The Latest Scams ::: Tips to Avoid Being Scammed



	Tips to Avoid a Scam: 1. The Golden Rule When an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. 2. Keep Personal Info Private Never give your bank account, social security, or credit card numbers to anyone you don’t know and trust. 3. Avoid High Pressure Sales Say no to any offer or deal that is only available right now. 4. Never Pay for a Prize If you are offered a prize but are asked to pay a “processing fee” or “taxes in advance,”it is likely a scam. You shouldn’t have to pay anything to win a free prize. If you’re still not sure whether it's a scam, call our Scam Hotline at (858) 715-1648.				Scam Menu: Latest Scams Property Tax Scam Foreclosure Prevention/Land Patent Scam Get the Facts About the U.S. Census New Lottery Scam Claiming to Be From the BBB Property Tax Scam Recent reports of a property tax scam in San Diego County should keep home owners on their toes. Residents of the County report receiving official-looking documents in the mail claiming to be from the County Assessor’s Office. They include the County Assessor’s ID number and the address of the real property. They even include the current assessed value of the real property. The forms state that for a fee, your property value can be reassessed, but only if you comply by the imposed due date. After said date, a late fee will be added. While these letters look very official, they most certainly are not. Your address, County Assessor’s ID number, and property value are all available to the public. Anyone with the inclination to do so can get his or her hands on this information. If you believe you have been contacted by the County Assessor’s Office, confirm with them by calling (858) 694-3900. Also, keep in mind that any real property-owner can request a free reassessment of their property by contacting the County Assessor’s Office. If you do receive one of these letters, do not act on it. Instead, make note of the address. If it came from Los Angeles, report it to the Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs at 800-593-8222. They are compiling a list of complaints for the LA District Attorney’s Office so that charges may be filed against the individuals running this scam. If the letter came from somewhere else in California, the California Attorney General’s Office would like to know about it. You can reach their Public Inquiry Unit at 800-952-5225. Foreclosure Prevention/Land Patent Scam These days, many people are worried that their home may be foreclosed on. Scammers are preying on this fear by holding “seminars” in which they sell you a “land patent” on your property. They claim that if you apply for this patent, generally costing between $500 and $15,000, you can prevent foreclosure. In addition to paying this large sum, you are required to remove the address numbers from your house, remove all mail receptacles, and “trademark” your name, along with several other bizarre tasks. The people leading these seminars state that, by following these instructions (and paying their fee), you can re-negotiate your promissory notes and trust deeds with your lender. As a result, you will then only be required to pay a percentage of your previous mortgage payment every month. This is “patently” a scam. If you are contacted by these folk or have already bought a “land patent,” report them by calling the San Diego District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Hotline at 619-531-3552. For real assistance in foreclosure prevention, contact the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development at (800) CALL-FHA or visit their website at www.hud.gov. Get the Facts About the U.S. Census Every 10 years, the U.S. Census works to record vital information about everyone living in America. Unfortunately, some see this as an opportunity to spread false information and discourage participation. Emails are the most common form of misinformation delivery. In addition to discouraging participation through the spreading of fear, there is also the potential for scammer to take advantage of those who inherently trust anyone claiming to be a Census taker. Below are the facts about the U.S. Census and what to look out for to make sure you are not scammed in the process. What you need to know The Census is safe. The mailed form will ask you to provide information on your age, race, gender, name, as well as several other areas. All information provided will be kept private, by law, and safe through the highest security standards available. If you do not mail back your form, a Census worker will come to your home to complete the data gathering. Anyone who comes to your home to collect additional information is sworn to uphold you privacy and faces a $250,000 fine or up to 5 years in prison, or both, if they share you information with anyone. All Census workers must wear an ID badge showing the Department of Commerce watermark and an expiration date. If someone knocks on your door claiming to be from the Census, you may request to see this badge. Additionally, he or she may also be carrying a bag with the Census Bureau logo on it. If you ask, the Census worker will also provide you with the phone number for their supervisor or the Local Census Office so that you can verify that he or she is a legitimate employee. You will only be asked the questions that appear on the form. What to look out for Some unscrupulous people may try to take advantage of this opportunity to gain illegal information about you. Keep in mind, a real Census worker will have the identification and resources listed above. Additionally, he or she will not ask for your social security number, your bank account information, or credit card number. They will never solicit donations from you and will not contact you by email. If someone approaches your home claiming to be from the Census and requests any of this information or money, call the police. For more information about the upcoming 2010 Census visit www.2010census.gov. New Lottery Scam Claiming to Be From the BBB Everyone wants to win the lottery. In this economic climate, being told you won millions of dollars can seem like the answer to all of your prayers. Unfortunately, a new, devastating lottery scam is circulating, preying on the consumer’s inherent trust in the Better Business Bureau. Scammers are using the name of the BBB as well as the names of actual BBB employees to convince people to part with thousands of dollars, with one victim already having lost $80,000. The criminals tell their marks that they have won a lottery but before they can claim their prize, they must first wire money to the scammers. When using the names of real BBB employees, they refer the victims to the Bureau’s website to see that the name and an associated bio is legitimate in order to bolster their credibility and put the victim at ease. The Better Business Bureau does not, and never has, run a lottery. If you are contacted by someone claiming it be from the BBB, call him or her back at a number you know to be legitimate. Do not call a number that they provide. If someone claiming to be from the BBB has contacted you about being a lottery winner, call your local BBB and local police department to report the scammers. Keep in mind: You should never have to pay for a prize. If there are taxes or fees to be paid, they will be taken out of the money sent to you or you will pay it to the IRS when you file your taxes. You never should have to pay fees or taxes in order claim your prize or pay money to get money. Finally: Never wire money to someone unless you know for certain whom he or she is. When you wire money, it is next to impossible to track who collects it and where it goes. If it goes to a scammer, it is very likely that you will never see that money again. For more information, visit www.bbb.org/us. Scam Menu: