For scam interactions and consumer transactions generally, you can apply the SLOW method to disrupt the unpredictable reaction response you are likely to experience by substituting a planned response instead. At the onset of the first communication, start with SLOW as a strategy to help you take steps to verify.
Stop scams with SLOW
S – Slow down – scammers pressure you to react urgently. Don’t! Instead, take a breath and find your calm by doing what is immediately natural to you.
L – Log the contact – write down the information of the email, or phone call. If they are on the phone, you can tell them you will call them back, even if you don’t intend to. Then, disengage.
O – One call – make one call to a primary contact, such as a friend or family member and discuss the incident. It works best if you have pre-established who this will be; someone you can trust no matter what. The contact is a sounding board, who will ask questions and help you get curious about the interaction. Some questions might include:
How do I know the contact is who they say they are? –What proof is there? Where can I verify their contact information that is not part of the communication I received? –Was my credit card charged? What other parties can I contact that might know more about this? How can I be sure this is not a scam?
W – Who cares? Contact another party or organization in your life who cares. The Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) can help you identify scams and report them: 1-800-649-2424 and ago.vermont.gov/cap
In the age of the internet and free flowing technology, scammers hope to capitalize at every turn. You can prevent scams by practicing SLOW in all your consumer transactions now—and commit to being a primary contact for others. Everyone can help stop scams by following a scam prevention plan and sharing scam knowledge with your community.
When I searched to purchase my first used car as a freshly licensed teenager in the late ‘90’s, I was fortunate to have an experienced mechanic and negotiator with me. Our first stop was a used car dealership that was holding a huge blowout event complete with flag garland and free large-print calculators and five salespeople per customer. I can remember the swarm of eager dealers approaching to this day. We showed up in our ten-year-old Ford LTD. One salesman approached so daringly that he might have opened the door for me had I not willingly exited the vehicle. My dad held up the flyer he received at home as he promptly asked about the promised freebie. The dealer took the flyer from his hand and then pointed to a long line. He advised us to look at cars while we waited.
I wanted something simple. The criteria I stated was, “Four doors and not a hatchback.” It went without saying that I wanted a reliable car to get me around town to my job and all my activities. We were led to a seven-year-old white Ford Tempo marked $2,000. For all appearance purposes, it seemed perfect. I could see myself driving that kind of car. While the dealer encouraged us to buy it based on price alone, my dad pushed back as if speaking straight from a consumer protection advice manual, “We aren’t putting any money down without thoroughly looking it over and having a test drive.”
That’s when he crouched down in the crowded dealer lot, nearly pushing his entire body under the car. From what he could see externally, it looked good enough for a drive, but confirmed that we wouldn’t have a clear sense of the car until it was put up on a lift. Then, I drove it. It handled okay in the lot and on the main road. But, when the dealer called from the back seat for me to take a right turn on another neighborhood road, my dad advised me to take a left onto the thruway. The car could not reach highway speed and sounded as though it might combust at any moment. “How does it feel?” my dad asked.
I called back in my loudest octave, “Like it doesn’t want to go anywhere.”
He followed, “Do you want this car?”
“No,” I said flatly.
He turned to the dealer, “We won’t be buying this car.”
When we got back to the dealership, we quickly got out and were ready to leave, but my dad still wanted his calculator. The salesman said he would go get it. When he came back, he did not bring the calculator. Instead, he brought three more salesmen that encircled us with shaming jabs aimed at my father that he was letting me down. While my heart raced with anxiety and anger, my dad remained calm. At one point, I heard my dad reply, “I can’t believe you are selling this car. It sounds like it could break at any minute. I am not letting my daughter in that thing again.” By the end of their banter, we walked away with three things:
My dad was offered a job at the dealership—he did so well saying “No” they wanted him to work for them.
A large-print calculator (My dad did not stop asking for it).
An etched lesson: Purchasing a quality used car is best done with backup and calm shrewdness.
Car buying is something most of us will do only a handful of times in our lives. How can we properly prepare for the moment we come face to face with a car seller? While you may not have the benefit of having my father present, there are some things consumers can do to prepare for the big purchase. The Consumer Assistance Program’s Assistant Director Lisa Jensen recently appeared on Across the Fence to share car buying tips.
Across the Fence 10/15/2021 – Car Buying Tips from the Vermont Attorney General’s Office
Here are some of the used car purchasing tips highlighted in the show:
Secure financing ahead of time.
Do thorough research on the make/model of the car; search reliability and ratings.
Look up the Kelly Blue Book and NADA and online marketplace values
Check out similar vehicles at multiple dealerships.
Scrutinize the car: Test drive, get an independent pre-purchase mechanical inspection
Look for the Buyer’s Guide and decipher warranty information; there may be none.
Buying a car can be complex, time consuming, costly, and emotionally taxing. Because buying a car is not something we do frequently, having a supportive person present who understands your financial picture and supports your interests can be beneficial. If you are in the market for a car, consider bringing a trusted companion with you to the sale, such as a friend/family member, who understands your financial picture and supports your interests.
The Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) is another resource that you can call for tips before car buying. If you do experience a problem with the purchase of a dealer purchased vehicle, new or used, CAP provides a letter mediation service for Vermonters and works in partnership with the Vermont Auto Dealers Association’s mediation/arbitration program.
Did I ever get my first car? Why, yes. Yes, I did. It took another week or two, but in time, we found the perfect car for me for half the price. A metallic blue Mercury Topaz—the off-brand twin of the Ford Tempo. A test drive and thorough check-up proved the car to be a worthy fit for me. After many reliable miles, the car was repurposed for parts in the early 2000’s.
My best friend riding in style in my Mercury. Circa 1998.
The state of Vermont defines identity theft as the unauthorized use of another person’s personal identifying information to obtain credit, goods, services, money, or property. It is common that identity theft occurs from use of your credit card and bank account information.
There are some instances where your social security number and other personal information may be used to acquire identification, lines of credit, loans, or other consumer accounts fraudulently. For more information on Vermont laws regarding privacy and data security, click here.
Identity theft is more common than you would think and it is evolving rapidly with the growth of technology. All our information is a couple clicks away.
Here are 5 ways to protect yourself if you suspect you are a victim to identity theft:
Review Your Credit Reports. You can obtain your free credit report from each of the credit reporting bureaus through AnnualCreditReport.com. If you find anything that should not be there, be sure to save a copy of the report. Then, contact the credit reporting agency to dispute all inaccurate items.
Place a Fraud Alert or Freeze on Your Credit Reports. You can find out more information from the Federal Trade Commission about fraud alerts and freezing your credit files. To place a fraud alert or freeze on your credit files, contact the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian, TransUnion.
Close Accounts. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or opened fraudulently.
File a Police Report. File an “identity theft” police report and ask for a copy for your records. Find your local policy agency.
File a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.Click here to be directed to the complaint page of the Federal Trade Commission.
Want More Info?
Identity theft is a complex issue facing consumers all over the country. Find out more about identity theft by visiting identitytheft.gov, the Federal Trade Commission’s identity theft help and information site.
Navigating the identity theft recovery process can be overwhelming. Vermonters with questions about the process can call the Consumer Assistance Program at 1-800-649-2424 or the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-438-4338.
Unfortunately, many scam encounters result in monetary loss in Vermont. In 2020, 249 Vermonters lost approximately $1.5 million to scammers. The most common scams associated with monetary loss were imposter scams (scammers posing as friends, family members, or romantic interests) and online classified listing scams (scams perpetrated on sites such as Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace). Scammers ask their victims to send money using a variety of methods, including gift card transactions, peer-to-peer payments apps like Venmo or CashApp, wire transfers, and cash or checks in the mail.
Here are 5 things you can do to avoid experiencing a scam with monetary loss:
Don’t send money to someone you don’t know. This may sound simple, but it’s an important tip to remember. Take it slow. Scammers will pressure you to act quickly or face serious consequences. Do not provide unsolicited callers with your credit card or bank account numbers. If you are asked to send money via gift cards, wire transfer, cash in the mail, or peer-to-peer payment apps, it’s a scam.
Gift cards are for gifts and should be treated like cash. If you are asked to provide payment over the phone or via email using gift cards, it’s a scam. Typically, the scammer will ask you to purchase gift cards at a local grocery store or pharmacy, asking that you provide the numbers on the back of the card. In 2020, Vermonters lost approximately $128,000 to gift card scams (as reported to CAP). For more information about gift card scams, visit our Gift Card Scams blog post.
If it’s too good to be true, it’s not true.Scammers who perpetrate “free money” scams promise cash prizes, cars, and even grant funding in exchange for payment up front. Free money is always free. If you are asked to pay fees to receive a prize or grant, it’s a scam.
Scammers know exactly what to say. To get your money, scammers will often feed their victims lines to use with bank clerks or cashiers in order to push through unusually large withdrawals, transfers, and purchases. They may ask you to say that the money is for a family member or a significant purchase to avoid suspicion from bankers and retailers.
Do not share personal or financial information withunverified contacts. Legitimate organizations and businesses will not call, email, or text you for your sensitive personal information. Scammers may claim there has been fraud and you need to verify your information – don’t take the bait. End communication with them and contact the associated business or organization using verified contact information.
BONUS TIP: Look out for the scams below, which were associated with 95 of the 249 scam with loss reports we received in 2020:
Imposter Scams / Phony Relationship Scams
The scam: There is a wide variety of phony relationship scams. Sometimes, the scammer pretends to be someone you know, like a love interest, friend, relative, or even a religious leader. They typically reach out to you online or on the phone, claiming to need money.
How to spot the scam: They ask you to send money immediately, often in the form of wire transfers or gift cards. If you met the person online, but they refuse to video-chat or talk on the phone.
What to do: If they claim to be someone you know, call the person using a verified phone number. If you receive a suspicious email, be sure to double-check the email address. If you’re feeling suspicious, get the real story and talk to someone you trust. Cut off communication with the scammer. If you receive an email from a friend or coworker asking for money, do not send money. Be sure to call that person directly—it’s most likely a scam.
The scam: Sometimes the scammer responds to a seller post, overpays with a check, and asks for the remainder to be wired back. Sometimes the post is for a fictitious rental property and the scammer is looking for the deposit and first month’s rent to be sent immediately. Scams even happen when you are looking for that perfect puppy or pet to expand your family, but the transport of the animal is supposedly held up at the airport or elsewhere.
How to spot the scam: If you feel suspicious, stop the sale or purchase. The scammer may ask you to wire them money, send a bank transfer, or pay using gift cards. They may not want to talk on the phone or meet in person. Remember, you should not provide a rental deposit before signing the lease or contract in-person.
What to do: Complete your transactions in cash and preferably in-person. If they refuse to meet in-person or talk on the phone, ignore them and end communication.
For more information about avoiding monetary loss and fraud, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website:
Nothing quite beats puppy snuggles to lift spirits and brighten moods. Though I speak now mostly from personal experience as the owner of a sweet cuddly chihuahua, Bobby, my sweeping generalization is based in fact. Loving on animals induces the cuddle chemical, oxytocin, giving the body a calming feel-good rush. Who couldn’t use a bit of pick-me-up right now?
Lap dog Bobby snuggling
I know I’ve been cuddling with my dog more. I feel lucky to have him and to have purchased him as a purebred puppy for the discount price of $225 from a legitimate breeder in Kentucky when I lived there. $225 was a steal for my companion. In retrospect, I would have paid much more for him and the joy he has brought my life. And realistically, I know many Vermonters do. They spend hours searching for the perfect pet to expand their family and when found, spare no expense to bring them home.
Sadly, scammers know this. They’ve devised skilled, deceitful plans to connect you with fake puppy companions, take your money, and give you nothing in return—except, perhaps, a broken heart. These scammers are mostly lurking in indiscreet corners of the internet, posting poached photos of someone else’s pets, claiming they are for sale and that they’ll ship them to you. Sometimes they’ll claim you can get the pet for the unbelievable price I paid, $225 or less. Sometimes they claim the pet is free but you must pay shipment fees or for medical complications that arose. Drawn by the plethora of adorable photos and the anticipation to snuggle your cutie, you send the money. The website looks legitimate and with all those photos, you never consider that this pup-for-sale is part of an intricately woven tale of fiction.
What are you to do then? News sources have reported more people are purchasing furry friends during the pandemic. While we’re tethered to our homes, online buying seems to make the most sense. What we’ve seen at the Consumer Assistance Program (CAP) through scam reports, however, is that when consumers purchase from online puppy sellers sight unseen, even from supposed Vermont businesses, folks are sending money and not getting a pet as promised.
The simplest way to avoid online puppy scams is to commit to “pet the pet” before turning over any money. If you don’t have the lovable furry friend in hand:
If you would like to help stop scams, consider being a CAP Cares Ally, by getting scam alerts and notices from our office and committing to sharing scam information with those in your community.
Get alerts from our office:
To receive scam alerts about scams on the rise in Vermont by phone call, text, or email, use the following link to sign up for Scam Alerts: https://ago.vermont.gov/scam-alerts-signup-form/. Need assistance signing up? Call the Consumer Assistance Program at 800-649-2424. We can help you sign up and we can assist if you have questions, concerns, or need help determining if you have been a victim of a scam.
