Stine to “immediately stop making misrepresentations about your COVID-19 ‘vaccine.’ ” Failing to do so, Ferguson warns, could result in a lawsuit filed by his office under the state Consumer Protection Act, which allows for a civil penalty of up to $2,000 per individual violation.

Scammers trying to capitalize on COVID-19 fears

Scammers are sending texts and emails promising to protect people from the virus, or offering cash payments to help weather the crisis. In reality, these messages are trying to obtain personal information, efforts known as phishing, or install harmful software on your device, called malware

Some types of software, known as ransomware, can be used to lock you out of your device until you pay the scammer. The risks of clicking unknown links are serious and real.

Washingtonians should be wary of these types of messages. Tips for avoiding COVID-19 scams:
  • Be skeptical — there is no cure for COVID-19.
  • Don’t click on links — they can be malicious.
  • Don’t provide your personal information to unknown sources who may be trying to get your personal or financial information.
  • Don’t donate money without researching who is asking for your money — there are many bogus charities offering to help.
Visit trusted resources for legitimate information about COVID-19, like government health departments or your healthcare provider.

The Attorney General’s Office is continuing to investigate reports of unfair business practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. To file a complaint, visit the Attorney General’s website



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Watch out for Coronavirus scams

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Watch out for scams! 


Unfortunately, some people are taking advantage of this uncertain and stressful time to scam vulnerable citizens. 

Report scams and price gouging HERE with the Attorney General's Office

Medicare Scams

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, Medicare enrollees need to stay vigilant against possible scams, including perpetrators emailing or calling seniors and offering coronavirus vaccines.

“Currently, there’s no FDA-approved coronavirus vaccine,” said Washington state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler. “Beware of anyone who tries to scare you into giving up your Medicare number or bank account information. If you get one of these calls or emails, hang up or delete the email.”

Kreidler’s Statewide Health Insurance Benefits Advisors (SHIBA) program is also Washington state's Senior Medicare Patrol project financed through a federal grant. SHIBA staff and volunteers help people prevent, detect and report Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse.

If people on Medicare have questions, concerns or complaints about potential fraud and abuse, they can contact SHIBA online or call 1-800-562-6900 and ask to speak with SHIBA.



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KCSO: Want your stimulus check? Scammers do too!

Saturday, April 11, 2020



The government is sending out relief checks as part of the federal response to Coronavirus. And scammers and thieves are chomping at the bit to get their hands on your check before you do.

Here are some tips to from the Federal Trade Commission to avoid falling prey:

1. To get your check, you don’t need to do anything. As long as you filed taxes for 2018 and/or 2019, the federal government likely has the information it needs to send you your money. Social Security recipients and railroad retirees who are not required to file a tax return also do not need to do anything to receive their money.

2. Do not give anyone your personal information to “sign-up” for your relief check. There is nothing to sign up for. Anyone calling to ask for your personal information, like your Social Security number, PayPal account, or bank information is a scammer, plain and simple.

3. To set up direct deposit of your check, communicate only with the IRS at irs.gov/coronavirus. And you only need to do this if you didn’t give the IRS your bank information on your 2018 or 2019 return.

--King County Sheriff's Office



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Scam of the day: Your Amazon account has been blocked

Friday, April 10, 2020

By Diane Hettrick

This appeared in my personal email today.

I should mention that I have been getting FedEx notices for over a week which my spam filters are only now starting to catch. The problem with the FedEx scam is that, like the post office, the real notices look more like spam than the spam message does.

Those messages all wanted me to "track my package." The clue was that the message said I had contacted them about my missing package. I hadn't ordered anything and I hadn't contacted a delivery service.

In the "Amazon" email today, the clue is in the header. Look at the gobbledygook between the carets.

I've been able to spot most scams by looking at the sender's address or the reply-to address.

If you think something might be legit - never respond to the email - contact the company or look at your account. 





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Scam alert - stimulus payments

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Scam Alert: The federal government is seeing an increase in scams related to federal stimulus payments including phone calls, text messages and e-mails phishing for information. 

The messaging includes variations of language such as:
"in order to receive your/your client's stimulus payment via direct deposit, we need you to confirm the banking information" 

and they are gathering that information via telephone or directing victims to click on a link that takes them to a website where they enter their banking information. 

Here’s some important things to know:
  • The government will not ask you to pay anything up front to get this money.
  • The government will not call to ask for your Social Security number, bank account, or credit card number.

If you spot a scam, please tell the Federal Trade Commission. The Washington State Office of the Attorney General also has information and resources for reporting scams.



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Seattle Times: Scams related to Medicare and the virus

Sunday, March 29, 2020

From The Seattle Times

Sadly, scammers are taking advantage of the COVID-19 crisis to ramp up identity theft and Medicare fraud schemes. The Associated Press reported that scammers were using telemarketing, social media, email and door-to-door visits to market phony tests for the coronavirus and “Senior Care Packages” with hand sanitizer, or even touting nonexistent vaccines.

The government cautions that you should give your Medicare number only to participating Medicare pharmacists, doctors or people you trust to work with Medicare on your behalf. 

The agency will not call you to ask for your Medicare number or to check on it.

Medicare’s website offers tips for protecting yourself against fraud; the Federal Trade Commission’s website has a page of tips on COVID-19 and scams.

The national network of federally funded Senior Medicare Patrols also can help.

In addition:
The article Medicare is updating coverage to help in the coronavirus crisis is very helpful in explaining the most recent actions for Medicare insurance.



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Rob Oxford: “Congratulations! You’ve just won…(click)”

Saturday, March 28, 2020

This is Rob, innocently answering his phone

By Rob Oxford

I’m not quite sure why I bother to answer my cell phone anymore? I really should know better. Most if not all of the people I have regular dealings or care to speak with have been saved to my Contacts List. Caller ID really is a wonderful feature, but only if you choose to rely on it.

Still, I continue to find myself answering calls with the (206) prefix and then immediately regretting it.

You see I’m the booking agent for my band and my number accompanies all our press materials. Unfortunately, not every potential client has a number with which I am familiar, and I’d hate to miss the opportunity to book a date. Club owners and promoters can be an impatient bunch and quite often they need answers right away. In the entertainment business, one needs to strike while the iron or in this case the band, is hot. 

I also have relatives who are presently dealing with a variety of health issues and at any given time someone could be calling from a healthcare facility, a doctor’s office etc.

That being said, not a day goes by that I’m not inconvenienced by some sort of “solicitation.” 

Currently it’s either Carnival Cruises or Marriott Hotels. Now I understand it’s not really Marriott or Carnival calling to offer me an “all-expenses paid trip to the destination of my choosing” and fortunately like Yogi, “I’m smarter than your average bear,” but it’s not someone like me these scammers are attempting to contact.

This is Rob, who has just realized he is talking
to a spammer. Grrrrr

Occasionally I will remain on the line long enough to engage with a human and usually when that human (and I use the term loosely) realizes I’m not a potential target, the call is immediately dropped. However, not before the two of us exchange some spicy language.

Recently after a day of unbridled harassment, I decided to call the Washington State Attorney General’s office for advice. 
A nice young lady put me in touch with the Public Affairs Unit at the Consumer Products Division. 
They are available to answer your questions Monday through Friday from 10am – 3pm at 800-551-4636.

I spoke to a gentleman named Anthony who was not only patient and eager to answer my questions but shared some very insightful information.

The first thing he said to me was “if you don’t recognize the phone number, DO NOT ANSWER!” 

If it is indeed a matter of importance, they will leave a message. In this situation, a few extra seconds won’t make a difference. 

Now, I realize it can be more convenient to simply answer the phone than to check your voicemail later, but there is a reason for not answering. Once you have answered your phone, even if you immediately hang up, the scammers make a note that it is a working number and will simply call back from a different “pirated” line.

“Scammers are attempting to contact someone at the right time of day, at the right time in their life with the right story.” 

They will not just move on to the next number. The same applies to “blocking” the number. This is a futile gesture. Doing so tells the caller it is in fact a residential number and not a fax line or some other auto-attended phone system. They will merely continue to call from a different line that has not yet been blocked.

To most of us, what I’m sharing is common sense information, but Anthony shared a few horror stories of well-intended citizens being taken for hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

There is, however, a silver lining to my story. Federal Law Enforcement has been steadily making progress in the war on telephone scams and it has become a worldwide effort. Authorities in Mumbai, India recently busted a phony IRS Call Center and have been able to return upwards of $232 million dollars to defrauded consumers.

Diligence is the key.

If you have elderly parents or grandparents living independently, remind them that Microsoft will never ask them to pay off their account with an Apple iTunes Gift card… yes, it’s happened. Nor will a legitimate organization request a Google Play gift card or any gift card, for that matter, as payment on an outstanding debt.

Also remind them to NEVER wire money without first asking for assistance. You may also consider questioning them as to whether they have recently been contacted by someone asking for financial assistance. The sad truth is they may have forgotten.

Mail fraud is also a danger to our seasoned loved ones. If you or they suspect a piece of mail is fraudulent, take the time to report it to CISC. It’s easy to just disregard, but your action may prevent someone else from being stripped of their life savings.

Fraudulent mail: Criminal Investigations Service Center
Attn: Mail Fraud 433 W. Harrison St. Rm 3255
Chicago, IL. 60699-3255

You may also report suspected scams to the FTC and can find extremely valuable information at their website 

Ironically, as I was writing this article, my cell phone rang and against my better judgement I answered it. It was a recorded message. I’ve gotten so many of these recorded calls lately, I have seriously considered taking Mandarin at my local community college in order to understand just what is being said.

I hope this information helps someone you love.

Stay safe, stay healthy and most importantly, until further notice, stay secluded.



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U.S. Attorney’s Office on alert for fraud allegations regarding COVID-19

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Joining with law enforcement to investigate cyber threats such as phishing and malware as well as other frauds related to virus fear

U.S. Attorney Brian T. Moran is asking our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to be alert to frauds preying on those concerned about COVID-19.

“In a time of high stress and fear it is critical that for the public to know that law enforcement at all levels remains dedicated to protecting them from harm – whether it is from scams, frauds or violent crime,” said U.S. Attorney Moran. 
“We will remain vigilant in detecting, investigating and prosecuting wrongdoing related to the crisis. To those who are engaged in perpetrating these schemes, you are on notice that my office will aggressively pursue you and hold you to answer for preying on our communities.”

The Western District of Washington has extensive expertise in cybercrime and is already monitoring issues related to phishing attempts and efforts to infect emails, links and postings with malware. Members of the public need to be wary of emails or online posts that could be infected with malware that could then infect their electronic devices and steal personal and financial information.

“The pandemic is dangerous enough without wrongdoers seeking to profit from public panic and this sort of conduct cannot be tolerated,” Attorney General William Barr said in his communication to the U.S. Attorneys.

If you or someone you know believe you’ve been the target or victim of an outbreak-related fraud scheme, please contact the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) by visiting www.IC3.gov.




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AG Bob Ferguson statement on COVID-19 scams

Friday, March 6, 2020

Attorney General Bob Ferguson offers the following statement warning consumers about possible scams preying on COVID-19 fears:

“Scammers often prey on fear. As the COVID-19 outbreak and response continue, Washingtonians may see people advertising products or services they claim treat or cure the disease. 
"There is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 at this time. Any claims that a product or service can cure, kill, or destroy COVID-19 are probably false, and should be reported to our office.”

Information on filing a complaint is available here



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Scam of the week: Sound Transit is not asking for donations to a GoFundMe account

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

If you subscribe to updates from Sound Transit, you may receive a scam email.

Sound Transit says:

"It has come to our attention that some members of the public have received scam emails bearing the Sound Transit name and logo and asking the recipients to donate money to a GoFundMe account. These scam emails are not a result of your Sound Transit subscriptions.

"As a general reminder, Sound Transit does not share personally identifiable information with other parties and would never send emails asking you to contribute to a charitable fund. If you receive such an email, do not click on any associated links and report it as spam.

"As email scams are increasingly common, we urge you to stay alert and exercise caution with all unexpected emails."




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Scam of the week: You are not being called by the Washington Medical Commission

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Attention: Clinics, doctors' offices, and pharmacies

The Washington Medical Commission (WMC) has been alerted that scam artists are calling clinics, Dr. Offices and Pharmacies posing as the WMC or medical board.

These scam artists have increased the deceptiveness of the tactics by using direct phone numbers to WMC staff. The callers usually say a complaint has been opened on the physician or pharmacist. In the past, callers have said there is a problem with a physician’s DEA registration.

This is not how the WMC, state regulators, state medical boards or the DEA operate. 

All practitioners should be skeptical of anyone claiming to be with the WMC making such demands. Please be aware the WMC will never call you asking for your DEA number, private information or looking for payment. 

If you receive a call like this and have questions, please contact Medical.Commission@wmc.wa.gov

The WMC promotes patient safety and enhances the integrity of the medical profession through licensing, rule-making, discipline, and education. Follow the WMC on Facebook and Twitter.




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Scam of the Week: New twist on Social Security phone scam

Thursday, January 23, 2020



The Inspector General of Social Security is warning the public that phone scammers may email faked letters or reports that appear to be from Social Security or Social Security’s Inspector General to convince victims to comply with their demands.

Social Security will never:
  • Threaten people with arrest or other legal action unless they immediately pay a fine or fee.
  • Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment.
  • Require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card.
  • Send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.

Read more about what do if someone gets one of these calls or an email.

People without internet access are more vulnerable because they don't hear as much about the phone scams. 






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Fraud of the Week: There's a virus on your computer

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Compliments of the King County Sheriff's Office

Can you afford to lose $40,000? Dumb question right?

Here's a fraud alert you'll want to pay attention to because it can affect anyone with a laptop or home computer.

A 68 year old woman in unincorporated Renton got a pop up screen that told her she had a virus on her computer. The scammers told her they could fix it by installing repair software, which she'd have to purchase. She did.

The phony repair software isn't the end of the scam. The software purchase gave the scammers her account information, and this is where they made the grab for big money.

The scammers claimed “our bank messed up and accidentally put $72,000 in your account, please wire transfer the rest back." In reality this isn't a deposit. The scammers transferred $72,000 from the woman's savings account to her checking so it appeared to her to be a deposit.

Thinking she's returning money that isn't rightfully hers, the woman went to her bank and withdrew the maximum the bank would allow, $40,000, and mailed it to the scammers.

But before she could withdraw and mail the remaining $32,000 she realized she'd been scammed.

Before you judge, remember these scams almost always target older people who may be easily confused or manipulated. Please alert your parents, older relatives and neighbors that the computer virus scam is back. These often vulnerable members of our society need our help and protection.



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Scam of the week: Work at home

Friday, January 3, 2020



Did you know you can make thousands of dollars a month, avoid a long, slow commute to the office, and set your own hours - all while working from home? 

Well, that's what the ad says anyway. And it's very likely a scam.

Here's a typical scenario called the "Shipping Scam." The victim goes through the interview process on instant messenger or email correspondence. That's a red flag by the way.

Once hired, the company sends packages to the victim/new employee's home with instructions on how to inspect the product before shipping it elsewhere.

Eventually the "victim" receives a fictitious paycheck that’s greater than time worked. When the employee/victim notifies their employer about the overpayment, the company confirms the mistake and tells the employee to send the difference back before depositing the check.

When the victim deposits the paycheck it will bounce, the phony employer has vanished and the scam is complete.

There are many variations of the work at home scam! And they are usually prevalent right after the new year. Do your research and be wary of any interviews that only take place by email or instant messenger.

--King County Sheriff's Office




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