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

AG Ferguson: PurEnvironment pleads guilty to environmental criminal charges for COVID-related scam

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that PurEnvironment, a Utah-based mold remediation company, pleaded guilty to environmental crimes charges Ferguson brought regarding the company’s false claims that its products could provide “90+ day protection” against COVID-19. 


FALSE CLAIM
King County District Court Judge Gregg H. Hirakawa sentenced the company to a year of probation, ordered to pay a $15,000 fine, and come into compliance with state and federal regulations.

As the COVID-19 pandemic began, the company claimed on its website and in statements to the press that one of its mold-inhibiting pesticides could “completely rid” homes and businesses of COVID-19 and protect against it for 90 days. 

In reality, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has only approved this pesticide for inhibiting the growth of mold, mildew and odor-causing bacteria. It is not approved for any use against viruses, let alone “90-day protection” against them.

Thankfully, no individuals or businesses are known to have actually hired or paid PurEnvironment for these services.

See more HERE



Read more...

Data breach at Recology exposes Shoreline customer data

Friday, February 19, 2021

Malware holds your files for ransom
Graphic from ClipArtBest
A third party application used by Recology Shoreline to invoice customers was attacked by ransomware. 

Shoreline residential, commercial and multi-family customers as well as commercial customers in north Seattle were among northend cities contracting with Recology whose data was accessed.

Recology is working to determine what data was exposed and the third party app has hired a cyber security firm to investigate.

Customers will not be able to pay their bills by phone or online until this is resolved. Auto-payments will not be charged. To pay your bill, send a check.

No late fees will be charged during this time.

Recology has posted much more information here

Ransomware is a form of malicious code that encrypts the files on the victim's computer, making the inaccessible. The attacker then demands money from the victim to restore access. If affects the computer and any back-up plugged in.



Read more...

AG Ferguson statement on judgment in Tim Eyman campaign finance case

Thursday, February 11, 2021

Tim Eyman
Attorney General Bob Ferguson offers the following statement on a Thurston County Superior Court decision that Tim Eyman intentionally committed numerous violations of campaign finance law:

"After years of Tim Eyman’s deceit, obstruction, and contempt of court, we took him to trial and held him accountable for receiving and concealing illegal kickbacks. After twenty years of violating campaign finance laws, including two previous judgments against him, Eyman’s day of reckoning has arrived.

“Today’s ruling is clear — Eyman’s conduct was illegal and intentional. Today’s historic campaign finance penalty – the largest in our state ever levied against an individual — is necessary to hold him accountable for some of the most egregious campaign finance violations ever uncovered by the Washington Public Disclosure Commission and the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

“Eyman is a repeat violator of our state’s voter-approved campaign finance laws. On multiple occasions, the state caught him illegally and intentionally concealing hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions that ended up in his personal bank account.

“The last time Eyman admitted intentionally violating the law, he signed a legally enforceable agreement to never again act as a treasurer on any political committee. That extraordinary remedy proved unsuccessful at stopping Eyman’s illegal conduct. Consequently, our office pursued the next logical step — a prohibition on directing the finances of any political committee.

“Today the judge granted that remedy. This will not prevent Eyman from conceiving, drafting and promoting initiatives. It will, however, stop his practice of directing financial kickbacks into his personal bank account.”



Read more...

AG Ferguson: Sham charity Healing Heroes Network Inc must pay $95,000 to be donated to legitimate veterans’ charity

Monday, January 25, 2021


Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that a sham veterans’ charity is legally required to pay $95,000 to Washington state. 

Healing Heroes Network Inc. deceived donors into believing most of their donations would help provide medical care for wounded veterans. 

In fact, it spent less than one percent of individuals’ donations on veterans’ medical care. 

For example, in 2016, the charity received $2.7 million in donations nationwide, yet spent only $1,128 to fund veterans’ medical care.

Today’s consent decree, filed in King County Superior Court, resolves Ferguson’s lawsuit against the Florida-based charity and its directors, Stacey and Allan Spiegel, for misleading donors. Thousands of Washingtonians made donations to Healing Heroes Network, also known as the Injured America Veterans Foundation. 

Consistent with the donors’ intent, Ferguson will donate the $95,000 recovery to a nonprofit that legitimately helps veterans receive medical care.

“Few illegal acts are more appalling than exploiting the sacrifice of wounded veterans to line your own pockets,” Ferguson said. “My office will continue to hold accountable perpetrators of sham charities — and we will continue standing up for Washington’s veterans.”

More information here



Read more...

Veterans Independent Enterprises of Washington (VIEW) can pay veterans back wages as a result of $1 million payout in Attorney General lawsuit

As a result of Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s lawsuit, non-profit organization Veterans Independent Enterprises of Washington (VIEW) has received $1 million — the maximum allowed under its insurance policy — to pay its creditors, including 74 veterans who are owed wages.

The employees’ claims range from $192 to $48,925 in unpaid wages, totaling $310,489.37.

Former operations manager Rosemary Hibbler significantly contributed to VIEW’s decline, neglecting VIEW’s transitional housing for veterans, receiving more than $850,000 from VIEW bank accounts and misappropriating nearly $200,000 from VIEW’s debit card, including withdrawing money at local casinos and buying gambling credits. 

As a result of the lawsuit, Hibbler is barred from ever working in Washington’s charitable sector, or accepting a job where she handles money in any capacity. Hibbler did not admit to her misconduct, but “agrees that sufficient evidence exists” to support the allegations. 

The two former board members, Donald Hutt and Gary Peterson, whose neglect allowed Hibbler’s misconduct, are also barred from working in the charitable sector.

More information here



Read more...

AG Ferguson: Refunds for cancelled European student tours

Friday, January 1, 2021

Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that music travel company Voyageurs International must pay more than $464,000 for full refunds to 235 Washington students who signed up for the company’s 2020 European tours.

The Colorado-based company, which organizes yearly tours to Europe for high-school musicians, unlawfully charged each of the 235 Washington students at least $1,900 in cancellation penalties after the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the company cancelling its July 2020 European tours. 

The company also illegally retained an additional $775 fee, for a total of $2,675 per student, from 23 students who signed up to extend their tour to Greece.

More information here



Read more...

AG Ferguson: Washingtonians to receive full refunds on hidden subscription renewal charges

Saturday, December 12, 2020

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that Synapse Group, the country’s top magazine subscription company, must return all of the money it charged more than 2,000 Washington consumers for deceptive auto-renewals, an estimated total of $125,000.

These customers bought magazine subscriptions at a highly discounted promotional rate of $2. However, the company did not clearly disclose that these $2 subscriptions would auto-renew at full price.

In addition to the checks themselves, Synapse is also required to pay the Attorney General’s Office $750,000 for reasonable attorney costs and fees, future monitoring and enforcement of today’s resolution, and future enforcement of the Consumer Protection Act.

This promotional offer was given to consumers who redeemed Delta Air Line miles as part of Synapse’s “Mags For Miles” program, which allows customers to purchase subscriptions with their frequent flyer miles. From 2011 to 2016, Synapse falsely implied on its “Mags for Miles” mailers that Delta Air Line miles would expire if consumers didn’t use them by a specific date. In fact, Delta miles never expire.

More information here



Read more...

Court of Appeals unanimously upholds $18M penalty against Grocery Manufacturers Association in AG’s campaign finance lawsuit

Wednesday, November 11, 2020

GMA intentionally shielded its members as the true source of campaign contributions

The Washington State Court of Appeals today unanimously upheld the $18 million penalty in Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s lawsuit against the Grocery Manufacturers Association over its intentional violations of Washington’s campaign finance laws.

GMA, a trade organization of large corporations, including PepsiCo, Inc, Nestle USA, Inc, and The Coca Cola Company, funneled millions of dollars into the state to oppose Initiative 522 without proper disclosure of the source of the funds, with the express intent to “shield individual companies from public disclosure and possible criticism.” GMA is now known as the Consumer Brands Association.

“Dark money has no place in Washington elections,” Ferguson said. “This decision confirms that our courts take intentional violations of our campaign finance laws seriously. My office will continue to stand up for Washingtonians’ right to know who is influencing our elections.”

“The Public Disclosure Commission is pleased to see courts continue to confirm that Washington state’s strong campaign-finance laws have serious consequences for those who attempt to conceal the source of campaign funding,” PDC Chair David Ammons said.

Internal GMA documents obtained as a result of Ferguson’s lawsuit revealed an intentional, systematic effort to conceal the true sources of those contributions to “No on 522.”

In one GMA Executive Committee meeting, the Executive Vice President for Government Affairs noted that the fund would “shield individual companies from public disclosure and possible criticism.”

In April of this year, the Washington State Supreme Court affirmed that GMA’s violations were intentional and reinstated the trial court’s $18 million penalty. It remanded the case back to the state Court of Appeals to consider GMA’s argument that the penalty is excessive under the state and federal constitutions. Today’s ruling confirms the penalty is not excessive.

More information HERE



Read more...

AG Ferguson: Court orders $490,000 go to authentic veterans' charities after judgment against Washington-based sham charity

Monday, November 9, 2020


A Pierce County Superior Court judge ordered a charity that deceptively claimed to help veterans to pay a total of nearly $1 million in restitution and financial penalties.

The sham charity’s sole officer, Michael Friedmann, told consumers and donors their donations would benefit veterans and their families when none of the money raised did.

In her order, Judge Elizabeth Martin specifically noted the “deceptive” and “abusive” conduct by Fallen Hero Bracelets and Friedmann, who falsely held himself out as a military veteran. She said he and his company unquestionably violated the Consumer Protection Act 1,240 times and also violated the Charitable Solicitations Act tens of thousands of times. 

The judge permanently prohibited Friedmann from nearly all activity in the charity and nonprofit sectors. He is also banned from forming for-profit business entities in the state and cannot register, own, manage or operate any e-commerce site. Friedmann did not appear before the court when the judge imposed the penalties.

The court ordered $504,000 in restitution. The office was able to identify 51 affected consumers who filed complaints to organizations such as the Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau. 
Just over $13,000 will go to those consumers harmed by Friedmann’s conduct. 

Because Friedmann did not respond to any requests for information to identify additional customers as part of this lawsuit, leading to this default judgment, the court ordered the remaining restitution be paid to charities, honoring donors’ intent.

The Attorney General’s Office will receive nearly $491,000 of that money to send to nonprofits and charities that assist military families or law enforcement who died in the line of duty.

The court ordered an additional $322,000 in civil penalties that will go to the Washington state general fund. Friedmann must also pay nearly $169,000 in attorney costs and fees.

In November 2018, Ferguson sued Spanaway-based Fallen Hero Bracelets asserting that they misled customers into believing their purchases were benefiting veterans’ charities like ones for separated families, service animals or children’s scholarships. Further, when consumers and donors asked Friedmann where their items were or questioned him, he then would verbally abuse them or threaten them.

“Michael Friedmann used the service of our country’s bravest to personally profit,” Ferguson said. “When anyone questioned him, he verbally abused then sued several of them. My office took him to court for his illegal activities and we won for Washington’s veterans and consumers.”

This lawsuit was part of Operation Donate with Honor, a nationwide sweep coordinated in 2018 by the Federal Trade Commission and the National Association of State Charities Officials.

In the sweep, Ferguson and Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman joined officials from around the country to combat veterans’ fundraising fraud through education and enforcement.

The lawsuit is also part of the Military and Veterans Initiative, Ferguson’s longtime effort to support and educate military service members and veterans about their rights and the resources available to them.

Fallen Hero Bracelets deceived consumers about helping veterans

Fallen Hero Bracelets sold bracelets engraved with names of soldiers killed in action, along with hats, pins, badges, coins and pens. Its now-defunct website claimed it used proceeds from sales to help veterans, including providing scholarships to children of soldiers killed in Iraq or Afghanistan, giving trained service dogs to soldiers suffering from severe PTSD and helping families dealing with separation and divorce.

Fallen Hero Bracelets did not provide any scholarships, trained service dogs or assistance to families, nor did it give any money to any of its 40 claimed beneficiaries. Fallen Hero Bracelets advertised that it made over 1.2 million sales worldwide between when it started in September 2015 and when the court ordered Friedmann’s businesses closed in November 2018.

In addition to not providing any money to charity, Friedmann sued customers who complained about slow delivery.

For example, a consumer in Washington bought a $40 t-shirt on Friedmann’s website. When she did not receive her purchase for more than 60 days, she complained to her credit union. Her credit union then sent a chargeback notice to Friedmann.

Friedmann eventually sent the shirt. The consumer returned it, wanting her money back. Next, Friedmann reported the customer to four different collection agencies, which promptly dropped the collection efforts after the consumer showed proof of the return. He then sued the consumer for $1,182.50 and the credit union for $5,000 in small claims court.

The Attorney General’s Office received 26 complaints concerning Fallen Hero Bracelets, almost all of which referenced the same conduct by Friedmann: delivery delays, being unable to contact Friedmann regarding order status and harassment as a result of consumers complaining or returning items.

Protect Yourself from Scam Charities

Scammers can use charities to prey on generosity. Do plenty of research before donating money. To make sure a charity is legitimate:

Consumers affected by these charities’ deceptive conduct or any other charity or business, may file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office at https://www.atg.wa.gov/file-complaint.



Read more...

AG Ferguson: Seattle court orders $585,000 in penalties and restitution for fraudulent property management scheme

Monday, November 2, 2020


A King County Superior Court Commissioner ordered an Auburn property management company to pay a total of half a million dollars in restitution for impacted Washingtonians and financial penalties. 

The company’s owner hijacked the homes of people who hired his company by adding new walls and rooms without the owners’ knowledge or consent and refusing to pay homeowners.

In addition to financial penalties, the commissioner also barred company owner Travis A. Jackson from marketing property management services without first obtaining a license, making unauthorized modifications to homes and making false and misleading representations. 

The court intended for $256,000 to go toward restitution for people affected by the scheme and an additional $252,000 in civil penalties. The civil penalties go to the Washington state general fund. Jackson must also pay just more than $76,000 in attorney costs and fees.

More HERE



Read more...

Free Scam Prevention webinar on November 10th

Sunday, October 25, 2020

Free Scam Prevention Webinar
November 10, 2020 from 1 - 2:30pm
To register, email RSVP@Aegisliving.com


Many seniors are spending extra time alone since the onset of this pandemic. Without a weekly bridge club, grandchildren’s birthdays to look forward to, or other social activity, the highlight of someone’s day may be when their phone rings. Unfortunately, on the other end of that phone might be a scammer.

Scams are on the rise, and many are looking to target older adults. “According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), there are prominent scams targeting seniors currently that have cost some billions of dollars” in 2019. Seniors, especially living alone, may not have anyone to ask if the person on the phone is sincere.

Educating yourself and the seniors in your life is an important step to take to prevent them from being caught up in a scam where someone will take advantage of them. As scams evolve and continue to get craftier, continue to stay educated.

There are several resources available to help you and the seniors in your life stay one step ahead of the scammers. Locally, Aegis Living is partnering with the Office of Consumer Protection and the WA Office of the Attorney General to present a FREE Webinar on Identity Theft and Scam Prevention.

On Tuesday November 10th from 1:00 – 2:30pm speakers Elena Huizar and Monserrat Jauregui from the Office of Consumer Protection and the WA Office of the Attorney General will discuss current fraud and scammer tactics and how to spot red flags. They will also cover what to do if you or a loved one have been targeted. 

To register, email RSVP@Aegisliving.com

For more resources visit



Read more...

WA Secretary of State issues statement regarding attempts from foreign adversaries to interfere in the 2020 General Election

Wednesday, October 21, 2020

Photo courtesy King county elections
Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman issued the following statement after federal intelligence officials held a briefing announcing attempts from foreign actors to interfere in the upcoming Nov. 3 general election. 

“Foreign adversaries are working around the clock to interfere in U.S. elections and undermine confidence in the electoral process. Despite the disinformation circulating from bad actors, know there has been no indication of compromise at the Office of the Secretary of State or with our elections system.

“We continually work with state and federal security experts, and are actively partnering with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI throughout this election cycle to monitor the threat landscape and enhance our security stance.

“Washington voters should continue to be critical of the information they receive on social media from unknown sources, and should report any concerning information they see to their county elections office and the Secretary of State’s Office. This is why my office has partnered with the National Association of Secretaries of State on the information campaign #TrustedInfo2020. Before you share, make sure the information is coming from a trusted source.”

As of Oct. 21, 25% of Washington voters have already returned their ballots for the upcoming election. Wyman encourages voters who have not yet voted to do so early, and place it in an official ballot drop box or the U.S. mail. Ballots returned by mail must be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 3.



Read more...

Non-filers: Expect a letter about your stimulus check

Friday, September 25, 2020

By Lisa Lake 
Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

If you don’t usually file a tax return, or didn’t file a return for 2018 or 2019, you might not know you could qualify for an economic impact payment.

You might be one of the nine million people getting a letter from the IRS letting you know how to register on their website to claim your payment by October 15, 2020.

If you get this letter from the IRS, it’s legit. Go only to the IRS’s real website at IRS.gov/EIP, or call them directly at 800-919-9835 to register to claim your payment.

You only have until October 15. 

But if someone claiming to be from the IRS calls, emails, or texts about helping you get your stimulus payment, that person is running a government imposter scam on you. Hang up, and don’t respond to or click on any links in texts or emails.


Why? Because the IRS will not text, email, or call you about your economic impact payment. And they’ll never ask you to pay a fee to get your money.

Visit the IRS’s website to find out more about stimulus payments. And be sure to tell the FTC if someone pretending to be from the government contacts you.



Read more...

AG Ferguson: Washingtonians who attended ITT Tech to get nearly $6 million in debt relief

Thursday, September 17, 2020

State Attorney General
Bob Ferguson


Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that 816 former ITT Tech students in Washington state will receive $5.9 million in debt relief. 

This amount covers all outstanding debts these borrowers owe to PEAKS Trust. 

The debt forgiveness resolves an investigation launched by Ferguson and a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general into unfair and deceptive lending practices by PEAKS Trust, a private loan program created to fund loans for the for-profit college ITT Tech. Today’s court filing also requires PEAKS to dissolve.

PEAKS was formed after the 2008 financial crisis. At the time, private sources of lending available to for-profit colleges were drying up. 

ITT Tech developed a plan with PEAKS to offer students temporary credit to cover the gap in tuition between federal student aid and the full cost of the education. ITT Tech required borrowers to repay this temporary credit in nine months, while they were still in school.

According to today’s court filing, ITT Tech and PEAKS knew or should have known that the students would not be able to repay the temporary credit when it became due nine months later. 

Many students attested that they thought the temporary credit was like a federal loan, and, consequently, would not be due until six months after they graduated. When the temporary credit became due, ITT Tech pressured and coerced students into accepting loans from PEAKS, which for many students carried high interest rates, far above rates for federal loans.

One Washington student filed a complaint with Ferguson’s office about PEAKS high-interest loans, writing: “In 2013, I was notified by PEAKS that they had ‘assumed’ my student loans from ITT Tech. They have it broken down to 4 ‘loans,’ ranging from 11.75 percent to 15.25 percent interest. The original amount of my loans were less than $20,000 and are now over $40,000. I was paying on these, religiously, until last fall when something didn’t seem right. 
"I noticed the interest kept going up and my balances were also going up, even though I was paying $500 + per month on these loans… I am not looking to ‘get out’ of my student loans, but the interest rate is criminal and there is no hope to pay (off) these loans with these variable rates.”


Pressure tactics used by ITT included pulling students out of class and threatening to expel them if they did not repay the temporary credit or accept the PEAKS loan terms. Many of the ITT students were from low-income backgrounds and were left with the choice of enrolling in the PEAKS loans or dropping out and losing any benefit of the credits they had earned, because ITT’s credits would not transfer to most schools.

“ITT Tech and PEAKS were only interested in increasing their bottom line at their students’ expense,” Ferguson said. “Their high-interest loans ballooned to an 80 percent default rate and left students saddled with debt. Today’s resolution will free more than 800 Washingtonians from these predatory loans.”


ITT Tech filed for bankruptcy in 2016 amid investigations by state attorneys general and following action by the U.S. Department of Education to restrict ITT’s access to federal student aid. The for-profit school abruptly closed all of its 149 campuses in September 2016, including campuses in Seattle, Everett and Spokane Valley.

The default rate on the PEAKS loans is projected to exceed 80 percent, due to both the high cost of the loans as well as the lack of success ITT graduates had getting jobs that earned enough to make repayment feasible. The defaulted loans continue to affect students’ credit ratings and are usually not dischargeable in bankruptcy.

Under today’s legally enforceable agreement, PEAKS has agreed that it will stop collection of 100 percent of the outstanding loans. PEAKS will send notices to borrowers about the cancelled debt and ensure that automatic payments are cancelled. 

Moreover, the settlement also requires PEAKS to supply credit reporting agencies with information to update credit information for affected borrowers, so the loans will no longer affect borrowers’ credit scores.

The relief is a result of an investigation into PEAKS loans, conducted by a bipartisan coalition of 48 attorneys general and the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Nationally, the settlement will result in debt relief of about $330 million for 35,000 borrowers who have outstanding loans with PEAKS Trust.

Borrowers will receive a notice in the mail informing them of the debt relief and detailing their rights under the settlement. The debt relief is automatic, meaning borrowers will need to do nothing to receive the debt relief. Students may direct questions about the debt relief to PEAKS at customerservice@peaksloans.com or 866-747-0273, or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at 855-411-2372.

Assistant Attorney General Craig Rader is handling the case for Washington.

In June 2019, Ferguson was part of a $186 million settlement that resulted in debt relief for 18,664 former ITT Tech students. Under the settlement, 538 Washingtonians received $5.1 million in debt relief. That agreement was with Student CU Connect CUSO, LLC, which also offered loans to finance students’ tuition at ITT Tech.




Read more...

FTC refunds almost $3.9 Million to purchasers of deceptively advertised Quell Wearable Pain-Relief device

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

The Federal Trade Commission is sending 70,142 checks and PayPal payments totaling $3,864,824 to consumers nationwide who bought Quell, a wearable device that supposedly would treat chronic pain throughout the body when placed below the knee.

According to the FTC, Massachusetts-based NeuroMetrix, Inc. and its CEO, Shai Gozani, sold Quell—a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation device—to consumers, touting it as “clinically proven” and “FDA cleared” for widespread chronic pain relief.

The FTC says that the defendants lack scientific evidence to support widespread chronic pain-relief claims, and their claims about clinical proof and the scope of FDA clearance for this use are false.

Under an order settling the FTC’s charges, NeuroMetrix, Inc. and its CEO agreed to pay $4 million to the Commission for refunds and to stop making the allegedly deceptive claims.

More information HERE



Read more...

Protect Yourself from Coronavirus Scams and ID Theft

Protect Yourself from Coronavirus Scams 
and ID Theft
Saturday, September 12, 2-3pm
Virtual presentation

Scammers often prey on the vulnerabilities of individuals and the COVID-19 outbreak has created an opportunity for scammers and identity thieves to prey on consumers.

A representative from the Washington State Attorney General's Office will provide information about identity theft and scams, particularly those related to COVID-19, how you can protect yourself and your loved ones, and how to recover if your identity is stolen or you fall victim to a scam.

An opportunity to ask questions and get answers will be provided.

Register HERE

You will be emailed a Zoom invite the day before the program.




Read more...

$10 million ABCmouse settlement: Avoiding auto-renewal traps

Sunday, September 6, 2020

Deceptive advertising from ABC Mouse


By Andrew Smith, Director, FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection

Online subscription services can be a convenience for consumers and a boon for business – especially now that so many people are shopping from home.

But under the law, companies have an obligation to explain the details of the deal up front, clearly disclose any automatic renewal terms, get consumers’ express consent before billing, and offer simple ways to cancel.

The FTC just announced a $10 million settlement with online learning company ABCmouse for allegedly violating those established consumer protection principles. 

The case offers lessons for subscription-based businesses about the perils of snaring customers in a negative option trap.

Read more here




Read more...

Shoreline couple taken in by classic puppy scam

Wednesday, September 2, 2020

A Shoreline couple called police on August 29, 2020 to report they were victims of fraud.

The couple told the deputy they contacted someone selling Yorkie puppies on Facebook. Two dogs were ordered and a $375 payment was sent through an online app. 

The couple was shown a photo of a shipping slip and told the dogs would arrive on August 24th.

The dogs never arrived. 

Instead, the victims were sent threatening and graphic texts about what would happen to them if they didn't pay the suspect an additional $500.

No further money was sent and the victims blocked the suspect’s phone number to prevent further communication. The event was reported to the payment app, who said the money was wired to someone in the Dominican Republic. Unfortunately the victims could not recover their money.

Shoreline Police warn citizens to be very cautious when making purchases like this online. Anyone can open a fake social media account and the person behind the keyboard may have questionable intentions.


 


Read more...

What to do with those seeds you got in the mail and other scams

Saturday, August 8, 2020

A number of Shoreline / LFP residents have received
unordered seeds from China

Getting unordered seeds and stuff in the mail?

By Jennifer Leach
Associate Director, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC


Those mysterious seeds from China have been in the headlines, but we’re also hearing about other stuff that people are getting that looks connected to the seed mystery. 

There could be a few things going on, so let’s start unraveling the Great Unwanted Goods Mystery of 2020.

First, DON’T PLANT MYSTERY SEEDS. And don’t throw them away. Instead, follow the USDA’s advice on what to do.

(Ed. Or send them to the Washington state agriculture department.)

Did you order something and get seeds or other junk instead?
 
If that’s you, dispute the charges for the thing you didn’t get. 

We hear that some sellers might be sending stuff so they can show payment companies the tracking numbers to prove they delivered something to you. 

So: tell the payment service you used (PayPal, for example), and your credit or debit card company right away that you got seeds, never got anything, or got something other than what you ordered. 

If the seller tries to use a tracking number to prove it delivered, point out anything to show that it’s not credible — maybe a weight listed that’s different from the package you got, or a different delivery address.

You might have read about the “brushing” scam

In this one, somebody sends you stuff, unordered, because it lets them give themselves a great review in your name. Annoying, but whatever, right? Nope. More than annoying. 

It could mean that the scammers have created an account in your name, or taken over your account, on online retail sites. Or even created new accounts (maybe lots of them) in other names tied to your address. Letting them post lots of seemingly-real reviews. So keep an eye on your online shopping accounts. 

If you spot activity that isn’t yours, report it to the site right away, and think about changing your password for that site.

Finally, if you got seeds or anything else in that mail that you didn’t order, you don’t have to pay for it. You also never have to return unordered merchandise.

Is it jinxing us to ask how much weirder 2020 can get? Let’s be careful out there. And if you spot a scam, tell the FTC: ftc.gov/complaint



Read more...

Did you book with Rocketmiles - you may have a refund due

Saturday, August 1, 2020

Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that, as a result of his office’s multiyear investigation into online travel agency Rocketmiles, Washington consumers can now file claims to receive their share of a $300,000 recovery. 

From May 1, 2015 to December 5, 2016, the company charged hidden fees on more than 8,000 transactions in Washington, even though they told consumers they charged the same rate as booking directly with a hotel or a competing travel agency.

This is the latest action under Ferguson’s Honest Fees Initiative. With this action, the Honest Fees Initiative has recovered nearly $8.3 million total.

To file a claim, visit the refund page to fill out a form. All claims must be submitted on or before September 29, 2020. For questions about the claims process, there is more information HERE

More information HERE






Read more...
ShorelineAreaNews.com
Facebook: Shoreline Area News
Twitter: @ShorelineArea
Daily Email edition (don't forget to respond to the Follow.it email)

  © Blogger template The Professional Template II by Ourblogtemplates.com 2009

Back to TOP