SDNHM: Live Oaks Society

Scams and Identity Theft

Scams

Lottery scam in three acts

Act One: Canadian and Australian lottery scams are currently being perpetrated in Southern California and other parts of the United States.

You may be notified by mail, email or telephone that you have won some money in a lottery that is not in the United States.
Although you never bought a ticket to this lottery, the lottery “official” will tell you that you were still selected as the winner by the use of some other selection method.
You will be told by the lottery “official” in order to claim your winnings you must first pay all or some of the taxes on your winnings. You will be told this is required because you do not live in the country where you have won the money.

Act Two: The police and the recovery company

If someone had sent in the tax money in order to claim the lottery prize, it is likely that they will be contacted by the “police” or some investigative agency. The “police” or official will identify themselves as some sort of person of authority who is calling to tell them that they have bad news about a lottery scam.
After delivering the bad news about the lottery scam, they tell them that there is company that will help with the recovery of the money they have lost. For a small recovery fee or a percentage of what will be recovered the company will get your money back. The company will begin work when you pay them the fee in advance.

Act Three: Loss and tragedy

The eventual discovery that the lottery, police and the recovery company were all scams and your money is gone and not likely to be recovered.

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)