TO:
MEDIA
FROM:
HOLLEY CARNRIGHT
DATE:
MARCH 28, 2016
RE:
PRESS RELEASE – SPRINGS FRAUDS
Scam
artists here and abroad defraud millions of people each year. They use the
phone, email, postal mail and the internet to trick you into sending money or
giving out personal information.
The
Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs offers these 10
tips to avoid a scam:
· Know who you’re dealing with – a post office box or cell number is not a
reliable identifier.
· Know that wiring money is like sending cash – never wire money to those
who insist on wire transfers for payment.
· Read your monthly statements – if you see a charge you don’t recognize or
didn’t okay, contact your card issuer immediately.
· After a disaster, give only to established charities – in the aftermath of a
disaster, give to an established charity, rather than one that has sprung up
overnight.
· Talk to your doctor before you buy health products or treatments – what evidence exists to
support a product’s claims?
· Remember there’s no sure thing in investing – beware of low-risk, high-
return investment opportunities and pitches that insist you act immediately.
· Don’t send money to someone you don’t know – if you buy items through
an online auction, consider using a payment option that provides protection,
like a credit card……and be wary of that online love interest who asks for
money.
·
Don’t agree to deposit a check
and wire money back – if
a check turns out to be fake, you’re responsible for paying back the bank.
· Don’t reply to messages asking for personal or financial
information
– scam emails should be forwarded to spam@uce.gov
and then deleted.
· Don’t play a foreign lottery – it’s illegal to play a foreign lottery and
beware of having to pay “taxes,” “fees,” or “custom duties” to collect a prize.
The old clichés “if
it sounds too good to be true....” and “there’s no such thing as a free lunch”
are more true today than ever. If you are ‘elderly’, be wary. Most of these scams are directed specifically
to the elder, less computer savvy, generation. It’s always a good idea to
double check with a friend, or family, or, you can always call us at the Ulster
County Consumer Affairs Bureau, (845) 340-3260.
