Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Taking Care with Connections on Valentine's Day

(Microsoft ClipArt)
Valentine's Day is a time to stop for a minute and let the people in our lives know that we love them.  Unfortunately, we also need to be aware that some messages might not be on the up-and-up. Karen B. has sent us the following:
                  Beware of Romance Scams

As we quickly approach Valentine’s Day, fraudsters use this holiday as yet another opportunity to make off with your hard-earned money or steal your personal information. Watch out for these not-so-sweet scenarios:


Online Dating Scams: With millions of Americans visiting
legitimate online dating websites every year hoping to find a companion or even a soul mate, chances are that even if you’re not visiting these sites, someone you know and care about may be. So we want to make sure everyone knows that criminals use these sites, too, looking to turn the lonely and vulnerable into fast money through online scams. These criminals also troll social media sites and chat rooms in search of victims.

Here are some warning signs that a “sweetheart” is really a scammer:
-Wants to leave the dating site immediately upon meeting and quickly asks for an e-mail address, phone number, or instant messaging username.
-Professes true love after just a few contacts.
-Has a profile that seems too good to be true, including a supermodel-worthy photo.
-Won’t answer basic questions about where they live and work. Or, claims that he or she is a U.S. citizen who is abroad, is wealthy, or is a person of important status.
-Asks for money, multiple times (and, usually through a wire transfer) to pay for travel, a child or other relative’s hospital bills, recovery from a temporary financial setback, or expenses while a big business deal comes through.
-Communicates in a more desperate, persistent, or angry way if you don’t send money immediately.

To protect yourself or your loved ones, follow this advice and share this message:
 -No one should send money or give credit card or online account details to anyone they don’t know.
-Everyone should be careful about what personal information they share online.
-Be sure to report suspected fraudsters to the dating website or chat room operator.
-Bogus E-card: Electronic greeting cards are popular year-round, but especially around Valentine’s Day. And, these e-cards are an easy way for scammers to infect your computer with malware that gives them remote access to your files, online banking accounts, and passwords, putting you at risk for identity theft. Or it can enlist your computer as a spam-sending “botnet.”
-Although there are many reputable e-card services, scammers count on you not paying attention when you receive an email with a subject line like, "Your friend just sent you an e-card." So, if you do receive an online greeting card:
-Don’t click on links, especially when they’re from an unnamed person or secret admirer.
-Steer clear of names and senders you don't recognize.
-Even if you recognize the sender’s name, go to the card company’s website to open the card; usually you’ll receive a confirmation code you can use to open the e-card.

Fake Flowers:
 -Valentine's Day is one of the busiest days of the year for florists, and, with many people ordering flowers online, these types of purchases are a common target for fraud. Scammers will sometimes pose as a local florist and then charge hidden or inflated fees. Or, you may get an e-mail from a supposed florist containing harmful links that lead to phony sites looking to steal personal and credit card information in exchange for huge discounts.

A few tips:
-Use a florist you trust and know; get referrals from friends and check for complaints with the
Better Business Bureau.
-Ask for a detailed receipt for any florist you use online and make sure that the fees for the florist who's actually fulfilling your order are fully disclosed—third parties are often used around holidays.
-Pay by credit card so if there's a problem you can dispute it with your card issuer.
-Don’t fall for and click on email links that could release malware onto your computer and put you at risk for identity theft.

-If you think you’ve been the victim of fraud, contact your local police or Attorney General (www.naag.org). And, if you believe any of these activities have resulted in identity theft:

Contact your financial institutions where the theft might have occurred (banks, credit card issuers)
File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (
www.ftc.gov/idtheft; 1-877-ID-THEFT)This Valentine’s Day, be sure to protect your heart and your wallet from scam artists who can easily turn your day from sweet to sour.

Sincerely,
Kristin Keckeisen
Fraud Watch Network
( Thanks to Karen B for reminding us that all Valentine's gifts might not be ones we want to receive.)

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