Story by STEVE TRAIMAN
While online, email and phone scams of all kinds – taxes, romance, charity, personal assets – occur year-round, they ramp up at the holidays, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office warns.
Charity scams are the highest occurrence, with many false requests for donations to so-called law officers and veterans’ groups at the top of the list.
First line of defense for any “charity’ is to access www.CharityNavigator.org, that lists more than 100,000 legitimate and other charities by name. Any ranking below 3 stars of 5, or program donations of less than 60% should be suspect. The site also notes reasons for not listing vital information on any group.
At tax season, the sheriff’s office reminds you that fraud continues to be a threat in Pinellas County (March 2021 advisory). The Economic Crimes Unit notes the typical scenario involves a caller who pretends to be the IRS and tells their potential victim that they owe taxes to the IRS and that an active warrant out for their arrest, unless they pay over the phone with pre-paid cards and provide the numbers to them.
The PCSO offers these five tips to avoid becoming a victim of an IRS scam: Check Your Computer’s Security and thoroughly research any software or security settings to ensure that your computer or other devices are protected…
Beware of Public Wi-Fi when completing your tax return. Don’t Communicate With Unknown Contacts – as an example, IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text message, telephone, or social media to request financial information … Pay Close Attention to the Source and don’t respond to pre-recorded voicemails that are threatening or urgent, or to emails asking for personal information, open any attachments, or click on any links … and Use the Right Payment Method – if a caller asks for a credit card, gift card, pre-paid debit card, iTunes card, or wire transfer, do not give it to them but ask to get a mail request.
The Dangers of Cyber Romance (Feb. 2021 Advisory) … Online dating has become one of the most popular ways for singles to find partners and according to Statista, as of 2020, more than 32 million Americans are using online dating services, and the online dating service eHarmony reported that 53% of people who use dating websites lie on their profiles.
Romance fraud is a preventable crime if you know what to look for. Here’s how you can keep yourself from becoming a victim: Never send money; carefully examine people’s profiles; use reverse image search on their pictures; end the relationship if they refuse to meet you face to face; if you do meet the person, pick a public place and let a friend or family member know where you are.
If a scam sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you are the victim of any type of fraudulent scam, contact the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office at 727-582-6200.
AARP Fraud Watch Network
Another excellent anti-scam alert system is the AARP Fraud Watch Network, as the organization points out that research shows that knowing about a kind of scam can help you avoid it.
The AARP Scam-Tracking Map shows reports in real-time, searchable by ZIP code. With more than 50 different types of scams represented, phishing, grandparent scams and romance scams are among the most reported via the map.
The Network emphasizes: Stay Informed – Knowledge gives you power over scams. The network equips you with reliable, up-to-date insights, alerts and fraud prevention resources to help you spot and avoid scams and protect your loved ones. It even covers the latest scams in the news … Find Support – If you’ve been targeted by scams or fraud, you are not alone. Trained fraud specialists provide support and guidance on what to do next and how to avoid scams in the future. The AARP Fraud Helpline, 877-908-3360, is free and available to anyone. It also offers online support sessions for further emotional support … Have a Voice – AARP fights for consumers by advocating for laws and regulations to stop scams and shut down fraud attempts. It also provides a voice to consumer concerns and helps shape the public discussion on fraud.
AARP offers these Fraud Prevention Resources: Look up a scam in AARP’s Fraud Resource Center, with dozens of tip sheets on how to recognize and avoid common scams, including videos that break down how scams work … See or report scams in your area with the Scam-Tracking Map … Get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Watchdog Alerts or text FWN to 50757 to receive text alerts … Hear directly from fraud experts at one of AARP’s webinars, tele-town halls or live events in communities around the country … Hear stories of real scams on the
award-winning podcast, The Perfect Scam … Get social with the AARP Fraud Watch Network on Facebook and Twitter, where you’ll also have access to online events. You can also connect with others on the Scams & Fraud channel in AARP’s online community … For resources in Spanish,
go to www.aarp.org/fraude
[Editor’s Note: Special thanks to the PCSO Public Information Officers and the AARP Fraud Watch Network for the excellent information and resources.]
[Feature editor Steve Traiman is president of Creative Copy by Steve Traiman, providing professional business writing services since 1993. He can be reached via email to traimancreativecopy@gmail.com or by phone
to 727-363-7531.]