Vacations are filled with wishes, hopes, and dreams and in many ways are rewards for jobs well-done. We makes lists, buy new clothes, and tuck money away for all the little extras that may come our way. Dreams can come true on vacations, but so can nightmares when scam artists hijack  itineraries and send travelers  on trips down rip-off lane.

Technology allows us the opportunity to pick and choose where we want to go and how to get there. With a click on a link  we can be on the road to relaxation but that same button can send us to a scam artist intent on ruining  plans and stealing hard-earned money.  Before planning your dream vacation or  retreating to a get-a-way rental home, take a few minutes and heed some of the warning signals ahead.

Slow down when viewing pictures of properties online. Scammers manipulate real estate ads and post them online pretending to be agents and/or landlords of the property. Check property   appraiser records for ownership info and search Google (www.google.com )  to take a peek at the location using their street view option.

                                                              Proceed with caution when something seems too good to be true. Discounted rents and below average  offers can be enticements for you to release personal information on bogus forms designed to look like legitimate rental agreements. Never sign a lease for an unseen property and be sure to read fine print on paperwork if the deal is legitimate.

Stop and think before making any payments. NEVER send cash and do not use wire transfers or pre-paid debit cards which are the same as cash and once sent, the money is in a stranger’s pockets and you have nowhere to go. Use a reputable real estate agent if needed and be sure to meet the landlord in person before paying deposits and rental fees. Con artists devise new ways to play their hands in greedy games every day. Come up with protective strategies of your own  by taking a step  back before moving forward. Enjoy yourself and have fun – you earned it!

    Writing is an interesting process. Characters, dialogue, and plots all play a part in a good story and readers enjoy putting the pieces together to come up with an engaging ending. Mysteries present their own challenges and we become armchair detectives  trying  to solve  crimes and mete out justice with each turn of the page. Words can put us on a trail and it’s up to us to stay on the path. But what if the words mislead and bring us to a side road of deception?

Mystery Shopping anyone?

Mystery shoppers are hired by companies to evaluate and report on their products and services. For example, a company might ask a Mystery Shopper to purchase an item in a particular store and let them know how they were treated by store personnel. Other activities might include purchasing an item,  testing it at home, and then following up with a written report on the results. Sounds like  fun  until scammers  make your funds disappear and your sleuthing skills are put to the test protecting your own assets. Here are some investigative tools to use when considering a position as a Mystery Shopper.

Chapter One: DO NOT

Do not pay any fees to become a Mystery Shopper and do not give out any banking information. There are no special certifications necessary to apply for legitimate jobs and no paid guarantees for success.  There is no need to purchase a directory of Mystery Shopping businesses because you can find them yourself.

Chapter Two: DO

Take your time and do some research. Look for reviews and posts about companies you are considering. Visit the Mystery Shopping Providers Association (MSPA) website at www.mysteryshop.org for information and suggestions on becoming a Mystery Shopper or call 1-502-574-9033 with any questions.

 APPENDIX

If you believe you’ve been a victim of a scam or if you’ve seen a suspicious offer, contact the FTC at www.ftc.gov or call them at 1-877-382-4357. Your State Attorney General’s Office and Consumer Protection Bureaus can provide assistance as well. Don’t let strangers hijack your money. It’s your story – write your own ending!

Digital currency is in the media and scammers have already figured out a way to steal something that many of us don’t even understand yet. Here are some simple terms and explanations to add to our growing digital dictionaries.

Bitcoin (capital B) is the practice of using bitcoins, (the actual units of currency) as a way to transact business within an anonymous community of bitcoin users. After downloading and installing specialized software, members are assigned public  and private encryption keys which are  stored in a digital “wallet” and  used for buying and selling many things.

Digital wallets need to be protected and backed up in a reliable way.  The value of bitcoins fluctuate on a regular basis and hackers can steal  wallets and/or infect  computers with  viruses once they gain access to accounts. There is no recourse once your “savings” have been stolen and virus removal is a chore.

Bitcoin transactions are becoming more popular in many venues and some businesses are encouraging their use. Like any  product or service, consumers need to understand the pros and cons (pardon the pun) of using a new system for business dealings. Do some homework and research Bitcoin carefully. Use reputable sites and ask other users about their experiences. A bit of time is worth banking on when it comes to saving your accounts, whether you can touch them or not.

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Once again the holidays are upon us and savvy shoppers have kept track of all the wonderful savings being offered on Cyber Mondays, Black Friday, and  numerous early-bird deals perched on other sales days of the week. Consumers may not realize that the adage of “Buyer Beware” still applies even after an item is purchased, especially when it comes to techno-gadgets.  Once tablets, notebooks, and laptops leave the safe confines of gift wrapped boxes users may need  to protect themselves from holiday hackers claiming to be tech support personnel from well-known companies. Here’s some tips on how to scan for and delete  fake IT  offers.

The US Census Bureau estimates that in 2011, 75.6% of households reported owning computers in their homes and 71.7% said they had access to the Internet.  Scammers call unsuspecting folks claiming to be customer service reps from reputable companies like Microsoft and inform them that their computer systems have been compromised and then offer to “fix” the problem.  After several minutes of techno-babble and urgent warnings, concerned computer users are either convinced that they need to purchase special software or relinquish control of the operating system to the stranger on the phone. Either way account information and personal data are all compromised and the real damage begins.

If you receive a tech support call and haven’t initiated the contact, hang up. Fake caller ID numbers are easy to get and are used frequently by computer cons. Pop-up ads with special deals for security issues should raise red flags and under no circumstances should a stranger be allowed to  access your computer or credit card information. If you believe you have paid for phony services contact your credit card company and advise them of the situation so they can proceed with an investigation. Change your passwords and check  banking and/or credit card statements for any unauthorized charges and report problems to the FTC by calling 1-877-382-4357 or visit www.ftc.gov. Free anti-scamware is at your fingertips and no installation is required.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

 Seasonal scammers view calendars as opportunities to harvest money and information from unsuspecting consumers. It may be getting cold outside, but they are turning up the heat in an effort to collect your hard-earned money and personal account information. Here are some utility scams making their way around the country as the temperatures drop and thermostats are raised.

1. Pay or Else A phone call demanding immediate payment for an “overdue balance” on a heating bill can be chilling (pardon the pun), especially during winter months. High-pressure tactics and fake threats to turn off service can cause worried customers to purchase prepaid debit cards or use a wire transfer service for immediate payment to keep the heat on. In reality, this is a ruse to steal money and there is no way to recover your funds. If you receive a call from someone claiming to be a representative from your energy provider and they are insisting on  payment  via those options, hang up and call the number on your utility bill to check  the status of your account. Be cautious, careful, and stay in control of your finances.

2. Energy Wise or Lies? A knock on your door can lead to promises of great savings and energy reductions  when strangers standing on your stoop offer a free energy audit. They may be vendors fishing for personal information or they could be “casing” your home for future visits when no one is around. If you are interested in improving your energy usage, call your utility company directly and set up an appointment. Ask for ID when someone comes to the door and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your identity and peace of mind are worth it.

3. Scammed and Slammed!  Some salespeople call or visit and claim to be representatives of the “local” electric company, never divulging that they are, in fact, a competitor. They offer discounted rates and incentives as part of a savings package and claim to need some basic details in order to improve your service. In this instance, the information you provide can enable them to switch your account to their company without your knowledge in a ploy called “slamming.”  You can end up paying more than you had been prior to the  change and be forced into fulfilling a contract you knew nothing about. The best defense is common sense. Don’t give out any personal information to strangers unless you initiate the transaction and are comfortable doing so. Report the “new” company to the Better Business Bureau and to your state Public Utilities Commission.

Unfortunately it is difficult to find scammers who operate behind a mask of anonymity. Like the seasons, we need to change our perceptions about protection and stay proactive when it comes to scam prevention.  Be wise and strategize. No one wants to be left out in the cold.

As adults we have adjusted to the ever-evolving world of technology. We know the difference between a laptop and tablet, a password and username, and we try to keep up with the advances being made each day in the computing world. While our children and grandchildren recognize new gadgets faster than we can , they may not realize the risks of sharing personal information online and certainly aren’t aware of the real Bad Guys trolling for ways to steal their identities. Here’s some warning signs that a child’s personal data might be compromised.

1.  Suspicious mail in the child’s/grandchild’s name from medical providers when no services have been rendered to the child.

2. Letters from the IRS addressed to your child/grandchild asking for payments on taxable income despite the fact they are too young to work.

3. Credit card offers and/or bank statements in child’s/grandchild’s name when it is obvious they have no accounts in their name because they are not old enough to conduct any business transactions.

If you suspect fraudulent activity using a young family member’s personal information , contact the FTC at 1-877-438-4338 to file an Identity Theft Affidavit and request a Uniform Minor’s Status Declaration form to help with any additional issues pertaining to the child’s personal data. Follow up with appropriate documentation and keep records of your conversations with organizations and agencies.

We need to be vigilant when it comes to protecting ourselves and loved ones. For additional online safety tips for all family members visit www.stopthinkconnect.org and learn how to work together as a team. Stranger Danger has a new disguise and its up to us to chase the Cyber-Creeps away.

The Affordable Care Act will take effect on October 1, 2013, and scammers have already begun to take advantage of the new program and guidelines. In addition to healthcare coverage, robocallers are trying to entice people to give out personal information by claiming they have won a free gift or upgrade to certain medical alert systems. Here’s a look at both issues.

There is no way for anyone to enroll in any type of health care plan under the Affordable Care Act prior to October 1, 2013. People who are uninsured and those who buy their own coverage should be aware that scammers are standing by to steal  information and give false answers. Under no circumstances should anyone give out private health details, social security numbers, or account information. For more information on this important issue call 1-800-318-2596. Representatives are available 24/7 and you can also visit www.HealthCare.gov.

As explained in last month’s post , Are Rachel and the Robocallers Rattling Your Line?, auto dialers bypass the Do Not Call Registry and try to engage a live person with prerecorded interactive sale techniques. A pleasant voice informs you that you have won a gift, free upgrade, or are eligible for special deals on a Medical Alert system. Once a person responds by pressing a button, a live operator asks for credit card and bank information as well as more personal data. With just one click you can become a victim of Identity Theft and your personal finances will suffer . For help and  additional information on telemarketing and/or unwanted calls visit www.ftc.gov or call 1-877-382-4357.

Your health is your business and a few preventive measures can make a big difference in how you feel. Take care and don’t share your personal data.