Seniors ETC - In-home senior, parent, companion care, hospice support in Colorado

“DON’T GET CAUGHT!”

    Fishing in the high country of Colorado is a great experience; throw out a line with enticing bait, hook a fish, and reel it in!

    ‘Phishing’ is when crooks do the same…only with people as the target. These con artists make phone calls, or send an E-mail or piece of ‘hard’ mail, dangle bait, hope the hook catches, and then reel in a victim.

    So what is the bait that hooks people? It may be the hope of winning a lottery or sweepstakes. It may be a message of fear: you’ve missed Jury Duty or your car warranty is out-of-date or a grandchild has experienced an emergency and needs money wired immediately. It may be the promise of a special vacation, gift certificates, or some other offer that requires an immediate response; the crook hopes you react NOW and think later.

    When I’m fishing for real fish, I change the lure when I believe the fish have become alerted to my efforts. Crooks will change the bait occasionally as well; especially if a particular scheme seems to be gaining attention and people are becoming alert to it. But ‘Phishing’ will not stop! Unfortunately, it works. With poor economic conditions, ‘Phishing’ may become more effective. Let’s talk about general protective hints regardless of the bait:

• If it’s too good to be true…it may be ‘Phishing’;
• If the offer is ‘Something for virtually nothing,’…it may be ‘Phishing’;
• If it raised the need, particularly an emergency need, for money to be wired or a Money Order sent…it may be ‘Phishing’;
• If personal information, such as your bank account number, a credit card account number & security code, or Social Security number are needed to complete the deal…it may be ‘Phishing’;
• If you need to respond immediately for the deal to occur or the transaction needs to be ‘Kept Secret’…it may be ‘Phishing’;
• – No legitimate business or government agency will contact you by phone to conduct business or solve a problem;
  – Invest in ‘Caller ID’ and only answer calls from known phone numbers;
  – When an offer is made by phone, take a moment to allow adrenaline to subside; then find a manner of ‘checking it out’ before you act.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado
To report fraud, ask a question, or schedule a ‘Power Against Fraud’ seminar, call: 303-271-6980

A consumer can do everything possible to be personally safe and still become a victim of ID theft. The Bank of New York Mellon announced on August 28, 2008, that backup tapes containing personal information of 12.4 million clients had been lost during a routine transit. Certigy, the largest check guarantee company in the U.S., announced that an IT insider downloaded the information for 2.4 million customers and sold that information. A local bank manager could sell customer information to support a hidden drug problem. There is little protection from these types
of activities; we are vulnerable.

In a discussion about ID theft, consumers must understand that we are dependent upon the good faith effort of businesses to carefully monitor their employees and ‘business as usual’ practices. Most are overly responsive, installing safeguards to protect sensitive client information. Since, however, there are situations beyond our control, every consumer needs to do what they can do to guard and insulate their safety.

• Subscribe to the Colorado ‘No Call’ list: www.coloradonocall.com or 303-776-2678;
• Stop Pre-Approved Credit Card Applications from coming in the mail: www.optoutprescreen.com or 1-888-567-8688;
• Stop ‘Convenience Checks’: Call the ‘800’ number on the back of your credit card. State: “I’d like to OPT OUT of your marketing programs.”;
• Place a ‘Security Freeze’ with the credit reporting agencies (call our office for a flyer outlining how to do so—303-271-6970);
• Order your free credit reports and check them carefully: Go to www.annualcreditreport.com or call the credit reporting agency;
• Reduce the checks you write each month. Use automatic ‘Bill Pay,’ phone bill pay, or contact your local bank for assistance;
• As far as possible, keep your eye on your credit card;
• Remove everything from your purse/wallet containing your Social Security number: Social Security card; Military ID card; Medicare card; and get a new Colorado Driver’s License if it’s on your current license.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado
To report fraud, ask a question, or schedule a ‘Power Against Fraud’ seminar, call: 303-271-6980

I went into a retail store to purchase a few things. The checkout lines extended halfway into the store. People were bunched up, trying to make the lines smaller, while trying to hold their items for purchase and calling out to children who were bored and running around. I walked out after remembering that school shopping was in full bloom. I said to myself, “That scene was an ID theft nightmare waiting to happen!”

Here are a few reminders for grandparents and/or parents who might be taking children shopping for school supplies and other necessities:

• Carry economic information, like a credit/debit card and checks in a neck wallet, fanny pack, or the pockets of your clothing;
• Ladies, don’t set your purse down on the floor or leave it in a shopping cart while looking at items or chasing after a wayward child;
• Never leave anything of value, including a purse, in your car;
• To the best of your ability, try to keep your eye on your credit card at all times; try not to lay it on a counter while waiting for purchases to be tallied;
• Remember that the numbers of your credit card on a receipt, both your customer copy and the retail copy, must be truncated;
• Try to be aware of your surroundings as thieves love chaos and turmoil, including lots of people, noise, and distractions, as a context for stealing personal information;
• If personal information is stolen, call the Fraud Hotline (303-271-6980) to receive assistance in guarding your loss against ID theft.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado

During these tough economic times, everyone seems to be looking for an edge. Escalating prices have weakened the scale of retirement savings and placed a crunch on household budgets. Many are looking for part-time work to somewhat offset rising costs.

An enticing lure is the opportunity to become a ‘Secret Shopper.’ The opportunity boasts that an ‘employee’ is hired to visit a retail store, buy a few items, and then turn in an evaluation of the customer experience. The hours are flexible; one can work as much or little as desired; and the pay is remarkable for the time spent ‘on the job.’ Additionally, one may keep the items purchased during the ‘shopping experience.’ The offers are posted in local newspapers and via Internet communications and Websites. While such a legitimate service may exist, most are a scam.

Shortly after signing up to become a ‘Secret Shopper,’ an assignment arrives along with a check. The first assignment, which must be completed within 48 hours, goes something like this:

1) Deposit the enclosed check for $4900 at your bank;

2) Go to Walmart, spend $100 (and keep what you buy), and make an  evaluation of the service; keep $100 for making your evaluation;

3) Go to Money Gram and send $4200 to another ‘Secret Shopper’      associate (forwarding information given) and evaluate the service at Money Gram; keep $200 for making your evaluation;

4) Keep $300 as your probationary income.

The check is bogus. The check will bounce. Any amount sent via Money Gram may never be recovered.

Some suggestions:

·    If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is;

·    Check out the legitimacy of a business by calling the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org or 303-758-2100) or the office of the Secretary of State (303-894-2200);

·    Call the District Attorney’s Fraud Hotline (303-271-6980) to inquire whether the offer might be a scam. We are happy to research an offer.

·    Never cash a check that has been sent without due reason; remember that once money is sent via a wire transfer, it is most likely irretrievable;

·    Remember that even in today’s sophisticated electronic world it may take checks 7-10 days to clear; if a check is bogus, it will be returned after 7-10 days;

·    Many of the checks have a business heading with no relationship to the ‘Secret Shopper’ organization. For example, the ‘Secret Shopper’ organization posts a New York address and the check may be drawn on an unrelated business in Georgia.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado

Can anything be worse than an unexpected car repair? The timing usually stinks. Being without a car, while it is repaired, is a nightmare; and the cost of working on today’s vehicles is expensive. However, I trust those life issues aren’t enough to get you to move on a surge of adrenaline and act without clear thought when a postcard or phone call comes claiming that your car warranty has expired.

Car warranty messages are of two varieties. First, let’s discuss calls which are clearly fraudulent. These calls will suggest that you provide a bank account number or credit card number and your car warranty will be immediately reinstated. Then crooks on the other end of the line take your financial information and defraud you.

The second type of call involves scam artists. Perhaps you’ve received a postcard that said, “Urgent Message!” or “Your Car Warranty Has Expired!” and the postcard directs the recipient to call a number. In most cases, a price is quoted and the consumer must give an immediate down-payment, by credit card, and the transaction must be finished in one phone call or the deal can never be completed. In other words, you must pay for the warranty without reading information describing coverage. When callers ask about coverage, the answers range from “Just like your old warranty,” “Just like the warranty when the car was new,” or “This warranty covers everything you’ll ever need.” Typically the cost is way out-of-line and the coverage is much less than expected.

Here are some helpful reminders:

• * Never give out personal financial information where a call has not    been initiated by you;
• * Check out any car warranty company by calling your local car dealership or the Better Business Bureau;
• * Always get information in writing, and consult someone else about the provisions, before making a deal or signing paperwork;
• * Slow down! Don’t be hurried by the word, “Urgent!”
• * Seniors, especially, are being targeted by this scam. Let’s ‘Watch out!’  for one another.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado

“The check is in the mail!” Most times we scoff. However, the Internal Revenue Service will begin sending payments associated with the economic stimulus plan beginning May 2ND. Those who filed their taxes with an automatic deposit request will received their payment first; those who filed their taxes with a payment or asking for a paper check will start receiving their payments May 16TH (a schedule follows).

It will be great to receive an economic stimulus payment. But it may give crooks an opportunity to commit their crimes via fraudulent E-mail, phone ‘phishing’ calls, and, perhaps, ‘phishing’ letters. As payments begin to arrive for some, others may begin wondering about why their payment has not arrived and this could raise the opportunity for these fraudulent schemes to be successful.

Remember that you must file a 2007 Income Tax Return to receive the economic stimulus payment.  After that, nothing is required except to wait for the payment to arrive. If you have any questions at all, please visit www.irs.gov.

These warnings come from the IRS Website:

• Do not response to a phone call from someone who states they work for the IRS and that they need to solicit information from you before you can receive your rebate;
• Do not response to a phone call asking why you haven’t cashed your rebate check from the IRS; if you respond that you haven’t received your check, they may try to solicit personal information;
• Do not respond to any E-mail, claiming to be from the IRS, stating that you need to provide additional information to receive your rebate, warning that you will be audited if you do not provide additional information, or implying that the rebate provisions have changed and additional information is needed. The IRS will not solicit information by E-mail;
• Do not respond to any contact stating that your rebate payment appears to have been lost in transmission and information is needed to send out a new payment.

Economic Stimulus Information

To receive a payment, taxpayers must have a valid Social Security number, $3000 of income and file a 2007 federal tax return. The IRS will take care of the rest. Eligible people will receive up to $600 ($1200 for couples), and $300 for each eligible dependent younger than 17.

For Seniors, the $3000 in income can come from Social Security benefits, Veteran’s Affairs benefits, Railroad Retirement benefits and earned income. However, a 2007 tax form must be filed.

For assistance in filing a 2007 tax form, Seniors may go to the Belmar Library, 555 S. Allison Parkway, Lakewood, on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 AM-2 PM or to Kaiser Permanente, 8383 W. Alameda, Lakewood, on Fridays from 9 AM-2:30 PM. Bring your 1099 form showing Social Security or Veterans payments. When you check in, state that you are there for help with the economic stimulus program. They will provide you with all necessary forms.

The IRS payment schedule is as follows, using the last two SS# digits of the primary number on your tax return:

DIRECT DEPOSIT
Last two SSN digits:               Payment will be transmitted:
 00 through 20                                    May 2
 21 through 75                                     May 9
 76 through 99                                     May 16

PAPER CHECK
 Last two SSN digits:                  Payments will be mailed by:
 00 through 09                                        May 16
 10 through 18                                         May 23
 19 through 25                                         May 30
 26 through 38                                         June 6
 39 through 51                                         June 13
 52 through 63                                         June 20
 64 through 75                                         June 27
 76 through 87                                         July 4
 88 through 99                                         July 11
 

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado

No letters seems to invoke fear and intrigue like “IRS.” No one plans to make a mistake on a tax form or win the ‘Audit’ lottery; everyone hopes to receive a bigger refund than expected.

Tax time is a successful season for scammers to use ‘phishing’ E-mails involving the IRS. The goal is always the same: obtain a bank account number, credit card number, or Social Security number. The method involves scaring the recipient with the threat of an audit, a penalty due to a mistake on one’s tax forms or to surprise the recipient with an unexpected return of funds from discovery of an error in the taxpayers’ favor.

The IRS will never contact a taxpayer by E-mail. Let’s put an end to the success of crooks who use tax schemes to obtain personal information to commit ID theft. Here are some common ‘phishing’ schemes:

• The new tax rebate enacted by Congress allows crooks an opportunity to contact people offering a faster refund or making sure the recipient receives all that is coming to them by doing some of the work involved in filing for the refund. If you filed a tax return, that’s all you need to do for eligibility for the Congressional refund; no one will contact you by E-mail from the IRS—you cannot hurry the process;
• An E-mail from the IRS stating, “We owe you money!” The letter states that by going to a link provided and entering necessary information, the refund will be processed and sent. The link takes the recipient to a Website that is an excellent imitation of the IRS Website;
• Another scheme involves alerting the recipient that the IRS has found a mistake on your tax forms or discovered that information is lacking to process your tax forms. The victim is directed to a bogus Website where personal information must be supplied.

These examples will change. Schemes can also occur via a telephone call or mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service. Remember, the IRS will not contact you by E-mail or telephone. Visit www.irs.gov for more information.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado

“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes,” so uttered Benjamin Franklin in 1789. I’ll add another certainty:
a crook somewhere is looking for a manner of seizing your tax forms so that personal information can be stolen and used.

During tax season, ID thieves are looking for people to make careless mistakes concerning their tax information. Habits that we follow regularly can give thieves an opportunity to steal tax forms or copy information that they can use for ID theft. Tax time can already be painful; don’t make it worse by becoming a victim of ID theft. Here are some hints to keep your income tax response safer:

• Do not leave tax preparation information laying out at home—put everything away when you are not working on your taxes;
• Do not throw practice and duplicate forms away in your trash if they contain your Social Security number or other personal information—shred these forms;
• When you have finished your tax preparation, make copies of every form and store your information in a safe and secure place;
• Do not store tax preparation materials, like bank account numbers or Social Security numbers, on your computer;
• If you must send a check to the IRS, do not write your Social Security number on the check; consider filing and paying On-line;
• If you choose to mail your tax return, take it to the Post Office, stop your car and walk inside to deposit this information. Do not use a blue postal box to mail your tax return or leave this information sitting openly in your car for any length of time;
• Consider sending your tax return to the IRS by ‘Certified Mail, Return Receipt,’ so you will know it arrived and someone signed for it;
• Opt to have any tax refund electronically deposited into a bank account rather than having a refund check sit in your mailbox.

Source: District Attorney Scott Storey, Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties, Colorado

Nobody expects to be a victim of crime or crisis.  Still, being prepared for the unexpected can pay off.  Here are some suggestions for recording vital information in case of a crime or emergency.

What’s In Your Wallet?
If someone stole your wallet today, what would you do?  While none of us think it will happen to us, the truth is that it might.  In case it does, make photocopies of the contents, including your driver’s license, other identification cards, passport, medical insurance card, and proof of auto insurance.  Do not carry your social security card in your wallet.Rarely are crime victims able to list the contents of a stolen wallet or purse.  But providing this information to deputies gives law enforcement a better chance of returning stolen goods to their owners.  Also, having copies of important cards can help get you through day-to-day necessities until the wallet is recovered or replaced.

Legal Papers
In the event of a fire or other natural disaster, the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management team recommends making copies of all legal papers, including: marriage license, proof of home/property ownership, vehicle titles, wills, insurance policies, bank account information and jewelry/valuable appraisals.  Keep these copies in a safe deposit box at your bank, or at another secure location away from the originals.

Yourself
If you have a medical condition, consider completing a “File of Life.”  The File of Life is a simple form that contains critical medical information that can assist medics responding to an emergency at your home.  To request a File of Life, contact the Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management office at 303-271-4900.

Your Best Friend
Licensing reunites lost dogs with their owners.  A dog license can be traced 24 hours a day, every day of the year by an on-call animal control officer in any part of the county. The license database includes home and alternate phone numbers, a secondary person to contact in case of an emergency, as well as medical and dietary information on the dog.  For more information on licensing, visit http://animalcontrol.jeffco.us.

Cats are not licensed in Jefferson County.  However, both cats and dogs should wear an ID tag with the owner’s contact information.  Microchipping is also a good way to ensure your cat or dog’s safe return.

 Source: Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office

We are a charitable and giving nation. Assistance provided to needy families during the holiday season is just one reminder of how good-hearted Americans prove themselves to be. Unfortunately our benevolent nature is one more area that criminals may exploit.

Many people review their financial and tax status at year’s end and make a gift to a charity. These gifts of generosity need to be made with wisdom and some investigation. Please recall that no Federal law exists governing how charities or non-profits spend any certain portion of the funds they raise for the programs and services they state to support. Consequently, the charitable giver should check out the organization receiving their donor gift. Some suggestions follow:

• You may receive a report on how a particular charity uses its funds by calling the Better Business Bureau or downloading a report online at www.give.org or www.charitynavigator.org;
• If you receive a telephone solicitation from a charity, do not immediately pledge funds; ask that a charitable report be sent and check them out first;
• Remember that crooks can imitate a charity when contacting you by telephone or e-mail; you never know who is really at the end of the line when you receive an unsolicited contact. Never give out a bank account or credit card number when a contact has been initiated with you by telephone, e-mail, or U.S mail;
• Use caution when you hear the name of a charity. It is not unusual for less reputable or fraudulent endeavors to find a close imitation to an established and well-known charity. For example, instead of the “American Red Cross” it might be “The United States Red Cross.”
• Make a “Charitable Plan” for your giving each year and stick to it; try not to give on impulse.

Source: Office of Jefferson/Gilpin Counties District Attorney Scott Storey