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Prevent Fraud Through Awareness

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By B.C. MANION

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 6, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - If you can save it or spend it, chances are someone has found a way to steal it.

That was the gist of a recent talk given by Debbie Brown, an investigator for the Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Agency, to members of the Town 'N Country Park Homeowners Civic Association.

Brown's presentation, "Scams, Schemes and Scoundrels," covered dozens of ways people can get ripped off.

She warned civic association members to take precautions against identity theft, which she called "one of the fastest-growing crimes in America."

Consumers must beware of bogus e-mails that look like they're coming from legitimate companies, she said.

The fake e-mails look real because the scammers have hijacked the logo and typeset of the legitimate companies, she said. This type of scam is called phishing. Criminals hope these e-mails will prompt you to provide personal information they can use to steal your identity, Brown said.

If you suspect that a fake company is trying to get your information, you can submit it to www.antiphishing.org or to www.phishtank.com to see if it is legitimate or a fraud, Brown said.

Another type of scam is called vishing, which is short for voice phishing, she said. These scams can be done by a telemarketing call or by e-mail. The scammers want the recipient to call a toll-free number that has a recorded message asking them to provide their personal information. Generally, the caller claims that a company's database has been compromised and you need to call this number to update your information.

Another scam primarily targets young people who frequently use text messaging, Brown said. This kind of scam, called smishing, often is done two ways: The bogus text message offers the recipient a very good deal or informs the recipient he or she is going to be charged for a monthly service. In both cases, the message is aimed at getting the recipient to give up personal information.

Even newborns can be victims of identity theft.

"All you need is a Social Security number to steal someone's identity," Brown said.

Although there are no foolproof methods to protect yourself, there are steps you can take to reduce the odds.

If you are 65 or have been the victim of identity theft, you can freeze your credit for free, she said.

Others can put a freeze on their credit by paying $10 to each of the three credit-reporting bureaus, Equifax, TransUnion and Experian. That doesn't affect existing credit but prevents criminals from initiating new credit in your name, she said.

"When someone opens new credit in your name without you knowing, that is really the most damaging," Brown said. The criminal could be using it in another state to buy a car, purchase a home or buy other things you are unaware of.

Take advantage of the annual free credit checks that are provided by the three credit-reporting bureaus, Brown said. She recommends doing the free credit checks on a rotating basis, getting a free report every four months, to be sure no one is using your credit.

It's a good idea to mail your bills and other correspondence at a mailbox or post office, Brown said. The red flag on your mailbox to let the postal carrier know to pick up mail sends the same message to thieves.

Online auction fraud is another source of headaches, Brown said. Buyers and sellers are at risk.

Those buying items online need to know that their payment is secure, their data is protected and the whole transaction is legitimate, she said.

Sellers must be wary of counterfeit payments.

One scam with online auctions is called "the second-bidder's scam," Brown said. In these cases, the bidder who loses the auction is contacted by someone offering the same item for the same price.

"Trust me, it's a scam," Brown said.

In these cases, a con artist has gone online to find out how much you bid and your e-mail address, she said. Then he or she poses as the original seller. You send your payment, and you never get a thing.

When you are ordering anything online, don't use a debit card, personal check, cashier's check, money order or a wire transfer, Brown advised.

"They're very difficult to recover. They're hard to trace." Instead, use a credit card because there's a federal law that protects you, she said. "With a credit card, the most you would have to pay is $50."

There are many variations of con games that promise quick money and don't deliver, Brown said.

It's also a good idea to avoid charity solicitations, she said. Lots of scams arise out of natural disasters and other tragedies.

"We're not telling you not to give - we're telling you to know who you are giving to," Brown said. For guidance, you can go to www.myflorida.com, search for the Division of Consumer Services and click on Gift Givers' Guide.

Be leery of advance fee scams, too, Brown said. In these scams, consumers are promised a prize but have to pay fees upfront first. Don't do it.

Other common ways that people get ripped off include mortgage fraud, roof repair scams and home repairs made by unlicensed contractors, Brown said.

When you hire a general contractor to do a project, be sure that he has paid subcontractors and suppliers who are working on the job - and be sure to get lien releases from them so they can't attach a lien to your property later, Brown said.

If you're hiring a company to do work for you in Hillsborough County and you don't know how to check them out, call Brown's office, she said.

"We're your 'Easy Button,'" said Brown, who is one of nine investigators in her office. "We want you to call us when you need help. We'll go to the Web sites for you. We'll let you know if there are any complaints."

The agency welcomes calls from consumers who have concerns about consumer fraud, Brown said.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Agency
WEB SITE: www.hillsborough county.org/consumer protection

PHONE: (813) 903-3430

OTHER HELPFUL WEB SITES

www.lookstoogoodtobetrue.com

www.ftc.gov

www.fraud.org

www.CyberCrime.gov

www.fakechecks.org

INTERNET FRAUD PREVENTION TIPS

•Don't download files sent to you by strangers or click on hyperlinks sent by strangers.

•Use a firewall program, especially if you use a high-speed Internet connection.

•Avoid storing financial information on your laptop. If you must, use a strong password, don't use an automatic login feature and always log off.

•Use a secure browser that encrypts or scrambles information you send over the Internet.

•Before you dispose of a computer, delete your personal information from the hard drive. Use a "wipe" utility program to overwrite the entire hard drive.

•Use a separate, low-limit credit card for Internet purchases.

•Avoid e-mailing personal and financial information. Before submitting financial information through a Web site, look for the "lock" icon on the browser's status bar. It signals that your information is secure during transmission.

Source: Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Agency.

Reporter B.C. Manion can be reached at (813) 865-1507 or bmanion@tampatrib.com.

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