Given this day in age where all things can be done online, what about purchasing your vehicle online? I know, right? I have condensed a few things to keep in mind if you find yourself shopping for a car online.
Let’s first discuss why one might choose to purchase online rather than the traditional in-person dealer route. Purchasing a vehicle online gives you a vast variety to choose from especially if there’s a specific car, make, and model you are interested in. Additionally, you can filter and browse cars with innovative features that suit your desires. In traditional car purchases, you often find yourself going from dealer to dealer to view their inventory, compare prices, and test drive different cars. Comparing options online can save you a significant amount of time. Using your smartphone alone, you can begin your search from anywhere and at any given time.
Here are a couple things to watch out for when buying a car online. Unlike buying a car at a dealer where you can stop by and test drive the car, purchasing online is a different experience. It’s advised to closely read the terms and conditions when deciding to close on a vehicle. Assess the return policy. This will typically state the period of time you have to test out the car and whether there is a restocking fee, if you decide not to keep the car. For example, some online retailers offer a 7-day/250 mile return policy. This week can serve as a useful time for consumers to check out the car by getting it inspected by a reputable mechanic, taking it on thorough test drives to make sure it is a good fit. If it is not, there are terms that outline how a consumer can return or trade in the vehicle.
Getting Started: Before even beginning you search, figure out your budget and how you will be purchasing the car (whether that’s paying cash of financing). Thoroughly do your research, just as you can do in-person, you can also shop around online. It is important to research as much as possible until you find your perfect match. Also, be wary that your credit may pulled during the process of finding financing, these will likely show up as hard inquiries on your credit report.
Nonetheless, buying a car online may not be the best fit for everyone. If you prefer a more hands-on approach and have time to engage an in-person search, the traditional route might be your preference. If you value buying experiences with more options and comparison shopping, online shopping may be something to consider.
Get more helpful hints on used car buying from the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP):
This piece is one in a series of Helpful Hints brought to you by the Consumer Assistance Program’s (CAP) service-learning interns. UVM undergraduate students make significant contributions to our program and Vermont through their participation in our service-learning lab, where they learn about consumer protection while honing their professional skills.
Please note, the information herein is provided for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Consumers with general consumer questions should contact CAP for more information, or seek private counsel from an attorney for legal advice.
Having a reliable internet and cell connection is essential nowadays, especially if you work from home or regularly video conference. If you’re moving to Vermont or moving within the state, it’s a good idea to check if your new home will have good internet and cell service. Here are some tips that can help you:
Research the area: Before moving, look up the internet and cell service providers available in the state. Currently, Vermont has 24 internet providers to choose from and is covered by the four largest mobile carriers in the nation.
Check the coverage map: Coverage across the state can differ depending on location. Visit the websites of each service provider and check their coverage map to see if your new home will be covered. For cell service, the Federal Communications Commission has a Mobile LTE Coverage Map that shows the coverage of the four largest mobile carriers.
Consider the type of internet service: If you’re moving to a rural area, check if you can get high-speed internet via cable or fiber optic service. The state of Vermont has an Interactive Broadband Map that shows fiber and cable routes and the speeds offered at residences across the state. In some cases, satellite internet or internet through a mobile carrier may be the only option.
Ask your neighbors: Asking your neighbors is a great way to hear about local experience with internet and cell service providers. They can provide you with valuable information about the quality and reliability of service in the area.
Test the service: Once you’ve chosen a plan, use your smartphone to test the cell service in and around your new home. This will help you determine if the plan you’ve chosen works as advertised. For internet service, you can use an online speed test to check the speed and reliability of the connection. Ookla is a free online service that can help you determine if the speeds provided are adequate.
By following these tips, you can ensure that your new home has good internet and cell service, so that you stay connected and productive after moving.
This piece is one in a series of Helpful Hints brought to you by the Consumer Assistance Program’s (CAP) service-learning interns. UVM undergraduate students make significant contributions to our program and Vermont through their participation in our service-learning lab, where they learn about consumer protection while honing their professional skills.
Please note, the information herein is provided for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Consumers with general consumer questions should contact CAP for more information, or seek private counsel from an attorney for legal advice.
Closing out National Consumer Protection week, a week dedicated to understanding consumer rights and avoiding scams, it is fitting to highlight the Stopping Scams Together initiative announced this week by the Vermont Attorney General. The effort encourages our community of Vermonters to identify scams and share success stories of stopping scams together. Many Vermont partners and individuals are already doing the work to understand scams so that they can help in the prevention effort.
Share stopping scams stories on social.
You can help stop scams by learning about scams and sharing information with your community. To start learning about scams today, visit our blog, sign up for scam alerts, connect on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube), watch and share our imposter scam prevention videos, and practice the SLOW method in all consumer transactions. Visit the Scam Prevention Through Awareness and Education page for detailed scam prevention strategies.
Are you, or do you know someone who has a stopping scams story? Share your story and your good news of stopping a scam today. Learn more on the Stop Scams VT webpage. There you can access a stopping scams graphic that you can use when sharing your stopping scams stories. Or, we will she your story for you, if you fill out our intake form.
To keep Vermont safe from scams, we must continue to work together.
There are perfect matches online, and there are scammers. How can a person tell the difference when online profiles of scammers can be just as good as, if not better than, profiles of existing people? Scams that prey on trust and deceive through relationships of confidence and romance are among the most heart wrenching. How can you look for love online, while keeping your heart protected?
Armor your heart. Be romance scam smart.
Armor your heart by using verification strategies:
Verify the person’s identity:
Using image search, you can see how frequently a photo occurs elsewhere online and in different profiles
Ask contacts what they think
Ask photo poses with very specific uncommon photos
Video chat on your terms and don’t accept excuses of having slow internet
Armor your heart by knowing the signs of a scammer:
Refuses to provide additional photos
Refusesto chat through webcam
Is difficult to reach by phone, or prohibited from calling
Has excuses as to why you can’t meet
Needs money, or financial support of any nature, including a business venture
Wants to “strengthen the relationship” by sharing personal identifiable information (accounts, passwords, credit cards, and more) or opening lines of credit together
BURLINGTON, VT – Reports of scams to the Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program totaled 3,685 in 2022. In keeping with the previous year’s trend, a scam claiming that an unauthorized order was placed, or a package is pending delivery, sometimes naming Amazon, took the number one spot on the list, totaling 19 percent of the top scams reported to the Consumer Assistance Program. Following closely behind in the number two spot was the computer tech support scam, where a scam tech company reaches out about concerning viruses or problems with antivirus services, accounting for 18 percent of the top scam reports in 2022.
Vermont’s Top 10 Scams Reported in 2022 by percentage of the Top 10.
The family emergency imposter scam notably climbed the list from number nine to number five in 2022. Within this category, the grandchild imposter scam, where a grandparent receives a call from a scammer claiming to be a distressed grandchild, resulted in 104 scam reports. In May, the Consumer Assistance Program issued a VT Scam Alert to warn Vermonters about the influx of this scam. Again in June, this category of scam gained attention due to scammers demanding cash be handed over to in-person couriers. In an effort to reduce the impact of this troubling scam, the Consumer Assistance Program produced the Avoiding the Family Emergency Scam video as part of the Imposter Scam Prevention Project education campaign.
The most significant development in 2022’s top 10 list was not the emergence of a new scam, but the disappearance of an old one. For the first time in four years, the Social Security phishing scam fell from the top 10 list. This scam, where you receive a phone call, often a robocall, stating there has been criminal or fraudulent activity involving your Social Security number, accounted for only 2 percent of the top scam reports in 2022. The year prior, it was the second most reported scam.
Potential causes for this drop, and an overall decrease in scam reports by 28 percent in 2022 from the previous year’s 5,154 reported, could be linked to an overall reduction in robocalls coming into Vermont.
YouMail’s Robocall Index shows that robocalls in Vermont deceased by 10 percent, or 5.5 million calls, from 2021 to 2022. At the same time, the Attorney General’s Robocall Enforcement Team targeted the Social Security phishing scam by suing TCA VoIP, a California-based telecommunications company that sent thousands—if not millions—of fraudulent robocalls to Vermont residents. The settlement, finalized in December, required TCA VOIP to close its doors and pay a $37,500 financial penalty.
“Scams affect us all—whether you’ve received an annoying scam call or text, been lied to by a scammer, or lost money to a scam. Together, we can fight scams by reporting them to the Consumer Assistance Program and spreading awareness within our communities. My office helps Vermonters through the Consumer Assistance Program, and we will continue to hold companies that profit from scams accountable,” said Attorney General Charity Clark.
The Consumer Assistance Program actively updates scam prevention resources and strategies and manages the CAP Connection blog, keeping Vermonters informed about important consumer issues.
The scam: You receive an automated phone call, text message, or email claiming that you have been charged for an online order, have an outstanding balance on your account, or are sent an item you did not order. The scammer then instructs you to call a number provided in the scammer’s communications to get a refund or to resolve the charge. At this point, they will ask you to provide your card number to “confirm your account” or prompt you to provide them remote access to your computer. As soon as the scammer has remote access to your device, they can access every single document, file, and transaction you have saved to your device.
How to spot the scam: Companies will not call with tech support unless you requested that they contact you. If you receive a package that you do not recall ordering, check your statement history to see if you have been charged. Packages without a return address are highly suspicious.
What to do: Hang up the phone immediately and do not call back. If you receive an email or text regarding a package delivery or order that has been made, do not click on any links. Mark the email as “Junk” or “Spam”. Furthermore, never allow remote access to your devices to unknown parties. If you are concerned about charges made to your accounts, log in to your account directly and contact your financial institution. If you receive a package that you did not order, mark it return to sender and give it back to the mail carrier.
The scam: You receive a phone call, pop-up, or email on your computer claiming to be from Norton, Microsoft, Apple, or another well-known tech company. They will make claims such as your electronic device has a virus; your device security subscription has been automatically renewed; or state you have been charged for services you did not receive or ask for. You may be prompted to click a link or call a number to contact. They will try to persuade you to give remote access to your device to fix the issue, and sometimes will even ask for immediate payment for their services.
How to spot the scam: Legitimate tech support companies do not display communications to their customers as random pop-ups on your device. Tech support will not call you to warn of security incidents, that your account has been renewed for a subscription you do not recognize, and will not send you random links, often shortened, with instructions for you to click on URLs.
What to do: When contacted about a supposed business relationship, take steps to verify, especially if you do not remember signing up for services. Never click on links or provide remote access to your computer from an unknown email sender or pop-up message on your device’s screen. If you received a pop-up message you cannot click out of, shut down, restart, or unplug your device. If you get a call from “tech support”, hang up. Also, be careful when searching for tech support online. Some users have been scammed by calling inaccurate phone numbers listed online.
The scam: You will be notified by phone, email, or mail that you won a prize or a quantity of money. In some cases, you will even receive a realistic-looking check – but it is fake! You are instructed to pay fees and give your financial and personal information to claim your prize. They often use a legitimate sweepstakes name, like Publishers Clearing House.
How to spot the scam: Legitimate sweepstakes and contest businesses, like Publishers Clearing House and Mega Millions lottery, will contact you in person if you win a major prize. For prizes under $10,000, the notification is done through certified mail by overnight delivery services (FedEx, UPS). They will not contact you by phone, nor require a payment or processing fee to release your prize.
What to do: If it sounds too good to be true, then it’s not true. You don’t need to pay fees or give your financial information in order to claim a prize.
Law Enforcement Imposter
The scam: You receive a phone call unexpectedly, claiming to be a police officer, U.S. Marshall, or U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The caller threatens arrest or legal action. When you engage, urgent payment is demanded to make the problem go away. Payment does not solve the supposed problem, and they keep calling.
How to spot the scam: The police would not warn you ahead of time about a pending warrant or arrest. Using such threatening tactics intend to spike your emotional response.
What to do: Hang up on all arrest threats and report them. Watch out for similar government imposter scams that purport to be agents of government, including from the Social Security Administration, the Department for Children and Families, the IRS and more.
The scam: Scammers pose to be someone you trust and pretend to be in an emergency to convince you to send them money or will ask you for a favor. These scammers pose as grandchildren, friends, relatives, and close contacts appearing to be someone you know. Scammers impersonate people you love and play on your fears to have you send money urgently. After the initial call, you may be told a lawyer, parole officer or courtroom may contact you for further information.
How to spot the scam: Contacts come in as calls, emails, or online messages. Sometimes it’s someone you haven’t heard from in a while. They require urgency and ask for secrecy. You may be instructed not to speak to your loved one on the phone.
What to do: Take steps to verify. Check out if they really are who they say, even if they sound like a loved one. Slow down your response and contact someone you trust to verify if there is an emergency. You can also choose a “code word” with friends and family to verify the person is who they claim to be. If they don’t know the word, they are not your friend or family member.
The scam: Fake websites or phony listings draw you into a purchase that’s likely too good to be true. Listings may include Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist posts that don’t deliver after payment has been made, cheap pet sales, and websites with steep discounts. This scam can also appear in online rental listings as well as target online sellers.
How to spot the scam: Be skeptical of unrealistic offers. Watch out for requests for money in any form (gift cards, wire transfers, cash) when not made in person. Scammers likely will not want to talk on the phone or meet in person. Heed warnings in user reviews and other online commentary.
What to do: Investigate the person/profile of the seller. If their profile is new and they have no friends and photos, they are likely a scam. Research new websites you are considering doing business with by looking up online reviews and state business registrations, taking note of how long the company has been operating. Perform online searches of the business with “scam” and “complaints” to see if issues generate. Complete your transactions in cash and preferably a safe place in-person.
Debt Collection
The scam: Scammers pose as debt collectors and require immediate payment. They may claim to be familiar businesses and threaten utility disconnection or legal action.
How to spot the scam: Collectors are not allowed to threaten you with arrest over debts owed. You can request verification of the debt, which must be sent to you in writing. If you ask them to stop calling you, they are generally required to stop.
What to do: Hang up the phone, and if they call again, let the call go to voicemail. If you think you do actually owe money to a debt collector or other agency, make sure to use trusted contact information when communicating with them. You can also contact the originator of the debt to see if they sold the debt to a debt collection agency, and request they provide you with the name of the debt collector who took on the debt.
Deceitful Solicitations
The scam: You receive unsolicited communication with a deceptive promotion. Offers may appear to be from a known business, like Xfinity or DirecTV, and extend unreal offers. Solicitations may purport affiliation with a charitable cause or make low-ball offers on the sale of real estate, urging recipients to complete an enclosed one-page form contract to sign over their home.
How to spot the scam: Beware of unsolicited offers you cannot verify. Be especially weary of offers that ask you to complete the transaction in one sitting.
What to do: Hang up on unknown callers and let calls go to voicemail. When you receive mailings, take extra time to reply by inspecting the details and using your personal contacts as a sounding board. Never give over your payment information or sign on the line when you don’t understand the offer or details.
The scam: Your personal information is compromised and used for another’s financial gain. This can look like receiving a letter about a new account opening, or the discontinuance of bills. You might stop receiving legitimate bills and other mail or start to get bills for products and services that you didn’t arrange.
How to spot the scam: Beware of communications denoting unexpected bank transactions, credit card or benefit applications. If your expected bills are not showing up, or you are receiving correspondence in someone else’s name, report it.
What to do: Don’t give out personal information, such as your Social Security number, passwords, personal identification numbers, and financial accounts. Review your credit reports at least once a year. (You can access your credit report for free). Carefully check bank account statements and benefits to verify transactions. Shred documents and expired credit cards before you throw them out. Verify security breach notification letters received on the Attorney General’s website. If your information has been stolen by an identity thief, take identity theft protection steps.
The scam: Scammers will call, often with a live call and from a spoofed caller ID number, and pose as Medicare representatives to gain your personal information and money. These scams are most frequent during times of open enrollment but can occur year-round. The scammers will state they need your Medicare card number or Social Security number to keep your coverage active and verify medical information. The calls may also claim that coverage is expiring or in need of renewal. Scammers will also ask if you received a “new Medicare card.”
How to spot the scam: In general, Medicare cards do not expire. Unless you have called Medicare using the 800 number on the back of your card and requested a callback, Medicare will not call you. If a phone call is required, you would receive a letter from the Social Security Administration to schedule a call. Medicare representatives will never call you in an attempt to verify your information, sell you products, tell you that your coverage is expiring, or to issue you a new card.
What to do: Never provide your Medicare number or other personal information and payment to unknown callers. In Vermont, representatives of the State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at 1-800-642-5119 through local Area Agencies on Aging can help address Medicare questions. Other questions and concerns about Medicare coverage can be directed to Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE.
