Scams involve attempts at identity theft

Wallingford, CT – May 19, 2009 – As the 2010 Census gets under way, Connecticut Better Business Bureau cautions consumers to be cooperative but careful about providing personal information to would-be census workers who make contact by phone or show up at their front door.

More than 140,000 U.S. Census workers are fanning out across the nation to verify the addresses of households and count and gather information about every person at every address in the U.S., including their age, gender, race and other relevant data.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, notes many people are cautious about providing personal information to unsolicited phone callers or visitors. While the Census is an exception to the rule, unscrupulous operators are posing as government employees in an effort to get as much sensitive personal information as possible.

“Scammers know citizens are required by law to respond to the U.S. Census Bureau and give out some personal information, but that does not include detailed personal financial information.”

Law enforcement authorities in several states have issued warnings that scammers have begun posing as Census employees and knocking on doors asking for donations and Social Security numbers. Complicating the situation is the fact that Census workers may contact households by mail, telephone and visits.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau offers the following tips on how to tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist:

•Legitimate Census representatives will have a badge, handheld device, canvas bag and confidentiality notice. Always ask to see their identification and never invite anyone you do not know into your home.

•Census workers who show up at your door will only verify address information and never ask for personal financial or Social Security information. Do not give those details to anyone, even if they claim to need it for the U.S. Census.

•While Census workers may eventually contact you in a number of ways, they will not contact you by e-mail. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an e-mail purporting to be from the U.S. Census Bureau.

More information on the Census is available at http://www.census.gov. Consumers also may find more information on avoiding identity theft and fraud at www.bbb.org.

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Trying to help a good cause could get you ripped off by fraudulent magazine salespeople

Wallingford, CT – May 8, 2009 – Better Business Bureau warns that deceptive door-to-door magazine sales crews are hitting the pavement in Connecticut, and looking to earn a quick buck this summer. In the last 12 months alone, BBB’s across the nation received 1,100 complaints from consumers in 46 states against more than 50 companies that are selling magazines door-to-door. A number of these complaints were filed by Connecticut consumers.

Many of these companies employ crews of high school and college-age people who are trying to earn money over their summer break. These crews are sent to communities to knock on doors and sell magazines—sometimes without appropriate licensing. In the sales pitch, the representative might explain they are working to help raise money on behalf of a charity, for a school trip or even selling subscriptions to support troops in Iraq.

A Greater New Haven woman said a pair of students claiming they were from the University of Rhode Island, knocked on her door, said they lived “down the street,” and were selling magazines and books to “go to London.” Later, when she became suspicious, she called police, filed a report with Connecticut Better Business Bureau and put a stop on her check.

Connecticut Better Business Bureau President, Paulette Scarpetti, says victims readily believe the phony sales pitch and often pay hundreds of dollars by check. However, complaints allege the sales reps took the checks and the magazines never arrived.

“We are alerting consumers to this scam to prevent an epidemic of door-to-door magazine fraud. We encourage all Connecticut residents to be vigilant, and to inform their children, parents and grandparents about this type of operation.”

Scarpetti adds that consumers are not the only victims of this scam.

“The young salespeople also are being taken advantage of by their employers, forced to work long hours and having their wages withheld from them.”

BBB offers the following advice to avoid getting scammed by a door-to-door magazine sales scam:

•Always research the company with your Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org before issuing a check for a magazine subscription.

•The Federal Trade Commission’s Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule gives the customer three days to cancel purchases over $25 that are made in their home or at a location that is not the seller’s permanent place of business. Along with a receipt, salespeople should also include a completed cancellation form that customers can send to the company to cancel the agreement. By law, the company must give customers a refund within 10 days of receiving the cancellation notice.

•Victims of fraudulent magazine sales can file a complaint with their Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org, local law enforcement, and the state Attorney General’s office.

Consumers told to be on alert as scam making its way across the nation

Wallingford, CT – March 31, 2009 – Connecticut Better Business Bureau is warning the public to beware of letters supposedly from Publishers Clearing House which claim that they have won a grand prize drawing of $1 million. Despite official-looking letters, recipients are the target of a widespread scam that is seeing a sudden resurgence across the country.

The fake letters have shown up in mailboxes in 19 states since early March, on the heels of a legitimate Publishers Clearing House award to a woman who will receive $5000 a week for life. Not only are letters popping-up in mailboxes, but some people report receiving phone calls from scammers pretending to be from Publishers Clearing House as well.

The con artists send letters supposedly from Publishers Clearing House claiming the recipient has won $1 million as the second place winner of a drawing sponsored by Reader’s Digest Magazine. The letters also include a check for as much as $5,900 and instructions to call a representative named in the fake letter.

In order to receive the prize, the consumer is then instructed to cash the check and wire approximately $4,000 to Publishers Clearing House to receive the rest of the winnings. The check is fraudulent and any money sent by wire transfer cannot be recovered. The check ends up bouncing and the victims also may have to pay penalties to their bank.

Connecticut BBB President, Paulette Scarpetti says it may just be a matter of time before victims are targeted in this state.

“The most obvious indication that this is a scam is that people are being given a check, and then asked to wire a portion of it to claim their prize. No legitimate company operates this way. Consumers should never wire money to an unknown individual or company in order to receive something in return. “

While this scam predominantly takes advantage of individuals, business owners also need to be aware that their company’s name could potentially be used by fraudsters to pull off this con. The fraudulent checks sent to the supposed prize winners with the letter are copies of checks from legitimate businesses which have been stolen by the scammers. Businesses located in Alabama, California, Kansas and West Virginia have discovered that their checks—which included their name, address and even account number—were reproduced as part of the fraud.