Tag Archives: #StopScamsVT

Giving Season Go-To’s

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Giving gifts, whether to friends or organizations with meaningful missions can bring warmth and cheer during this cold time of year. Help yourself and others avoid holiday purchasing pitfalls by slowing down throughout your consumer transitions, taking steps to verify, and reaching out to your trusted community supports when questions arise. Talking about our consumer experiences—the good, the not so good, and the detrimental—can help others make informed purchasing decisions. Here are a few things I have learned:

  1. Give wisely – You can look up charities thoroughly before giving. You can see how they allocate funds and whether giving to them will count as a tax deduction. The EIN of charities are even online so that you can verify the organization exists.
  2. Plan out your online shopping – Always doublecheck the URL (website) is the one you know and trust before proceeding. For new stores, research thoroughly before buying by checking state business registrations, looking up BBB information, and searching for complaints online. Always ask friends for their opinion. All the information gathering will help you make an informed decision.
  3. Avoid fake ads – Just because you see it online, does not make it real. It can be the nicest looking professional graphic design around and it can still be a scam. If you are seeing ads that interest you while perusing the internet check it out on the site you know to be valid. Most sites have a promotions section so that you can see the latest deals being offered.
  4. Watch your “spaving” – That’s spending to save. Do you really need that extra set of doll boots that gets you to the site’s $150 free shipping minimum, or are you just spending more to get shipping (a $10 charge) for free? The same goes for buying bulk products you don’t use or need and participating in “buy more, save more” events (if you spend $100, you get 25% off).
  5. Use store rewards when it benefits you – When you sign up for store memberships with rewards programs, your consumer activity is tracked. The rewards program comes with an incentive for you to spend more to earn more rewards. (Another kind of buy more, save more). Periodically, you receive a coupon or credit representing the rewards you have earned that you can apply toward your future purchase. Store rewards can lead to savings when you use them to buy things for which you have a use.
  6. Pay with a credit card when you can, because credit cards come with built-in consumer fraud protection. A smart consumer spending choice is only charging what you can pay back right away so that you can pay off the amount without incurring more debt.
  7. Always watch out for scams – Scammers thrive during this busy time. When we have a lot going on, we become more susceptible to scams.

During this time of giving and kindness, keep your friends, family and community close, keep talking and you will help each other avoid consumer problems and scams.

If you have encountered problems with the purchase of goods or services in Vermont, you can contact the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program by calling 1-800-649-2424, or by going to our website at ago.vermont.gov/cap.

Ticket Purchasing Guide

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By Stella Marcantel

Within the past few years, online ticket scammers have become an increasingly prevalent issue. Regarding inflated ticket prices, counterfeit tickets, and multiple copies of the same ticket being distributed, here are some ways to be an expert ticket buyer.

Avoid Ticket Scams: Be Aware - Third-party ticket vendors can sell the same ticket to more than one person. Understand: Leading ticket websites can sell tickets at a much higher cost than face value. Stay Alert: Scam websites can appear very similar to a venue's legit website. Many times you will not know the validity of a ticket until arriving to the venue. Contact Us: ago.vermont.gov/cap
Avoid Ticket Scams Infographic
  • Be aware that third-party ticket vendors can sell the same ticket to more than one person, making both tickets invalid.
  • Understand that third-party ticket websites such as SeatGeek, StubHub, and Ticketmaster can sell tickets at a much higher cost than face value.
  • Stay alert while on the internet. Scam Websites can appear very similar to a venue’s legit website and may appear at the top of your search as a sponsored website, so always check the URL.
  • Do not use untraceable forms of payment such as Venmo, PayPal, or gift cards when possible.
  • Many times you will not know the validity of a ticket until arriving to the venue.

Vermont’s event vendors have cautioned consumers about fake ticket sales by encouraging consumers to check the latest information with the event vendor before purchasing tickets. The best way to avoid ticket scams is by purchasing tickets directly through the venue you plan to attend.

Contact the Vermont Attorney General’s Consumer Assistance Program by calling 1-800-649-2424, or by going to our website at ago.vermont.gov/cap to file a complaint if you have encountered fraudulent ticket sales.

The Season of Changing Leaves and Ripening Scams: Consumer Awareness Tips for Fall

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By Amrutaa Vibho, AGO Intern

With the changing of the leaves and the shorter days, fall brings a host of seasonal activities and purchases. Whether it’s Halloween costumes or season passes to ski resorts, consumers will be looking to save money on their seasonal purchases. However, this season is also ripe for scams. Here are  some tips to help you avoid falling for seasonal scams and schemes.

Beware of counterfeit or knockoff Halloween costumes. When searching online for a deal, beware too-good-to-be-true prices – it could be a trick! Unscrupulous retailers may list costumes at a discount to get you to fall for a listing using stolen photos, then send you a cheap imitation costume instead of the real thing. Avoid this tactic by buying in-person or from a trusted online retailer.

Skiers looking for deals on lift tickets: Watch out for steep, third-party discounts, which could be a sign of fraudulent tickets. Buying tickets from trusted resorts and standard channels is the best way to avoid scams.

Drivers preparing for the winter season may be spooked by the price of snow tires. When searching for a deal, do your research! Sellers offering “too good to be true” prices, subpar, and worn winter tires aren’t heroes. Avoid getting tricked by inspecting tires before you drive away.

Finally, as you plan your holiday vacations, don’t fall for counterfeit family vacation packages. While it is possible for sales to either inflate or be lower on some days than others, prices that are completely undervalued and look overly convenient could be a scam. Avoid holiday disappointment by purchasing directly from the business or online at their official website.

Remember these tips:

  • Research Before You Buy
  • Use Secure Payment Methods
  • Check the URL before clicking: Hover over links to see the actual URL. (look for “https://” in the URL)
  • Be Cautious with Personal Information

As always, contact the Consumer Assistance Program to report scams and get help. Call 1-800-649-2424 or email AGO.CAP@vermont.gov.

Join us in the fight to be #ScamAware and #StopScamsVT. Share this with someone you trust.

Email Extortion Using Photos of Home

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In a new twist in the email extortion scam a photo of your home is sent with the threat to send compromising photos and videos of you to your contacts. Threats like these instill great fear and worry. The scammer advises you to scan a QR code, directing you to pay with Bitcoin or provide them with access to your computer. If you do not cooperate, they threaten to share your embarrassing photos and videos to your contacts.

In today’s internet age, information is easy to obtain. To find your home, scammers search related information about you to locate your address. Then, they use mapping programs like Google Street View to capture a picture of your house—even when thousands of miles away. While using Google Street View in Vermont, I was able to view the front façade of a hotel in Italy when referencing its address.

If Google Maps or another mapping service has traveled your street, a street view picture of your home likely exists.

Additional ways this photo may be obtained is through prior real estate listings, or potentially local tax appraisals.

These e-mails are scams. If you receive one of these e-mails, DO NOT send money and do not allow remote access to your computer. Only scan QR codes of known parties.

Tips from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (ic3.gov):

  • NEVER send compromising images of yourself to anyone, no matter who they are or who they say they are.
  • Do not open attachments from people you do not know. Links can secretly hack your electronic devices using malware to gain access to your private data, photos, and contacts, or control your web camera and microphone without your knowledge.
  • Turn off your electronic devices and web cameras when not in use.

If you are receiving email extortion threats:

  • Remember you are not alone as thousands are impacted by this scam.
  • Stop all interaction with the extortionist and do not be embarrassed or afraid to contact law enforcement.
  • File a complaint with the FBI IC3 at www.ic3.gov.

You can call CAP at 1-800-649-2424 if you need help determining if you have encountered a scam.

You can help stop scams by sharing this information with your community.

Reference:

Ic3.gov – https://www.ic3.gov/media/Y2021/PSA210902
www.icactaskforce.org/resource/RS00510153/view

Computer Tech Support Scam Alert

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Vermonters have reported an uptick of the Computer Tech Support phishing scam, specifically claiming to be from “V-Tech Solutions”. This scam usually comes as a robocall claiming that the recipient will be charged for antivirus software and instructing them to call back to cancel the charge.

Scam Alert issued by Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark

This scam uses a common scare tactic of an unauthorized charge made to one of your accounts. When you receive this or similar calls, hang up and take steps to verify.

  • Check with your financial institution directly to determine whether a charge has been made.
  • If you notice unauthorized charges on your account, dispute them through your financial institution.
  • Even if you get a call from a company that you do business with, call them back on a number you know to be valid, such as the number referenced on your contract or statement.

If you receive this or other scam calls, report it to the Consumer Assistance Program, at 1-800-649-2424 or online at ago.vermont.gov/cap