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Scams & Identity Theft

Privacy Policy

Scams

Supporting Disaster Relief Could Lead to Disaster

As quickly as the news services can report the disaster of an earthquake, flood or tornado a potential disaster is already on its way to your telephone. Fraudulent telemarketers are coming after you for “gifts” to help the poor unfortunate victims of disaster. They will be counting on the emotions of the moment for you to suspend your better judgment and make an immediate gift without checking on the validity of the “charity.”

If you did not initiate the call, do not give! But if you still think the caller is sincere, ask them to send in the mail materials that list their federal tax identification number and information about how much of each dollar will go to assist the victims of disaster. If they do not happily agree to send the information, hang up!

If you are still on the telephone because they offered you some excuse that you found plausible, you will next be asked for your credit card number or they will offer to come to your home to pick up your check! Hang up the telephone or the next disaster will be to your bank account and the security of your identity.

Disasters will happen and it is in our nature to want to help. Here are some tips to help protect yourself and while you help others.

1. If you did not make the call to the charity, say “no thank you” and hang up. No reputable charity would ever coerce you to stay on the telephone. So be confident that you are doing the right thing when you just hang up!
2. If a charity that is calling you will not send you written materials about themselves and how they distribute the dollars they receive then they are probably a fraud.
3. Review the news reports for charitable-relief agencies that are reputable and well established at providing the specific assistance that will be needed in a disaster. The print media, local and national television news programs regularly offer direct-contact information to charities that are known to be honest and effective at providing disaster relief.
4. The Federal Trade Commission has a list of approved disaster relief agencies that it has researched and had direct experience with. FTC website: FTC.gov or call 877.438.4338.

Identity Theft

• Do not use old fashion mail boxes.
  • Rural mailboxes are a favorite target of identity thieves!
  • Get a postal box in a secure location.

• Discarded trash is another favorite of identity thieves!
  • Buy a shredder.
  • Use the shredder.
  • Shred checks, transaction receipts, credit card receipts, bank statements and investment statements.
  • Wallets stolen from purses are also targets. Store identification and credit cards separately.

• Professional scammers trick people into telling their personal information on phony web sites or on the phone posing as your bank or credit card company.
  • Never, never, never give out your personal identification number (PIN).

• Beware of credit card applications and loan offers that are mailed to you; shred them so no one fills them out in your name.

What if I think I am a victim of identity theft?

• Get a copy of your credit report and tell them to place a fraud alert on your record.
• Each of the following services allows one free credit report per year.
  • Equifax, P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348, Phone 1.800.525.6285 or www.equifax.com
  • Experian, P.O. Box 2002, Allen, TX 75013, Phone 1.888.397.3742 or www.experian.com
  • TransUnion, P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19022, Phone 1.800.680.7289 or www.transunion.com
• Close the account that has been tampered with and ask for your credit to be cleared.
• Call local police, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at: 1.877.IDTHEFT (1.877.438.4338) or www.consumer.gov/idtheft

Other important contact information

• San Diego District Attorney, Elder Abuse Advocacy and Outreach, 1.619.531.3245 or toll free 1.866.279.5489
• District Attorney website: www.sandiegoda.com and select Elder Abuse under Victim Services.
• Aging and Independent Services: 1.800.510.2020 (County of San Diego, Health and Human Services Agency)