Approach may be new, but scams the same; here's portable reference guides
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I saw an important FBI alert hanging on the bulletin board of a First National Bank.
It belongs on every bulletin board, everywhere.
And that includes what we in the newspaper business consider the most visible of bulletin boards, the one held in high esteem by many families and reporters, the refrigerator door.
The warning is an FBI fraud alert. "If you can answer yes to any of the following questions, you could be involved in a fraud or about to be scammed!" it states, then lists 10 tips dealing with checks and other money issues.
Mike Heiler agrees that the alert should be circulated widely.
Mr. Heiler is the supervisory special agent in charge of the Cyber Crime Squad at the Pittsburgh FBI office. He investigates computer crimes.
I called him to confirm that the FBI had distributed the warning. It had, and it's posted on the bureau's Web site at www.fbi.gov.
But, because not every household has a computer, wants a computer or can afford a computer, especially those on fixed incomes, the wider the distribution the tips can be given, the better, in a newspaper, for instance.
It's one of the things the printed media does better than the broadcast media because items taped on the refrigerator door serve as a constant reminder. They also can be conversation starters, especially with visiting older family members who can be particularly susceptible to scams, schemes and swindles.
I also think a copy of the alert should be handed to every bank customer at the teller window, included in their monthly bank statements and even put in monthly utility bills.
Yes, there would be some expense involved. But if it prevented just one customer -- of any age -- from being swindled, it would be worth it.
It also is in the best interest of banks and utility companies to give the warning as broad a circulation as possible. When customers are cheated out of their hard-earned money, they often bounce checks because they don't have the money to pay their utility bills.
And it wouldn't hurt to post the alert on church bulletin boards or include it every week in the church bulletin.
Although the warning initially deals with checks that customers bring to the bank, it also addresses other money issues.
So, without further adieu, here's the warning from the FBI:
Is the check from an item you sold on the Internet, such as a car, boat, jewelry, etc?
Is the amount of the check more than the item's selling price?
Did you receive the check via an overnight delivery service?
Is the check connected to communicating with someone by e-mail?
Is the check drawn on a business or individual account that is different from the person buying your item or product?
Have you been informed that you were the winner of a lottery, such as Canadian, Australian, El Gordo, or El Mundo, that you did not enter?
Have you been instructed to either "wire," "send" or "ship" money as soon as possible, to a large U.S. city or to another country, such as Canada, England or Nigeria?
Have you been asked to pay money to receive a deposit from another country such as Canada, England or Nigeria?
Are you receiving pay or a commission for facilitating money transfers through your account?
Did you respond to an e-mail requesting you to confirm, update or provide your account information?
Tell branch personnel immediately!
"Those are all really good safety tips," Mr. Heiler said. "None of the scams out there are new; they are just variations of the same old thing. They've succeeded in the past when they've been offered on the phone or in the mail.''
The Internet adds speed, volume and anonymity to fraud schemes that have been going on for decades. Because the Internet makes them global, the amount victims have lost is larger -- in the billions. The scams are aimed at all age groups, especially the elderly, and all economic and education levels.
"Criminals and their scams are often one step ahead of us, but we're starting to catch up and arrest more of them. It's always a resource issue [of personnel and time], but we will work these cases as much as we can, as do state and local law enforcement."
Mr. Heiler strongly recommends using a separate bank credit card -- "not a debit card"-- for online purchases. He also recommended a low credit limit on the card -- "what you'd pay for an airline ticket" -- and "make sure the bank will ensure it against credit card fraud."
Finally, never give any personal information, especially Social Security numbers and credit card numbers and bank account numbers, to anyone, whether they contact you online, on the phone, at your mailbox or at your front door.
If someone contacts you in any way about any or all of those numbers, contact the Social Security office, bank and or credit card company on your own. Do not use any phone numbers or Web sites or links they may direct you to.
The money you save will be your own.
For more information, go to www.fbi.gov or www.ic3.gov.
First Published January 15, 2009 12:00 am
