Top 10 Scams for July
1 – Beware of any job postings that lead you to the website jobnab.com. Local papers have recently ran classified ads that lead to the website. The site contacts job seekers via email or text message about seeing their resume online and guarantees a job after registering. A job offer never materializes but identity theft often occurs. Be careful giving out your personal information!
2 – Help wanted ads on employment websites aren’t always legitimate. Scam artists are placing ads looking for job seekers to forward money from one account to another or to reship stolen merchandise overseas Consumers who respond to the ads are told the employer is in a foreign country and needs an American contact to handle business in the U.S.
3 – Job seekers, be wary of www.careersystemsllc.com. The company claims to offer assistance to consumers seeking government jobs. It is managed by the previous owners of Government Careers, Inc. (GCI). In 2010, the Attorney General and FTC filed a lawsuit against GCI and affiliates were directed to stop engaging in this line of business. GCI was BBB’s third most complained about company in 2009.
4 – Beware of the Best Buy reshipping scam. Con artists are using the company’s name, targeting unsuspecting job seekers via email with an invite to become a gift wrapper. The job offer is not legitimate and people who accept these fraudulent positions may be asked to do things for which they could be prosecuted by authorities. Legitimate Best Buy jobs are posted on their career website.
5 – Paypal Scam – If you receive an email from Paypal stating your account access is limited, it could be a scam. The email states your account has been accessed by a third party and directs users to a link that asks for personal information. Be careful of these phishing scams and be mindful of what information you are giving out online.
6 – Consumers using Medicare will receive a tax rebate check for $250 as part of the Affordable Care Act, aimed to close the coverage gap, making it more affordable to Senior Citizens. These checks will be mailed by the Dept. of Health and Human Services within 45 days of entering the coverage gap. You will not need to provide personal information to receive the check.
7 – Consumers are being annoyed with hundreds of phone calls through a “telephone denial-of-service” attack. The phone calls divert the consumer’s attention and tie up the phone line while the scam artist drains the consumer’s bank account. The bank tries to contact the victim, but gets a busy signal and continues with the transaction. Scammers get the victim’s personal information months in advance via phishing in an email or phone call.
8 – Beware of “Scareware!” These pop-up boxes warn web surfers that their computer is affected with a virus. The pop-up’s are a part of a scam to scare internet goers to pay for fake anti-virus programs out of fear for their hard drives. BBB advises internet users not to click on any unexpected pop-ups.
9 – A Solid Gold Sound has an “F” rating with BBB. Brides across the country say the photography and video company takes their money and never delivers! The company also operates under A Sensory Sound System. Check out a company with the BBB, ask for names of satisfied customers, make contracts in writing and include dates, products, prices, and all fees. Never pay in full upfront, and pay by credit card in case you need to cancel the purchase.
10 – Car shoppers, beware of websites offering too-good-to-be-true deals on repossessed cars. The scammers use names, numbers, and addresses of reputable car dealers to build fraudulent websites that claim to sell repossessed cars at well below market price. The sites instruct buyers to wire a deposit to an individual rather than the company helping to “avoid taxes legally,” and claim the remainder can be paid upon delivery. After the deposit is paid, victims call the real dealership to arrange pick-up and find they have been scammed.
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