mysecurepc

A growing scam involves false tax returns.

Here is how it works:
A scammer files a tax return with a refund specified. Then the scammer goes to one of the tax return advanced loan businesses, presents the return, and gets a loan based on the anticipated refund. Goodbye scammer.

The problem manifests itself when the victim tries to file their tax return. If electronic, the IRS returns a notice that a return has already been filed.

One thing I cannot understand is how a tax return company will gladly create a tax return without physically checking the identity of the person. Maybe now they will.

Doug

I, too, received an email claiming I may get several thousand dollars from Microsoft for participating in an email test. From a friend, no less! Microsoft is not going to give someone several thousand dollars for forwarding a few emails. Besides, the email had several poorly constructed sentences and many misspellings. Other friends have received emails claiming they won the Microsoft lottery.

Fortunately Microsoft has a few ways of recognizing email scams. If you are using Outlook a digital signature may be attached to a genuine Microsoft email. Read about the digital signature from Microsoft.

To summarize:
- Microsoft does not send software updates as attachments.
- Legitimate updates have a valid Microsoft Web address
- Legitimate updates are also on the Microsoft web site
- Be wary of clicking on links from an email
- The best way to mitigate problems is to visit the Microsoft web site home and from there find what you need

Doug

Don’t be the next victim to lose your house to “consultants” who claims they will pay your mortgage. With easy credit and loose lending practices many homeowners are vulnerable. With 25 percent of the houses owned by investors and investors are bailing, a drop in housing prices, and foreclosures is not too far behind.

As a general rule of thumb, foreclosure rates tend to go up in colder months simply because fewer houses are sold.

Foreclosure rescue scams are deals that proclaim to “save your house” or “pay your mortgage.” Don’t be fooled. There are 3 categories of foreclosure scams: (from the National Consumer Law Center in Boston)

• Crooks charge exorbitant prices saying they will help you but nothing gets done.
• The homeowner signs over his house thinking he’ll rent for a while then buy it back at a later date. Won’t happen.
• The bait-and-switch where the homeowner thinks he’s signing papers to refinance his mortgage but in reality it signs the house over to the crooks.

Often scammers place the house in a trust in the homeowner’s name then at a later date transfer it to themselves. And the mortgage company generally sees nothing amiss. The worst thing? The mortgage holder, you, are responsible for the monthly payments but you do not own the house anymore.

Fewer and fewer lawyers are taking on foreclosure problems because they have a slim chance in court of winning any awards.

Many times the predators are not strangers; they are children or friends. “Just put me on the title and I’ll help out” so people, especially the elderly, add their children to the title. Once it is legal, out go the parents on the street. Yes, it does happen.

The Department of Justice outlines a few red flags that you should keep in mind if you find yourself behind on your mortgage payments or facing foreclosure.

1. Be suspicious of any person or company that calls itself a mortgage consultant or a “foreclosure service.”
2. Be wary of marketing procedures. Don’t trust anyone who uses flyers or solicits for business door-to-door.
3. Be suspicious of offers to lease back your home, so you can buy it back over time. These offers are weighted against you.
4. Don’t fall for promises that seem too good to be true. Watch for promises that lure homeowners into deals. These offers may include promises to “save your credit” or maybe the company promises to “find a buyer within seven days.”
5. Don’t sign anything with blank lines or spaces.

Here are some other tips:

• Never be pressured to sign a contract. Review the paperwork with a lawyer and don’t sign anything that has any blank lines or spaces. Information could be added later and you won’t know about it.
• Remember, verbal agreements don’t mean anything. You’ll want to get everything in writing and make copies of the paperwork. You can also check out the Better Business Bureau.
• Remember, legitimate companies will sit down with a homeowner and collect documentation. They will put together a package and present it to your lender.

To fend off foreclosure think about the following ideas:

1. Convert any adjustable mortgage over to one with a fixed interest rate.
2. If you have received a foreclosure notice contact your lender immediately. Many times something can be worked out.
3. If all else fails, filing bankruptcy may be a possibility.

Doug

Am I glad my mother in law is on the ball! My wife and I talk about all the scams that are happening around the country. Having one almost happen is a real wake up call.

A few nights ago my mother in law received a subtle frantic phone call around supper time from a man saying she is not correctly enrolled in Medicare. No problem though he would take care of it on the spot. Just give me your social security number and a few other pieces of information and you will be good to go.

She did not fall for it. Her response was that someone else takes care of her dealings with Medicare and they will look into it. After we heard this story and her friend investigated her Medicare status we decided it was a scam.

If caller id was available it probably would show “private call” so the phone call could not be tracked down.

If you know any seniors alert them the possibility of phony telephone calls that ask for personal information. Legitimate companies do not ask for this type of information. Get the telephone number and say you will call back - this usually ends the conversation.

Doug

This was on the news in Las Vegas the other day but is prevalent around the country. The ruse is this: a crook copies down pertinent information off gift cards, usually hanging next to the checkout line. Then the crook periodically calls to see if it has been activated. If so, then it is off to a spending spree.

One of the best ways to avoid this, other than not using gift cards, is to buy one that is behind a counter…of course the attendant may not be on the level but that is another story.

Doug