The Punta Gorda Police Department wants to keep you safe from scams. The following is from an e-mail the department recently sent out; it includes a list of recent scams that have been reported.
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Grandparents scam
In the “Grandparents Scam,” a person calls or e‐mails pretending to be your grandchild. The caller will have information easily obtainable on the Internet, such as your grandchild’s name, address, age, etc. The caller, still pretending to be your grandchild, will claim to need money due to an arrest or accident. Often times, another person will get on the phone and pretend to be a bail bondsman, law enforcement officer, lawyer, etc., to provide information on how to send the money – typically by Western Union to an account in Canada. If you get this call, stop and think about the situation: “Would my grandchild call me in Southwest Florida during an emergency such as this?” If you are still unsure, do your homework.
--Call your relatives and see if your grandchild is okay.
--Call information, or look on the Internet for the phone number to the jail or hospital where your grandchild supposedly is located.
--Then, call that agency and see if your grandchild actually is there. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call the police for advice.
Medicare Scam
AARP issued a Scam Alert about this in June after a number of Indiana residents reported receiving calls about this scam. The scammer behind these calls typically will offer the victim free medical supplies in exchange for their Medicare number, maiden name, and date of birth. Do not provide that information to someone who calls you.
Investment scam
A Punta Gorda couple recently lost almost $2,000 in a timeshare/business scam. The couple had received a phone call from a “Ronald Giles,” who claimed to represent “Lunar II Enterprises” or “Luxury Condos International.” The suspect told the Punta Gorda couple he could find a buyer for their timeshare, but they had to send $1,999 for a lawyer fee. The couple gave Giles their Visa debit card number. The money-- and Giles-- then disappeared.
Here are some tips to avoid being a victim of a crime:
--Don’t send money anywhere to anyone without fully investigating the person and the company.
--If you “have to act now,” it’s not worth it.
--Ask for brochures and other information about the company or nonprofit. A legitimate organization will provide such materials.
--Never provide your bank accounts, credit card numbers, Social Security number, Medicare number, date of birth, or other personal information to someone who calls you on the phone.
--If it seems too good to be true, it is.
--If you feel uncomfortable, or have any doubts, listen to your concerns.
Don’t hesitate to call the Punta Gorda Police Department at (941) 639‐4111 if you have been the victim of a scam, or an attempted scam, or if you have information about a scam.
Friday, December 17, 2010
"Smishing" or "vishing" scams targeting SWFL
The Lee County Sheriff's Office sent us the following e-mail about two scams going around:
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You won’t find the words "Smishing" or "Vishing" in Webster’s Dictionary, but they are important words to know; especially when these are two ways cyber criminals are stealing our money and personal information.
While most cyber scams target your computer, "smishing" or "vishing" scams target your mobile phone using text and voice messaging (vishing scams also target land-line phones). These scams are a growing threat to millions of Americans who own cell phones and due to a rise in cell phone and internet usage we expect to see an increase in cyber related crimes in 2011 so taking a few moments now to educate ourselves on what to be aware of will go a long way in protecting our money and our personal information.
"Smishing" or "Vishing" takes place when criminals set up an automated dialing system to text or call people in a particular region or area code, sometimes using stolen customer phone numbers from banks or credit unions. The victims receive a text message or an automated phone call saying: "There’s a problem with your bank account" or "Your ATM card needs to be reactivated". The message then directs you to key in your account information, PIN or credit card number or directs you to log into a website using your "smart" phone in order to fix the problem. If you respond to these messages you are likely to have money withdrawn from your account or if logging on to a phony website using your smart phone you could end up downloading malicious software.
Here are some tips you can use to avoid becoming a victim of cyber fraud:
-Do not respond to text messages or automated voice messages from unknown or blocked numbers on your mobile phone.
-Treat your mobile phone like you would your computer. Don’t download anything unless you trust the source.
-Contact your financial institution using the official website or phone number located on the back of your bank card or statement.
-Most importantly, remember that banks or credit unions will NEVER text you to notify you that there are problems with your account.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Re-shipping scam alert
The Collier County Sheriff's Office issued a scam alert we would like to pass along.
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The Collier County Sheriff's Office is cautioning residents about a re-shipping scam circulating via the Internet.
Over the past few weeks, CCSO has become aware of unwitting citizens being recruited for this scam, which is a mixture of credit card fraud, identity theft, auction fraud, Internet fraud, and bank fraud.
The scam targets mostly job-seekers and online chat site guests. For job-seekers, the applicant believes that he or she will be responsible for forwarding, or re-shipping, merchandise that was purchased in the United States to the company's overseas home office. Soon after employment begins, the packages arrive, along with shipping labels to the correct destination. All the employee has to do is take the package(s) to a shipping store and send off. Unbeknownst to the employee, the items in the package had been purchased with fraudulent or stolen credit cards.
Another form of this scam is when a job-seeker is recruited as a payroll coordinator or similar position. The unwitting recruit's job function would be to receive a lump sum of money and then wire or send payroll to various persons provided by the employer. The unwitting employee may be held responsible for the loss the financial institutions suffer, as this scam involves stolen or ill-gotten gains as well.
Recruits are at a higher risk for identity theft, since they usually provide the con artists with their banking and other personal information when applying for the job.
For online chatters, the scam artists will target someone for friendship or love. The new friend will make up an excuse as to why he or she cannot have packages shipped directly to him or her and persuade the unwitting friend to forward the packages overseas. Once the victimized merchants realize the scam, the unwitting re-shipper is contacted and the plot unravels.
If you believe you may have fallen victim to this type of scam and wish to report it, contact the Collier County Sheriff's Office at 239.252.9300. You may also contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at: http://www.ic3.gov
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The Collier County Sheriff's Office is cautioning residents about a re-shipping scam circulating via the Internet.
Over the past few weeks, CCSO has become aware of unwitting citizens being recruited for this scam, which is a mixture of credit card fraud, identity theft, auction fraud, Internet fraud, and bank fraud.
The scam targets mostly job-seekers and online chat site guests. For job-seekers, the applicant believes that he or she will be responsible for forwarding, or re-shipping, merchandise that was purchased in the United States to the company's overseas home office. Soon after employment begins, the packages arrive, along with shipping labels to the correct destination. All the employee has to do is take the package(s) to a shipping store and send off. Unbeknownst to the employee, the items in the package had been purchased with fraudulent or stolen credit cards.
Another form of this scam is when a job-seeker is recruited as a payroll coordinator or similar position. The unwitting recruit's job function would be to receive a lump sum of money and then wire or send payroll to various persons provided by the employer. The unwitting employee may be held responsible for the loss the financial institutions suffer, as this scam involves stolen or ill-gotten gains as well.
Recruits are at a higher risk for identity theft, since they usually provide the con artists with their banking and other personal information when applying for the job.
For online chatters, the scam artists will target someone for friendship or love. The new friend will make up an excuse as to why he or she cannot have packages shipped directly to him or her and persuade the unwitting friend to forward the packages overseas. Once the victimized merchants realize the scam, the unwitting re-shipper is contacted and the plot unravels.
If you believe you may have fallen victim to this type of scam and wish to report it, contact the Collier County Sheriff's Office at 239.252.9300. You may also contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at: http://www.ic3.gov
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
10 popular holiday scams
The Lee County Sheriff's Office sent us an alert about the top ten holiday scams. Take a look at what's out there to avoid becoming a victim this holiday season!
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Just as you are hitting the malls and cybermalls looking for the ideal gift for that someone special this holiday season, be assured that con-artists are looking for ways to rip you off.
To avoid becoming a victim, The Lee County Sheriff’s Office encourages you to familiarize yourself with these ten most popular holiday scams:
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Just as you are hitting the malls and cybermalls looking for the ideal gift for that someone special this holiday season, be assured that con-artists are looking for ways to rip you off.
To avoid becoming a victim, The Lee County Sheriff’s Office encourages you to familiarize yourself with these ten most popular holiday scams:
1. Craigslist and eBay - Does the deal sound to good to be true? If it does, it probably is. Buy only from reputable sellers.
2. Charity Phishing - Before donating to charities check them out on www.give.org; www.charitynavigator.org; or www.bbb.org. You can also contact the Sheriff’s Office Fraud Line at 477-1242.
3. Fake Invoices - Cybercriminals often send fake invoices and delivery notifications that appear to be from FedEx, UPS or the United States Postal Service. To confirm authenticity contact the phone number listed on the official website of the delivery agency.
4. Holiday e-cards - Beware of clicking on a holiday e-card from someone you don’t know; it could deliver malware, spyware or pop-ups.
5. E-mail Banking Scam - Cybercriminals trick consumers into divulging their bank details by sending official looking emails. They may allude to purchases being made using your accounts. Don’t respond to these e-mails, instead contact your bank directly.
6. Employment Scams - Be careful when responding to or accepting a job offer via the internet. Do not give personal information or accept a check that requires you to wire funds as part of your job "assignment".
7. Credit Card - The use of credit and debit cards increases during the holiday season; keep track of your cards and your purchases. Check your statements carefully.
8. Out of Sight Out of Mind - Use common sense when shopping. Put your purchases in the trunk of your car and limit the amount of cash you carry.
9. Pick pocketing - Purse snatchings and pocket pickings still happen. Crowded malls and distractions of the holiday season give thieves the perfect opportunity to work their trade. Men should carry their wallet in the front pocket and ladies should keep their purse closed and in sight.
10. Fake Travel Sites - These sites offer amazing holiday deals on vacation rentals or hotels to lure you into providing personal information that can be used to steal your identity or access your bank account. Beware of sites that require you to pay upfront or do not provide a phone number.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Work at Home Scam! Beware: you could get prosecuted!
With the downturn of the economy, I've had a lot of viewers contact me about "Work at home" scams. Basically here's how it works: you apply for a work at home job. The "company" asks for your bank account information and asks you to "process" money for them. You get to keep a commission.
Sounds easy, right? Well, it's not legit. Most of the victim's I've spoken too sent the check along...only to find out the check they deposited was a fake. But the FBI says some of these actually do deposit money in your account--the problem is it's money from criminal activity and is ILLEGAL. Check out the press release below so you don't end up on the wrong side of the law!
Involvement in Criminal Activity through Work from Home Scams
This product was created as part of a joint effort between the United States Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS‐ISAC).
Consumers continue to lose money from work-from-home scams that assist cyber criminals move stolen funds. Worse yet, due to their deliberate or unknowing participation in the scams, these individuals may face criminal charges. Work-from-home scam victims are often recruited by organized cyber criminals through newspaper ads, online employment services, unsolicited emails or “spam”,1 and social networking sites advertising work-from-home opportunities. Once recruited, however, rather than becoming an employee of a legitimate business, the consumer is actually a “mule” for cyber criminals who use the consumer’s or other victim's accounts to steal and launder money. In addition, the consumer’s own identity or account may be compromised by the cyber criminals.
Example of a Work-From-Home Scheme:
•An individual applies for a position as a rebate or payments processor2 through an online job site or through an unsolicited email.
•As a new employee, the individual is asked to provide his/her bank account information to his/her employer or to establish a new account using information provided by the employer.
•Funds are deposited into the account that the employee is instructed to wire to a third (often international) account. The employee is instructed to deduct a percentage of the wired amount as their commission.
•However, rather than processing rebates or processing payments, the individual is actually participating in a criminal activity by laundering stolen funds through his/her own account or a newly established account.
In February 2010, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) coordinated with state law enforcement officials and other federal agencies to announce a sweeping crack down on job and work-from-home fraud schemes fueled by the economic downturn. Individuals who are knowing or unknowing participants in this type of scheme could be prosecuted.
Cyber criminals may also spoof a legitimate business to entice you into opening the email, which may contain a fraudulent application for information or malware.
Other common job titles for these schemes include trading partner or currency trader.
Protect Yourself:
• Be wary of work-from-home opportunities. Research the legitimacy of the company through the Better Business Bureau3 (for US-based companies) or WHOIS/Domain Tools4 (for international companies) before providing personal or account information and/or agreeing to work for them. In addition, TrustedSource.org can help you identify companies that may be maliciously sending spam based on the volume of email sent from their Internet Protocol (IP)5 addresses. See also the FTC’s recommendations6.
•Be cautious about any opportunities offering the chance to work from home with very little work or prior experience. Remember: if it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
•Never pay for the privilege of working for an employer. Be suspicious of opportunities that require you to pay for things up front, such as supplies and other materials.
•Never give your bank account details to anyone unless you know and trust them.
•If you think you may be a victim of one of these scams, contact your financial institution immediately. Report any suspicious work-from-home offers or activities to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)7 at http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.
For more information, visit:
•PhishBucket.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting job seekers from fraudulent job offers.
• OnGuardOnline.org. Sponsored by the FTC, this site provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.
• Better Business Bureau, http://www.bbb.org/us/article/work-at-home-schemes-408.
This advisory was created through a collaborative cross-industry effort to protect consumers and businesses against account takeovers. Led by the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC), contributors include more than 30 of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., industry associations including the American Bankers Association (ABA), NACHA - The Electronic Payments Association, BITS/The Financial Services Roundtable; and federal regulatory and law enforcement agencies.
http://www.bbb.org/
http://www.domaintools.com/
An IP address identifies the company’s website host or network interface and location.
http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx#3
The IC3 is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
Sounds easy, right? Well, it's not legit. Most of the victim's I've spoken too sent the check along...only to find out the check they deposited was a fake. But the FBI says some of these actually do deposit money in your account--the problem is it's money from criminal activity and is ILLEGAL. Check out the press release below so you don't end up on the wrong side of the law!
Involvement in Criminal Activity through Work from Home Scams
This product was created as part of a joint effort between the United States Secret Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) and the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS‐ISAC).
Consumers continue to lose money from work-from-home scams that assist cyber criminals move stolen funds. Worse yet, due to their deliberate or unknowing participation in the scams, these individuals may face criminal charges. Work-from-home scam victims are often recruited by organized cyber criminals through newspaper ads, online employment services, unsolicited emails or “spam”,1 and social networking sites advertising work-from-home opportunities. Once recruited, however, rather than becoming an employee of a legitimate business, the consumer is actually a “mule” for cyber criminals who use the consumer’s or other victim's accounts to steal and launder money. In addition, the consumer’s own identity or account may be compromised by the cyber criminals.
Example of a Work-From-Home Scheme:
•An individual applies for a position as a rebate or payments processor2 through an online job site or through an unsolicited email.
•As a new employee, the individual is asked to provide his/her bank account information to his/her employer or to establish a new account using information provided by the employer.
•Funds are deposited into the account that the employee is instructed to wire to a third (often international) account. The employee is instructed to deduct a percentage of the wired amount as their commission.
•However, rather than processing rebates or processing payments, the individual is actually participating in a criminal activity by laundering stolen funds through his/her own account or a newly established account.
In February 2010, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) coordinated with state law enforcement officials and other federal agencies to announce a sweeping crack down on job and work-from-home fraud schemes fueled by the economic downturn. Individuals who are knowing or unknowing participants in this type of scheme could be prosecuted.
Cyber criminals may also spoof a legitimate business to entice you into opening the email, which may contain a fraudulent application for information or malware.
Other common job titles for these schemes include trading partner or currency trader.
Protect Yourself:
• Be wary of work-from-home opportunities. Research the legitimacy of the company through the Better Business Bureau3 (for US-based companies) or WHOIS/Domain Tools4 (for international companies) before providing personal or account information and/or agreeing to work for them. In addition, TrustedSource.org can help you identify companies that may be maliciously sending spam based on the volume of email sent from their Internet Protocol (IP)5 addresses. See also the FTC’s recommendations6.
•Be cautious about any opportunities offering the chance to work from home with very little work or prior experience. Remember: if it looks too good to be true, it usually is.
•Never pay for the privilege of working for an employer. Be suspicious of opportunities that require you to pay for things up front, such as supplies and other materials.
•Never give your bank account details to anyone unless you know and trust them.
•If you think you may be a victim of one of these scams, contact your financial institution immediately. Report any suspicious work-from-home offers or activities to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)7 at http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.
For more information, visit:
•PhishBucket.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting job seekers from fraudulent job offers.
• OnGuardOnline.org. Sponsored by the FTC, this site provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information.
• Better Business Bureau, http://www.bbb.org/us/article/work-at-home-schemes-408.
This advisory was created through a collaborative cross-industry effort to protect consumers and businesses against account takeovers. Led by the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center (FS-ISAC), contributors include more than 30 of the largest financial institutions in the U.S., industry associations including the American Bankers Association (ABA), NACHA - The Electronic Payments Association, BITS/The Financial Services Roundtable; and federal regulatory and law enforcement agencies.
http://www.bbb.org/
http://www.domaintools.com/
An IP address identifies the company’s website host or network interface and location.
http://www.onguardonline.gov/topics/email-scams.aspx#3
The IC3 is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA).
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Death certificate confusion
WINK News Call for Action recently got what very well could be the strangest request ever: I need help getting custody of my dead sister's body.
South Carolina resident, Marci Brado contacted Call for Action as a last resort. Her sister, Maxine, lived in Fort Myers. When Maxine passed away nearly a month ago, the family's plan to put her to rest were put on hold-- all because of a missing signature.
Because a doctor would not sign the death certificate, Marci's sister could not legally be buried. Sound weird? Well it turns out, it may not be that uncommon of a predicament after all!
We'll explain the whole story tonight, Wednesday, September 15th on WINK News at 6pm.
South Carolina resident, Marci Brado contacted Call for Action as a last resort. Her sister, Maxine, lived in Fort Myers. When Maxine passed away nearly a month ago, the family's plan to put her to rest were put on hold-- all because of a missing signature.
Because a doctor would not sign the death certificate, Marci's sister could not legally be buried. Sound weird? Well it turns out, it may not be that uncommon of a predicament after all!
We'll explain the whole story tonight, Wednesday, September 15th on WINK News at 6pm.
Scam warnings
The Lee Sheriff's Office sent out an e-mail warning of two phone scams. Read an excerpt from that e-mail, below:
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Has this ever happened to you? Your telephone rings and a voice simply says, "Do you own a small dog?" Without thinking you reply with a simple "yes" or "no". The telephone line is silent and the call is disconnected. It’s possible that your voice was just recorded to be used to steal your money. Or perhaps you’ve received a call from someone claiming that a very "distant" relative died and left you an inheritance. You are told that all you have to do to collect your funds is send money to cover your "taxes." If it hasn’t happened to you yet - there is a good chance that it will. That’s why the Lee County Sheriff’s Office wants you to know that although these calls are quite different, they are very much the same. They are both SCAMS!
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The Sheriff's Office also made a scam list. If anyone ever asks for the following, you can be sure it's a scam!
-A promise that you can win money, make money or borrow money easily
--A demand that you act immediately or else miss out on this great opportunity
-A refusal to send you written information before you agree to buy or donate
-An attempt to scare you into buying something
-Insistence that you wire money or have a courier pick up your payment
-A refusal to stop calling after you’ve asked not to be called again
And, if you ever have any questions about whether or not something is a scam, you can call the Lee County Sheriff's Office Fraud Line: 239-477-1242
Monday, September 13, 2010
Great article about mortgage modifications
I've heard from a lot of people who've struggled through the loan modification process. It's disturbing that their stories have the same themes: the bank lost my paperwork, the bank told me to stop paying, the bank wouldn't make the loan modification permanent.
USA Today just published a great article that may strike a chord with you. It certainly did with me. Click here to read it.
USA Today just published a great article that may strike a chord with you. It certainly did with me. Click here to read it.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Scam alert!
A viewer called us this afternoon to pass along a scam alert.
The viewer tells us she recently got a phone call from someone claiming to be an officer with the Federal Trade Commission (the FTC overseas trade regulations, commerce issues and consumer protection laws. Click here to learn more). The viewer tells us that the call sounded legit and the caller claimed that she had won a contest. The caller, who claimed to be a federal agent, told her to call another FTC agent to claim the prize.
This is where you have to be careful.
When the woman called the second number, the person on the other end wanted her to send in $4500 dollars before her prize was sent to her. Luckily, the viewer recognized this red flag and didn't go any further!
Remember-- a federal agency, or any legit business for that matter, will never require that you send them money in return for a prize. This is just another version of something dubbed, the "Nigerian Scam." Don't fall for it!
And if you get a call, or letter or email that you think may be legit or may be a scam, just ask! The Lee County Sheriff's Office has a Fraud Hotline at 239-477-1242. But remember, if the deal sounds too good to be true and requires you to put up cash first-- it's a scam.
The viewer tells us she recently got a phone call from someone claiming to be an officer with the Federal Trade Commission (the FTC overseas trade regulations, commerce issues and consumer protection laws. Click here to learn more). The viewer tells us that the call sounded legit and the caller claimed that she had won a contest. The caller, who claimed to be a federal agent, told her to call another FTC agent to claim the prize.
This is where you have to be careful.
When the woman called the second number, the person on the other end wanted her to send in $4500 dollars before her prize was sent to her. Luckily, the viewer recognized this red flag and didn't go any further!
Remember-- a federal agency, or any legit business for that matter, will never require that you send them money in return for a prize. This is just another version of something dubbed, the "Nigerian Scam." Don't fall for it!
And if you get a call, or letter or email that you think may be legit or may be a scam, just ask! The Lee County Sheriff's Office has a Fraud Hotline at 239-477-1242. But remember, if the deal sounds too good to be true and requires you to put up cash first-- it's a scam.
Short sale denials
Ten short sale offers in two years-- all denied or ignored. The most recent offer was for $200,000 in cash! Now, a Cape Coral man says his home, which was foreclosed on and sold for 66k, is back on the market for 199k!
It's a story that might be familiar to some. Tonight all new on WINK News at 6pm, Chief Investigator Melissa Yeager find out from the bank how this could happen.
It's a story that might be familiar to some. Tonight all new on WINK News at 6pm, Chief Investigator Melissa Yeager find out from the bank how this could happen.
Monday, August 16, 2010
BEWARE OF NEW SCAMS!
Just got a new release from the Lee County Fraud Unit...some great SCAM info you NEED to be aware of! Take a look at their press release!
Fraud Alert!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Scams, Scams and More Scams
It seems there is always someone willing to take what does not belong to them, but with a little awareness on our part we may be able to keep our money where it belongs. Here are a few of the more common scams called into our Fraud Line.
-Work at Home Scams - These have been around for a long time, but now they are creeping up on legitimate job sites, newspapers and news sites. They entice you to "be your own boss" or "make extra money" from the comfort of your home. These usually require upfront payments with little to no recourse when things don’t work out.
-Vishing Scams - This is similar to phishing, but involves voice mail; a con-artist will call or send a text posing as a representative of your financial institution alerting you that there is a problem with your account, debit or credit card and that you must call back immediately to remedy the situation; their goal is to get your account information.
-Loan Modification Scams - With so many individuals and families struggling scammers are falling over themselves to "help" you. They offer to have their "experts" conduct "forensic audits" of your mortgage or loans to determine if the banks have violated any laws and owe you money or they will "re-structure" your debt; sadly these come with high upfront fees for loans that often never materialize.
-CraigsList Scams - The scammers work both sides of these on-line "stores"; they pretend to have something to sell in order to con you into sending them money and they pretend to purchase your items. The con here is they "accidently" send you a check for an amount far greater than the purchase price asking that you wire the difference back to them minus a small amount to compensate you for your trouble.
-Job Scams - With jobs hard to find and so many people desperately looking for work scammers know the right things to say to reel people in; from the work at home scams, jobs that require upfront money for you to be hired, fake employment applications, to fake job recruiters it really pays all job seekers to slow down and investigate a company or offer before giving out too much information or handing over any money.
To report a fraud or scam contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Line at 239-477-1242.
Fraud Alert!
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Scams, Scams and More Scams
It seems there is always someone willing to take what does not belong to them, but with a little awareness on our part we may be able to keep our money where it belongs. Here are a few of the more common scams called into our Fraud Line.
-Work at Home Scams - These have been around for a long time, but now they are creeping up on legitimate job sites, newspapers and news sites. They entice you to "be your own boss" or "make extra money" from the comfort of your home. These usually require upfront payments with little to no recourse when things don’t work out.
-Vishing Scams - This is similar to phishing, but involves voice mail; a con-artist will call or send a text posing as a representative of your financial institution alerting you that there is a problem with your account, debit or credit card and that you must call back immediately to remedy the situation; their goal is to get your account information.
-Loan Modification Scams - With so many individuals and families struggling scammers are falling over themselves to "help" you. They offer to have their "experts" conduct "forensic audits" of your mortgage or loans to determine if the banks have violated any laws and owe you money or they will "re-structure" your debt; sadly these come with high upfront fees for loans that often never materialize.
-CraigsList Scams - The scammers work both sides of these on-line "stores"; they pretend to have something to sell in order to con you into sending them money and they pretend to purchase your items. The con here is they "accidently" send you a check for an amount far greater than the purchase price asking that you wire the difference back to them minus a small amount to compensate you for your trouble.
-Job Scams - With jobs hard to find and so many people desperately looking for work scammers know the right things to say to reel people in; from the work at home scams, jobs that require upfront money for you to be hired, fake employment applications, to fake job recruiters it really pays all job seekers to slow down and investigate a company or offer before giving out too much information or handing over any money.
To report a fraud or scam contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Line at 239-477-1242.
CALL FOR ACTION: WINK gets man his $217,000 back
A few weeks ago, we were able to get a woman her house back. Now, Call for Action was able to help a man get his $217,000 back!
Chief Investigator, Melissa Yeager is hot on the bank's trail after a man has to wait months for his big refund. It's another bad bank communication that results in a foreclosure sale that shouldn't have happened. But the person who loses out the most in this case is the investor!
It's a Call for Action success story you won't want to miss tonight, August 16th, at 6pm.
Chief Investigator, Melissa Yeager is hot on the bank's trail after a man has to wait months for his big refund. It's another bad bank communication that results in a foreclosure sale that shouldn't have happened. But the person who loses out the most in this case is the investor!
It's a Call for Action success story you won't want to miss tonight, August 16th, at 6pm.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Bad bank communication: Call for Action gets results!
A couple living in Cape Coral tried to avoid a foreclosure for a year. Finally, Bank of America agreed to a short sale. In February, the sale closed, keys and titles changed hands, and the bank got paid.
So why is the bank now trying to foreclose on the family? They no longer own the home!
It's a Call for Action that gets results! Chief Investigator Melissa Yeager has the story all new on WINK News at 6pm.
So why is the bank now trying to foreclose on the family? They no longer own the home!
It's a Call for Action that gets results! Chief Investigator Melissa Yeager has the story all new on WINK News at 6pm.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Looking for a few good men and women...
Our Call for Action coordinator Jean just told me they could use a few more volunteers!
Our CFA Volunteers work like "mediators"--they work with consumers and businesses to try and resolve disputes. We're looking for someone who is a "people person" and enjoys trying to help solve consumer problems.
The volunteers take calls Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If you're interested, you can call Jean for more information at 1-800-795-9465.
One more thing--if you decide to email us about a problem you need help with--PLEASE INCLUDE A DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER! It's really hard for us to get ahold of you if you don't put one. Even though email is a great communication tool--sometimes we have follow up questions and would like to speak to you over the phone.
Our CFA Volunteers work like "mediators"--they work with consumers and businesses to try and resolve disputes. We're looking for someone who is a "people person" and enjoys trying to help solve consumer problems.
The volunteers take calls Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
If you're interested, you can call Jean for more information at 1-800-795-9465.
One more thing--if you decide to email us about a problem you need help with--PLEASE INCLUDE A DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER! It's really hard for us to get ahold of you if you don't put one. Even though email is a great communication tool--sometimes we have follow up questions and would like to speak to you over the phone.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Mortgage insurance standoff
A single grandmother raising a family is facing foreclosure because of Chinese drywall and the problems associated with selling her house.
Helen Powell, her daughter and two grand-daughters moved out of the house a year ago because of health-related issues. Powell's credit is about to be ruined because mortgage insurance is blocking a potential short sale.
Powell's realtor says the mortgage holder, GMAC, has an $80,000 incentive to hold out for foreclosure rather than sell the house. But the mortgage insurance standing in her way-- should have been cancelled.
WINK News Now This Morning anchor Rob Spicker has put numerous calls in to GMAC and has sent emails, but has not heard back from them yet. He wants to know why GMAC would keep charging for mortgage insurance when it's not required and why the bank is holding up the sale of the home to someone willing to take on the Chinese drywall remediation.
Rob will have the full story Tuesday, August 10th at 6:00pm on WINK News, Now.
Helen Powell, her daughter and two grand-daughters moved out of the house a year ago because of health-related issues. Powell's credit is about to be ruined because mortgage insurance is blocking a potential short sale.
Powell's realtor says the mortgage holder, GMAC, has an $80,000 incentive to hold out for foreclosure rather than sell the house. But the mortgage insurance standing in her way-- should have been cancelled.
WINK News Now This Morning anchor Rob Spicker has put numerous calls in to GMAC and has sent emails, but has not heard back from them yet. He wants to know why GMAC would keep charging for mortgage insurance when it's not required and why the bank is holding up the sale of the home to someone willing to take on the Chinese drywall remediation.
Rob will have the full story Tuesday, August 10th at 6:00pm on WINK News, Now.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Where to Complain--instructions!
We're still hearing from many viewers having troubles navigating the loan modification--so tonight we're doing a story stepping you through the process of filing a complaint.
Tonight on WINK NEWS at 6!
Tonight on WINK NEWS at 6!
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Bogus Health Insurance
The Department of Financial Services issued an important consumer warning today about a bogus health insurance policy.
More than 1800 Floridians bought these policies, thinking they had health insurance. Turns out they didn't have coverage at all!
This puts them in an awful situation. Not only do they now have to pay the bills, they also have been uninsured for months...possibly years! That means when they go to buy new policies, the new company may say because they didn't have continuous coverage, they won't cover some of their "pre-existing" conditions.
We'll have the story of one man who bought this plan tonight at 5. You can also read the investigation from our CBS affiliate in Orlando by clicking here.
Reporters have a slogan, "If your momma says she loves you, check it out." Make sure you check out any and all people you do business with--especially those you trust with your health! You can click here for a link to checking out insurance companies in the state of Florida.
More than 1800 Floridians bought these policies, thinking they had health insurance. Turns out they didn't have coverage at all!
This puts them in an awful situation. Not only do they now have to pay the bills, they also have been uninsured for months...possibly years! That means when they go to buy new policies, the new company may say because they didn't have continuous coverage, they won't cover some of their "pre-existing" conditions.
We'll have the story of one man who bought this plan tonight at 5. You can also read the investigation from our CBS affiliate in Orlando by clicking here.
Reporters have a slogan, "If your momma says she loves you, check it out." Make sure you check out any and all people you do business with--especially those you trust with your health! You can click here for a link to checking out insurance companies in the state of Florida.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Update on BOA story
Katie's been keeping on top of Bank of America and how they are working with Laqurdia Tatum--the woman who received a loan modification only to have her home sold out from under her. The sale happened while Tatum was at Ft. Bragg sending her son off to serve in Afghanistan. Katie received this response on Friday:
Katie,
We are currently investigating exactly what transpired that lead to the foreclosure. At this point, providing information before we have concluded our review would be speculation and not appropriate. We have received permission from the investor of the loan to have the sale rescinded. Through our attorneys, we are reaching out to the company who purchased the house to determine if they will cooperate with us and the homeowner.
Christina B. Toth
Meanwhile--Nicole Depuy--the first woman we featured who received a loan modification and her home was still sold-- moved out of her home on Saturday.
Katie,
We are currently investigating exactly what transpired that lead to the foreclosure. At this point, providing information before we have concluded our review would be speculation and not appropriate. We have received permission from the investor of the loan to have the sale rescinded. Through our attorneys, we are reaching out to the company who purchased the house to determine if they will cooperate with us and the homeowner.
Christina B. Toth
Meanwhile--Nicole Depuy--the first woman we featured who received a loan modification and her home was still sold-- moved out of her home on Saturday.
Friday, July 30, 2010
BOA and Tunicates!
I told you all I would post some extra information about our piece on how the Coast Guard responds to pollution on our waterways. Well--we got busy yesterday following up on our story on Bank of America. I have had so many emails from customers of BOA this week...and I'm working to get back with all of you.
In the meantime--Katie received an email from BOA saying they are researching Laqurdia's case and working with the investors to see how they can resolve the situation. We're asking some more questions about what exactly that means...so check back here to find out what we found out. Of course, when we get some solid answers we'll also update you on WINK NEWS.
Ok--so back to pollution in our waterways. The Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment is actually a pretty neat part of the Coast Guard. Some of the stuff we didn't get into on our broadcast--both of the men we interviewed have degrees in biology and other marine science areas. They spend years with the Coast Guard before they can actually be on our waterways identifying pollution. In short--they know what they're looking for.
I wanted to show you some of the Pictures LTJG Michael Novak shared with us of some of the false reports. These look like tarballs--but they're actually tunicates. You can click on the word to read what Fish and Wildlife says about these creatures.
But here are the pictures:
Pretty interesting stuff, eh?
You can also check out our full story as well as find information about reporting oil spills by clicking here
In the meantime--Katie received an email from BOA saying they are researching Laqurdia's case and working with the investors to see how they can resolve the situation. We're asking some more questions about what exactly that means...so check back here to find out what we found out. Of course, when we get some solid answers we'll also update you on WINK NEWS.
Ok--so back to pollution in our waterways. The Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment is actually a pretty neat part of the Coast Guard. Some of the stuff we didn't get into on our broadcast--both of the men we interviewed have degrees in biology and other marine science areas. They spend years with the Coast Guard before they can actually be on our waterways identifying pollution. In short--they know what they're looking for.
I wanted to show you some of the Pictures LTJG Michael Novak shared with us of some of the false reports. These look like tarballs--but they're actually tunicates. You can click on the word to read what Fish and Wildlife says about these creatures.
But here are the pictures:
Pretty interesting stuff, eh?
You can also check out our full story as well as find information about reporting oil spills by clicking here
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Loan Modification: WHERE TO COMPLAIN!
I'm really excited about this information. As a reporter, when someone calls you with a complaint--you want to tell them an official agency to register their complaint.
You may wonder--what good does complaining do? I'm just one person. But these government agencies really do keep track, tally, then research complaints. But usually they wait until the complaints reach a certain threshold. And if noone complains, they never reach that threshold.
Over the last...wow, it's been almost three years! I've had a lot of you write and call me about your loan modification and foreclosure. I've told people to call the Attorney General. I've told them to call the Homeownership Resource Center. I've never known if those complaints are registered....until NOW!
There's a government agency called the Office of Comptroller of the Currency. Bizarre name, huh? Well, Abraham Lincoln established it to oversee national banks because he didn't trust the states to regulate them. So the OCC takes complaints and holds nationwide banks accountable.
I spoke with someone from the OCC today...who told me here's what you have to do. Call this number 1-800-613-6743. A live person (hooray!) will answer the phone, take your info, and may ask you to send them your documents. They will then assign you a complaint number and take your complaint directly to the bank's headquarters. You will be able to check in on your complaint by calling the 800 number and they will give you a response in writing as to the outcome of the complaint.
Pretty awesome.
Kevin from the OCC also told me some interesting stuff about why you might be struggling to get a loan modification. Basically, he says, your bank may not own your loan.
The banks act as servicers for many loans...they basically just collect the payment. Someone else owns the loan...maybe a pension fund...or another investor. If the bank owns your loan, it's very easy for them to alter the terms of your loan. BUT if your loan was sold to an investor, the bank has to approach the investor and ask them if they can modify the loan. If the investor group says "No," you may be out of luck.
Well, you learn something every day. I hope this helps you naivigate this process!
You may wonder--what good does complaining do? I'm just one person. But these government agencies really do keep track, tally, then research complaints. But usually they wait until the complaints reach a certain threshold. And if noone complains, they never reach that threshold.
Over the last...wow, it's been almost three years! I've had a lot of you write and call me about your loan modification and foreclosure. I've told people to call the Attorney General. I've told them to call the Homeownership Resource Center. I've never known if those complaints are registered....until NOW!
There's a government agency called the Office of Comptroller of the Currency. Bizarre name, huh? Well, Abraham Lincoln established it to oversee national banks because he didn't trust the states to regulate them. So the OCC takes complaints and holds nationwide banks accountable.
I spoke with someone from the OCC today...who told me here's what you have to do. Call this number 1-800-613-6743. A live person (hooray!) will answer the phone, take your info, and may ask you to send them your documents. They will then assign you a complaint number and take your complaint directly to the bank's headquarters. You will be able to check in on your complaint by calling the 800 number and they will give you a response in writing as to the outcome of the complaint.
Pretty awesome.
Kevin from the OCC also told me some interesting stuff about why you might be struggling to get a loan modification. Basically, he says, your bank may not own your loan.
The banks act as servicers for many loans...they basically just collect the payment. Someone else owns the loan...maybe a pension fund...or another investor. If the bank owns your loan, it's very easy for them to alter the terms of your loan. BUT if your loan was sold to an investor, the bank has to approach the investor and ask them if they can modify the loan. If the investor group says "No," you may be out of luck.
Well, you learn something every day. I hope this helps you naivigate this process!
A late response
I told you last night Bank of America didn't get back to us by news time and that I would keep you posted on when they finally did here on our Call for Action blog. We finally received a response almost an hour after the deadline we gave them.
First I'll post my email to Bank of America I sent at 10:12 a.m. on Tuesday:
Christina--
We are running a follow-up story today. We have had a LOT of responseto our story and I have several questions I would like answers to before we run our story at 6pm. If we do not receive a response by 6pm, we will be unable to include it in our story.
1) Nicole informed us the respresentative from Bank of America said they were speaking with Isla Blue developers to buy back her home.Isla Blue told us they had NOT been contacted by Bank of America at all. They told me they were receptive to a call from BOA just had NEVER been contacted. Why did the representative say this to Nicole if they had never actually picked up the phone and called?
2) We have had more calls from people who have been in the loan modification process only to have their homes sold while they are in the trial period. What is BOA's procedure for processing loan modifications? How many people typically work on a loan modification? Why are we seeing a trend of communication breakdowns between borrowers and BOA and the courts?
3) MOST IMPORTANT--is BOA still receiving money from the Federal Government for these modifications that they process and then foreclose? How much does BOA receive per loan modification?
4) Does BOA sometimes choose to foreclose because it more advantageous to foreclose a claim against mortgage insurance rather than work with a homeowner?
Thanks.
Now their response from 7:03 p.m. Tuesday night:
Melissa,
Thank you for the opportunity to respond. Please include the following in future updates:
Before a Bank of America associate contacted Ms. DePuy yesterday afternoon, we confirmed that our outside counsel had reached out to an attorney of the third party purchaser to inquire about repurchasing the property. The attorney stated that they would get back to us with their interest. We will be submitting an offer to the third party tomorrow morning for their consideration and asking for a delay of the eviction while we work out a settlement. We are still researching exactly what transpired that lead to the foreclosure sale. We are doing everything within our power to keep Ms. DePuy in her home.
Through the first half of 2010, Bank of America has completed mortgage modifications providing homeownership retention solutions for about 160,000 homeowners who face difficulties in making their monthly payments due to economic conditions. That brings the bank's total of modified home loans to 650,000 since January 2008. The July Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) performance report from the Department of Treasury shows Bank of America continuing to lead all servicers with more than 72,000 permanent HAMP modifications completed through June, up from 63,000 reported by Treasury the month before.
Bank of America apologizes to its customers if they did not receive the service level they expect from Bank of America. Recognizing the need to do more for our customers, Bank of America has opened Customer Outreach Centers in various parts of the country. Last week, we opened one in Fort Lauderdale. The centers offer customers facing financial hardship with an opportunity for face-to-face counseling. Bank of America Home Loans has expanded default management staffing to nearly 18,000, an 80% increase since January of 2009. We are also introducing case managers who will be assigned to a customer throughout the modification process.
Keeping customers in their homes is in the best interest of servicers, investors and especially the homeowner. Foreclosure is a last resort. The decision to move forward with a foreclosure relies heavily on the customer's past payment history, their ability to make future mortgage payments and investor guidelines. Ms. DePuy did not have mortgage insurance on her loan. The Treasury's Making Home Affordable program offers a $1,000 incentive to servicers for placing a customer in a permanent modification. The servicer does not receive any incentive payment until the borrower has successfully made the requires trial payments and modification is completed. The servicer is eligible for an additional $1,000 incentive each year that the homeowner makes timely payments for the first three years after the modification.
Christina B. Toth
Bank of America
Media Relations
My producer received a call from Laqurdia Tatum--the woman we introduced you to last night-- after we sent our initial email. Laqurdia told us she had received a modification, paid the first mortgage payment, then left to go to Fort Bragg to send her son off to Afghanistan. She came home to find her home auctioned. So my producer Katie sent this email to Bank of America at 3:19 p.m. :
Christina:
I am a producer with Melissa Yeager at WINK-TV. We just interviewed another woman who says she was also approved for a Bank of America loan trial period and even sent her first payment in-- and her home was also sold out from under her.
I have copies of the letter from BOA that states she is in fact part of the modification trial and during that time, no foreclosure would happen. I also have a canceled check for her first payment due on July 1st. She called BOA to make sure her home would not be put up for auction-- and an agent told her (after 45 minutes to an hour on hold) that she took care of it and her house would not go to auction. She even placed calls to the lawyers that were in charge of the auction to tell them of the recent developments-- and still the house went to auction.
She found out her house was sold on July 8th only after she came back home from Fort Bragg-- saying goodbye to her soldier son who was being shipped out to Afghanistan.
Can you please look into her case and let me know how this happened?
Again, we are running her story-- as well as an update about the woman below-- tonight at 6pm. That is the deadline to hear from you.
Thanks!
Katie Cribbs
Executive Producer, Special Projects
So we received this response back at 7:28 p.m.:
Katie,
You may use the following in any further updates. I will let you know anything I find out tomorrow.
Bank of America:We are still researching this case. If we proceeded with the foreclosure sale in error, we will work on trying to resolve the situation for Ms. Tatum.
Christina Toth
I understand it takes some time to look into these cases--but we initially contacted Bank of America a WEEK before we actually ran the story. We wanted to run Nicole's story when we had some answers from Bank of America. I'm still not sure we have those --but trust us to keep asking for you! In fact, if you have questions you would like to pose to BOA...feel free to post them in the comments. I would love to hear them. We're running an updated story at 5 p.m. And thanks to all of you sending me emails about your story. I am keeping them as we do more stories about the loan modification process.
(On a side note--I'm really irritated by the late response by BOA two days in a row. If I paid my credit card payment late, they'd charge me $35.00. By my math, that's $70!)
Also--Katie and I are busy bees back here in Call for Action. We have a GREAT piece running at 6 p.m. about what the Coast Guard is doing on a daily basis to keep our waterways clear. If you're a boater--this is some great information...and look back here tomorrow for some extra info!
First I'll post my email to Bank of America I sent at 10:12 a.m. on Tuesday:
Christina--
We are running a follow-up story today. We have had a LOT of responseto our story and I have several questions I would like answers to before we run our story at 6pm. If we do not receive a response by 6pm, we will be unable to include it in our story.
1) Nicole informed us the respresentative from Bank of America said they were speaking with Isla Blue developers to buy back her home.Isla Blue told us they had NOT been contacted by Bank of America at all. They told me they were receptive to a call from BOA just had NEVER been contacted. Why did the representative say this to Nicole if they had never actually picked up the phone and called?
2) We have had more calls from people who have been in the loan modification process only to have their homes sold while they are in the trial period. What is BOA's procedure for processing loan modifications? How many people typically work on a loan modification? Why are we seeing a trend of communication breakdowns between borrowers and BOA and the courts?
3) MOST IMPORTANT--is BOA still receiving money from the Federal Government for these modifications that they process and then foreclose? How much does BOA receive per loan modification?
4) Does BOA sometimes choose to foreclose because it more advantageous to foreclose a claim against mortgage insurance rather than work with a homeowner?
Thanks.
Now their response from 7:03 p.m. Tuesday night:
Melissa,
Thank you for the opportunity to respond. Please include the following in future updates:
Before a Bank of America associate contacted Ms. DePuy yesterday afternoon, we confirmed that our outside counsel had reached out to an attorney of the third party purchaser to inquire about repurchasing the property. The attorney stated that they would get back to us with their interest. We will be submitting an offer to the third party tomorrow morning for their consideration and asking for a delay of the eviction while we work out a settlement. We are still researching exactly what transpired that lead to the foreclosure sale. We are doing everything within our power to keep Ms. DePuy in her home.
Through the first half of 2010, Bank of America has completed mortgage modifications providing homeownership retention solutions for about 160,000 homeowners who face difficulties in making their monthly payments due to economic conditions. That brings the bank's total of modified home loans to 650,000 since January 2008. The July Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) performance report from the Department of Treasury shows Bank of America continuing to lead all servicers with more than 72,000 permanent HAMP modifications completed through June, up from 63,000 reported by Treasury the month before.
Bank of America apologizes to its customers if they did not receive the service level they expect from Bank of America. Recognizing the need to do more for our customers, Bank of America has opened Customer Outreach Centers in various parts of the country. Last week, we opened one in Fort Lauderdale. The centers offer customers facing financial hardship with an opportunity for face-to-face counseling. Bank of America Home Loans has expanded default management staffing to nearly 18,000, an 80% increase since January of 2009. We are also introducing case managers who will be assigned to a customer throughout the modification process.
Keeping customers in their homes is in the best interest of servicers, investors and especially the homeowner. Foreclosure is a last resort. The decision to move forward with a foreclosure relies heavily on the customer's past payment history, their ability to make future mortgage payments and investor guidelines. Ms. DePuy did not have mortgage insurance on her loan. The Treasury's Making Home Affordable program offers a $1,000 incentive to servicers for placing a customer in a permanent modification. The servicer does not receive any incentive payment until the borrower has successfully made the requires trial payments and modification is completed. The servicer is eligible for an additional $1,000 incentive each year that the homeowner makes timely payments for the first three years after the modification.
Christina B. Toth
Bank of America
Media Relations
My producer received a call from Laqurdia Tatum--the woman we introduced you to last night-- after we sent our initial email. Laqurdia told us she had received a modification, paid the first mortgage payment, then left to go to Fort Bragg to send her son off to Afghanistan. She came home to find her home auctioned. So my producer Katie sent this email to Bank of America at 3:19 p.m. :
Christina:
I am a producer with Melissa Yeager at WINK-TV. We just interviewed another woman who says she was also approved for a Bank of America loan trial period and even sent her first payment in-- and her home was also sold out from under her.
I have copies of the letter from BOA that states she is in fact part of the modification trial and during that time, no foreclosure would happen. I also have a canceled check for her first payment due on July 1st. She called BOA to make sure her home would not be put up for auction-- and an agent told her (after 45 minutes to an hour on hold) that she took care of it and her house would not go to auction. She even placed calls to the lawyers that were in charge of the auction to tell them of the recent developments-- and still the house went to auction.
She found out her house was sold on July 8th only after she came back home from Fort Bragg-- saying goodbye to her soldier son who was being shipped out to Afghanistan.
Can you please look into her case and let me know how this happened?
Again, we are running her story-- as well as an update about the woman below-- tonight at 6pm. That is the deadline to hear from you.
Thanks!
Katie Cribbs
Executive Producer, Special Projects
So we received this response back at 7:28 p.m.:
Katie,
You may use the following in any further updates. I will let you know anything I find out tomorrow.
Bank of America:We are still researching this case. If we proceeded with the foreclosure sale in error, we will work on trying to resolve the situation for Ms. Tatum.
Christina Toth
I understand it takes some time to look into these cases--but we initially contacted Bank of America a WEEK before we actually ran the story. We wanted to run Nicole's story when we had some answers from Bank of America. I'm still not sure we have those --but trust us to keep asking for you! In fact, if you have questions you would like to pose to BOA...feel free to post them in the comments. I would love to hear them. We're running an updated story at 5 p.m. And thanks to all of you sending me emails about your story. I am keeping them as we do more stories about the loan modification process.
(On a side note--I'm really irritated by the late response by BOA two days in a row. If I paid my credit card payment late, they'd charge me $35.00. By my math, that's $70!)
Also--Katie and I are busy bees back here in Call for Action. We have a GREAT piece running at 6 p.m. about what the Coast Guard is doing on a daily basis to keep our waterways clear. If you're a boater--this is some great information...and look back here tomorrow for some extra info!
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
CALL FOR ACTION FOLLOW: Inconsistencies with Bank of America's story
We want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth; but we may not be getting the "whole truth" from Bank of America.
We've been trying to track down Bank of America for a week in regards to Nicole DePuy's situation. She's a Cape Coral woman who fought to have her loan modified by the bank and finally won; however, her house was still scheduled to go up for auction. Bank of America assured her as soon as she started paying her new, modified loan amount, that the house would be pulled from auction. It wasn't. And Nicole didn't know until the new owners came a knocking-- telling her to be out by the end of July!
Finally, right before our story about Nicole aired last night (July 26, 2010), Bank of America called Nicole to explain they were working with the property group that bought Nicole's house to come up with a solution. We were not able to confirm this with Bank of America but we did get in touch with the property group that bought Nicole's home. They tell us: BANK OF AMERICA HAS NEVER CONTACTED THEM!
In fact, the property group that now owns Nicole's home tells us that Bank of America, from the beginning, has told them that they've always wanted to foreclose on and sell Nicole's home. Again, we're still trying to get in touch with Bank of America to get its side.
Bank of America has told us, however, that it has contacted Nicole and is working on a solution.
So what's the truth? We're trying to get it! Tune in to WINK News tonight, July 27th at 6pm to find out what we're now being told now!
To watch Nicole's full story, click on this link.
We've been trying to track down Bank of America for a week in regards to Nicole DePuy's situation. She's a Cape Coral woman who fought to have her loan modified by the bank and finally won; however, her house was still scheduled to go up for auction. Bank of America assured her as soon as she started paying her new, modified loan amount, that the house would be pulled from auction. It wasn't. And Nicole didn't know until the new owners came a knocking-- telling her to be out by the end of July!
Finally, right before our story about Nicole aired last night (July 26, 2010), Bank of America called Nicole to explain they were working with the property group that bought Nicole's house to come up with a solution. We were not able to confirm this with Bank of America but we did get in touch with the property group that bought Nicole's home. They tell us: BANK OF AMERICA HAS NEVER CONTACTED THEM!
In fact, the property group that now owns Nicole's home tells us that Bank of America, from the beginning, has told them that they've always wanted to foreclose on and sell Nicole's home. Again, we're still trying to get in touch with Bank of America to get its side.
Bank of America has told us, however, that it has contacted Nicole and is working on a solution.
So what's the truth? We're trying to get it! Tune in to WINK News tonight, July 27th at 6pm to find out what we're now being told now!
To watch Nicole's full story, click on this link.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Oil scam warning
Florida's Attorney General and Chief Financial Officer are warning Floridians of a new scam targeting Gulf Coast residents.
People are now receiving emails claiming to be from BP headquarters in London and are signed by BP CEO Tony Hayward. This is an email phishing scam! The email promises you a grant of $500,000 for responding to the email and providing personal information. Do not respond!
Florida Attorney General
Florida Chief Financial Officer
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Census survey not a scam
A viewer recently e-mailed with questions about something called, "The American community Survey." She wanted to know if this survey was a scam or legit.
The answer: This is legit!
The American Community Survey is sent through the U.S. Census Bureau. It's a separate part of the 2010 Census program. Response to both surveys is required by law.
Unlike the ten-year Census, The American Community Survey is ongoing, every month. It asks for more specific information from you, like how much your home is worth or how much you spend every month on utilities; however, it will never ask you for your personal information like social security number of bank account.
For more information on The American Community Survey, click on this link.
The answer: This is legit!
The American Community Survey is sent through the U.S. Census Bureau. It's a separate part of the 2010 Census program. Response to both surveys is required by law.
Unlike the ten-year Census, The American Community Survey is ongoing, every month. It asks for more specific information from you, like how much your home is worth or how much you spend every month on utilities; however, it will never ask you for your personal information like social security number of bank account.
For more information on The American Community Survey, click on this link.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Rental scam in full swing in SWFL
For the second time in just weeks, the Call for Action office has received word of a rental scam circulating SWFL. On June 24th, 2010 we told you about the scam in full detail, click here to watch the story.
Now, another viewer wrote in to tell us about the same scam. Here's what happens:
The scam artists registers a home on a rental site and you contact the scam artist about that home. That scam artists is smart and uses the name of the actual owner, registered on the property appraiser's website-- so he looks legit! And almost always the scam artists says he is in Africa and usually on some sort of missionary trip. Take a look at the e-mail this viewer received (the name and address has been removed to protect the actual home owner).
Viewer's e-mail:
I must confess that I am very very new in this landlord business..However,My name is xxx,I own the house located at (xxx Estero, FL). Due to my job as a missionary I spent less time in the States so I could not get a hold on any Realtor to handle this rent issue, although it was when I knew how long we are going to stay in Africa that I decided to rent out the house. However, the initial plan was to sale out the apt. which I tried, but sometimes the agents inflates the prize and it takes longer to sell i am telling you this incase if you find the house on another website, that is the old advert. because of this reason and more we need a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money , but want it to be clean and for you to take it as if it were yours.
The rent is $800 and600 for Security Deposit
For this 2BR
Pets : Dogs, Cats Allowed!!!
Below is my phone numbers
*************************************
Important to note:
--People out-of-state of out-of-country will get a Realtor or rental company or even a friend to handle renting out their property.
--Once you contact the person, he or she will try to get you to send money before getting a key to look at the place. You should never have to pay any money up front to look at a home.
--This scam usually involves someone living in Africa as a missionary and the person provides on overseas phone number (usually a Nigerian number).
--Watch out for poor grammar-- a sign that someone is not legit.
--If you have any questions or concerns that this may be a scam, contact your local sheriff's office or call the Lee County Sheriff's Office Fraud Hotline: 239-477-1242
Now, another viewer wrote in to tell us about the same scam. Here's what happens:
The scam artists registers a home on a rental site and you contact the scam artist about that home. That scam artists is smart and uses the name of the actual owner, registered on the property appraiser's website-- so he looks legit! And almost always the scam artists says he is in Africa and usually on some sort of missionary trip. Take a look at the e-mail this viewer received (the name and address has been removed to protect the actual home owner).
Viewer's e-mail:
I must confess that I am very very new in this landlord business..However,My name is xxx,I own the house located at (xxx Estero, FL). Due to my job as a missionary I spent less time in the States so I could not get a hold on any Realtor to handle this rent issue, although it was when I knew how long we are going to stay in Africa that I decided to rent out the house. However, the initial plan was to sale out the apt. which I tried, but sometimes the agents inflates the prize and it takes longer to sell i am telling you this incase if you find the house on another website, that is the old advert. because of this reason and more we need a responsible person that can take very good care of it as we are not after the money , but want it to be clean and for you to take it as if it were yours.
The rent is $800 and600 for Security Deposit
For this 2BR
Pets : Dogs, Cats Allowed!!!
Below is my phone numbers
FULL CONTACT NAME? OCCUPATION? RESIDENTIAL HOME ADDRESS? YOUR CELLPHONE NUMBER? YOUR HOME PHONE NUMBER? YOUR WORKPLACE NUMBER? WHAT TIME IS THE BEST TIME TO REACH YOU? AGE & MARITAL STATUS? OWN A PET? OWN A CAR? HOW MANY PEOPLE SHALL RESIDE IN THE PREMISES? ANTICIPATED MOVE IN DATE? REFERENCE? ============================= Application Comment ============================== ======= Please make sure this questions are fill correctly because the best way you answer with your comment will impress me the more to accept your applications. I know you would want to see the house before making any kind of rental payment , which is understandable.We can make arrangement for the keys and documentation including an Authorization letter to be shipped to you, this will give you the opportunity to view house. Regards, |
*************************************
Important to note:
--People out-of-state of out-of-country will get a Realtor or rental company or even a friend to handle renting out their property.
--Once you contact the person, he or she will try to get you to send money before getting a key to look at the place. You should never have to pay any money up front to look at a home.
--This scam usually involves someone living in Africa as a missionary and the person provides on overseas phone number (usually a Nigerian number).
--Watch out for poor grammar-- a sign that someone is not legit.
--If you have any questions or concerns that this may be a scam, contact your local sheriff's office or call the Lee County Sheriff's Office Fraud Hotline: 239-477-1242
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Air condioning repair bill shock
The summer is here and that means it's time to crank your air! But it's also the time of year that keeps air conditioning repairmen busy.
Our Call for Action volunteers are getting a lot of calls and e-mails about people getting ripped off on their repair bill. Some tips to remember when it comes to hiring anybody to fix your air conditioning unit:
--Don't pay up front. Make sure the work is done and it's done well, first.
--Is the company or contractor licensed in Florida?
--Do your research! Get more than one estimate before going through with the work. Two to 3 different companies may give you a better idea of what is really a fair price to pay.
Following these simple steps may help you from burning up after seeing a bill for cooling down your house!
Our Call for Action volunteers are getting a lot of calls and e-mails about people getting ripped off on their repair bill. Some tips to remember when it comes to hiring anybody to fix your air conditioning unit:
--Don't pay up front. Make sure the work is done and it's done well, first.
--Is the company or contractor licensed in Florida?
--Do your research! Get more than one estimate before going through with the work. Two to 3 different companies may give you a better idea of what is really a fair price to pay.
Following these simple steps may help you from burning up after seeing a bill for cooling down your house!
Targeting health care fraud
The FBI is combating health care fraud. Some of the big scams out there right now are involving home health care, infusion therapy (when treatment is inserted directly into blood, muscle or the spinal cord), and double medical equipment billing.
Another big scam the agents are targeting: off-label marketing of prescription drugs. The practice involves a drug maker promoting their product for other uses not approved by the FDA and sometimes in larger doses than the FDA allows. This act is not only illegal but also potentially harmful to consumers.
The FBI warns that as the cost of health care expands ($2.26 trillion by 2016), so does the opportunity for fraud. The FBI teams up with other federal agencies like the FDA, the DEA and the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team, or "HEAT"-- which is part of the Department of Justice and Health and Human Services, to combat the issue. HEAT looks for possible fraudulent activity in billing patterns by health care providers.
What the FBI has to say about health care fraud:
* Health care fraud schemes come in all forms-fraudulent billings, medically unnecessary services or prescriptions, kickbacks, duplicate claims, etc.
* Schemes target large health care programs-both public and private-as well as health care beneficiaries. (Medicare and the Medicaid are the largest programs, so they are targeted more often.)
* Schemes are committed by health care providers, owners of medical facilities and laboratories, suppliers of medical equipment, organized crime groups, corporations, and even sometimes by the beneficiaries themselves.
* FBI health care fraud cases sometimes cross over into other investigative areas, like organized crime, gangs, and cyber crime, where we see criminals beginning to use the proceeds from health care fraud schemes to fund their operations.
Tips to help avoid being victimized:
* Protect your health insurance information card like a credit card.
* Beware of free health services-are they too good to be true?
* Review your medical bills, like your "explanation of benefits," after receiving health care services and ensure the dates are services are correct.
And if you suspect health care fraud, contact your local FBI office.
Another big scam the agents are targeting: off-label marketing of prescription drugs. The practice involves a drug maker promoting their product for other uses not approved by the FDA and sometimes in larger doses than the FDA allows. This act is not only illegal but also potentially harmful to consumers.
The FBI warns that as the cost of health care expands ($2.26 trillion by 2016), so does the opportunity for fraud. The FBI teams up with other federal agencies like the FDA, the DEA and the Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team, or "HEAT"-- which is part of the Department of Justice and Health and Human Services, to combat the issue. HEAT looks for possible fraudulent activity in billing patterns by health care providers.
What the FBI has to say about health care fraud:
* Health care fraud schemes come in all forms-fraudulent billings, medically unnecessary services or prescriptions, kickbacks, duplicate claims, etc.
* Schemes target large health care programs-both public and private-as well as health care beneficiaries. (Medicare and the Medicaid are the largest programs, so they are targeted more often.)
* Schemes are committed by health care providers, owners of medical facilities and laboratories, suppliers of medical equipment, organized crime groups, corporations, and even sometimes by the beneficiaries themselves.
* FBI health care fraud cases sometimes cross over into other investigative areas, like organized crime, gangs, and cyber crime, where we see criminals beginning to use the proceeds from health care fraud schemes to fund their operations.
Tips to help avoid being victimized:
* Protect your health insurance information card like a credit card.
* Beware of free health services-are they too good to be true?
* Review your medical bills, like your "explanation of benefits," after receiving health care services and ensure the dates are services are correct.
And if you suspect health care fraud, contact your local FBI office.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Scammers getting smarter!
Call for Action uncovers a brand new scam and another twist on an older scam.
The first scam is so new that WINK news was the first to show it to one expert. The person who e-mailed us at the station claims that she is an American citizen who got ripped off in a Nigerian Scam. She claims that she figured out a way to get her money back and can help you get your money back too. All you have to do is e-mail her.
There are a number of red flags with the e-mail. Tune into WINK News at 5pm to learn what those are.
The second scam involves renters. The criminal uses information open to the public to fool people looking for a home. Here's how it works:
The scammers go to a property appraiser's website and picks out a home. He or she can find pictures of the home on the website, the owner's name, the home's address and other information about the building. The criminal then posts that information on a rental site. Someone interested in renting the home then contacts the criminal. Because the criminal is posing as the real homeowner, and is using real information, it looks legit to the potential victim.
Call for Action Chief Investigator Melissa Yeager will have more tips on how to recognize both of these scams and how to avoid becoming a victim on WINK News at 5pm. If you missed the report, you can always watch it again online under the "Features" section. Just click on "Call for Action."
Both of the e-mails we talk about are attached for you to look at.
Click here to view
The first scam is so new that WINK news was the first to show it to one expert. The person who e-mailed us at the station claims that she is an American citizen who got ripped off in a Nigerian Scam. She claims that she figured out a way to get her money back and can help you get your money back too. All you have to do is e-mail her.
There are a number of red flags with the e-mail. Tune into WINK News at 5pm to learn what those are.
The second scam involves renters. The criminal uses information open to the public to fool people looking for a home. Here's how it works:
The scammers go to a property appraiser's website and picks out a home. He or she can find pictures of the home on the website, the owner's name, the home's address and other information about the building. The criminal then posts that information on a rental site. Someone interested in renting the home then contacts the criminal. Because the criminal is posing as the real homeowner, and is using real information, it looks legit to the potential victim.
Call for Action Chief Investigator Melissa Yeager will have more tips on how to recognize both of these scams and how to avoid becoming a victim on WINK News at 5pm. If you missed the report, you can always watch it again online under the "Features" section. Just click on "Call for Action."
Both of the e-mails we talk about are attached for you to look at.
Click here to view
Prisoners and tax credits...and a new scam
Jen Stacy showed me this story that just crossed the AP wire:
Nearly 1,300 prison inmates wrongly received more than $9 million in tax credits for homebuyers despite being locked up when they claimed they bought a home, a government investigator reported Wednesday. The investigator said 241 of the inmates were serving life sentences.
The story goes on to say that the IRS has blocked 400,000 applications and started 150 criminal investigations.
Thoughts on this? Have you claimed the homebuyer credit? Comment or email me at melissa.yeager@winktv.com.
Tune in tonight at 5pm--we're looking into a new scam targeting renters in Southwest Florida. Man, these scam artists are getting sneaky!
Nearly 1,300 prison inmates wrongly received more than $9 million in tax credits for homebuyers despite being locked up when they claimed they bought a home, a government investigator reported Wednesday. The investigator said 241 of the inmates were serving life sentences.
The story goes on to say that the IRS has blocked 400,000 applications and started 150 criminal investigations.
Thoughts on this? Have you claimed the homebuyer credit? Comment or email me at melissa.yeager@winktv.com.
Tune in tonight at 5pm--we're looking into a new scam targeting renters in Southwest Florida. Man, these scam artists are getting sneaky!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Your phone rings, but no one is there: You just got scammed!
From the FBI website:
It's called a "denial-of-service" attack and they're nothing new. Computer hackers have used them to take down websites. But in a new twist, criminals are using telephones to keep you looking the other way while they steal your money.
Here's how it works. You get a telephone call and when you answer you hear dead air or a recorded message, advertisements or even a phone sex menu. What the crooks are actually doing is using automated dialing programs and multiple accounts to overwhelm the phone lines. The calls are a diversion tactic. While the lines are tied up, the criminals are masquerading as the victims and are raiding bank accounts, online trading funds or other money management accounts.
The FBI explains how it works:
--Weeks or months before the phone calls start, a criminal uses social engineering tactics or malware to elicit personal information from a victim that this person's bank or financial institution would have-like account numbers and passwords. Perhaps the victim responded to a bogus e-mail phishing for information, inadvertently gave out sensitive information during a phone call, or put too much personal information on social networking sites that are trolled by criminals.
--Using technology, the criminal ties up the victim's various phone lines.
--Then, the criminal either contacts the financial institution pretending to be the victim…or pilfers the victim's online bank accounts using fraudulent transactions. Normally, the institution calls to verify the transactions, but of course they can't get through to the victim over the phone.
--If the transactions aren't made, the criminals sometimes re-contact the financial institution as the victim and ask for it to be done. Or they add their own phone number to victims' accounts and just wait for the bank to call.
By the time the victim or the financial institution realizes what happens, it's too late.
Tips to protect yourself:
--never give out personal information to an unsolicited phone caller or via e-mail
--change online banking and automated telephone system passwords frequently
--check your account balances often; and protect your computers with the latest virus protection and security software.
And if you think you may have been targeted by a telephone denial-of-service attack, contact your financial institution and your telephone provider, and file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
To read more about the scam, click here.
It's called a "denial-of-service" attack and they're nothing new. Computer hackers have used them to take down websites. But in a new twist, criminals are using telephones to keep you looking the other way while they steal your money.
Here's how it works. You get a telephone call and when you answer you hear dead air or a recorded message, advertisements or even a phone sex menu. What the crooks are actually doing is using automated dialing programs and multiple accounts to overwhelm the phone lines. The calls are a diversion tactic. While the lines are tied up, the criminals are masquerading as the victims and are raiding bank accounts, online trading funds or other money management accounts.
The FBI explains how it works:
--Weeks or months before the phone calls start, a criminal uses social engineering tactics or malware to elicit personal information from a victim that this person's bank or financial institution would have-like account numbers and passwords. Perhaps the victim responded to a bogus e-mail phishing for information, inadvertently gave out sensitive information during a phone call, or put too much personal information on social networking sites that are trolled by criminals.
--Using technology, the criminal ties up the victim's various phone lines.
--Then, the criminal either contacts the financial institution pretending to be the victim…or pilfers the victim's online bank accounts using fraudulent transactions. Normally, the institution calls to verify the transactions, but of course they can't get through to the victim over the phone.
--If the transactions aren't made, the criminals sometimes re-contact the financial institution as the victim and ask for it to be done. Or they add their own phone number to victims' accounts and just wait for the bank to call.
By the time the victim or the financial institution realizes what happens, it's too late.
Tips to protect yourself:
--never give out personal information to an unsolicited phone caller or via e-mail
--change online banking and automated telephone system passwords frequently
--check your account balances often; and protect your computers with the latest virus protection and security software.
And if you think you may have been targeted by a telephone denial-of-service attack, contact your financial institution and your telephone provider, and file a complaint with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center.
To read more about the scam, click here.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Business owners--send me an email!
Have you filed a claim with BP for losses from the oil spill? We want to know how the process is working for you!
Drop me a line at melissa.yeager@winktv.com.
Drop me a line at melissa.yeager@winktv.com.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
No oil here! But who is getting the message?
$25 million. That's how much BP has paid Florida to let tourists know what beaches are open for business. Ads are already running, but where are the ads for Southwest Florida?
It's a Call for Action Investigation tonight on WINK News at 6pm. Chief Investigator Melissa Yeager goes right to the Governor's office to find out why not one cent has been used on ads for our pristine beaches.
It's a Call for Action Investigation tonight on WINK News at 6pm. Chief Investigator Melissa Yeager goes right to the Governor's office to find out why not one cent has been used on ads for our pristine beaches.
FBI 2009 Mortgage Fraud Report
FBI Issues 2009 Mortgage Fraud Report
Mortgage fraud is on the rise according to the latest FBI report. The crime jumped 5% from 2008 to 2009. The exact total dollar loss attributed to mortgage fraud for 2009 isn't known but it's estimated to have cost $14 billion.
Other key findings presented in the report include:
--2.8 million properties with foreclosure filings-- up 120% from 2007 to 2009
--The top 10 states ranked by the number of foreclosure filings per housing unit were: California, Florida, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Georgia, Ohio, Texas, and New Jersey
--In April 2010, one in every 386 housing units received a foreclosure filing.
The entire report is available on the FBI's website:
2009 FBI Mortgage Fraud Report
Mortgage fraud is on the rise according to the latest FBI report. The crime jumped 5% from 2008 to 2009. The exact total dollar loss attributed to mortgage fraud for 2009 isn't known but it's estimated to have cost $14 billion.
Other key findings presented in the report include:
--2.8 million properties with foreclosure filings-- up 120% from 2007 to 2009
--The top 10 states ranked by the number of foreclosure filings per housing unit were: California, Florida, Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Georgia, Ohio, Texas, and New Jersey
--In April 2010, one in every 386 housing units received a foreclosure filing.
The entire report is available on the FBI's website:
2009 FBI Mortgage Fraud Report
Scam warning: Criminals get high tech
The Lee County Sheriff's Office Fraud unit recently sent out a warning about cyber criminals. The Fraud Line has received a lot of calls from people whose social networking site has been hacked ("Facebook"). The criminal then uses the victim's e-mail address book to scam your friends. Here's how it works:
The cyber thief blasts out e-mails pretending to be you. In the e-mail, the crook says that your out of the country and an unfortunate incident occurred. The e-mail goes on to say that "you" need money to get back home to the United States. The e-mails asks for money to be sent via Western Union or Moneygram. The thief often times also disables the victim's actual e-mail making it impossible for you to warn family and friends of the hacking incident.
The Lee Sheriff's office has tips on how to avoid becoming a victim of this scam:
2. Keep your operating system and Web browser up-to-date and learn about their security features.
3. Keep your passwords safe, secure and strong.
4. Back up important files.
5. Protect your personal information.
6. Learn what to do in an "e"-mergency.
To report a fraud or scam or to find out if that phone call, e-mail, letter or the person at
your door is trying to scam you, contact the Lee County Sheriff’s Office Fraud Line at
239-477-1242.
Call for Action wants to hear from you!
Do you have great video or pictures of something you want us to investigate? We want to hear from you!
E-mail us at: callforaction@winknews.com
E-mail us at: callforaction@winknews.com
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