Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County's 
 Senior Scam Alert Newsletter
January 2018


Meet Legal Aid Attorney 
Jay White

Part of my work here at the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County is to make sure you are aware of scams out there so you can protect yourself and help spread the word. 

Every other month I will be sending you information I have about the latest scams.

If you or a senior you know needs legal advice or counsel about a scam,  please don't hesitate to contact Jay White at the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County at (650) 558-0915.
New Years Resolution Scam
Early in a new year, many resolve to lose a few pounds. It takes proper dieting and regular exercise to safely lose weight. But, you might ask yourself, "What about the ads that promise weight loss with no effort?" The truth is, those ads are promoting products that won't deliver on their promises.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission ( www.ftc.gov) warns to avoid any garment, gizmo, pill, or potion that promises weight loss with no effort. It may sound appealing, but in the end, the only thing you're guaranteed to lose is your hard-earned money.

Many bogus products may cause health problems. The FDA warns to not send money unless the product has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

A search of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration website www.fda.gov, or the U.S. Federal Trade Commission website  www.ftc.gov, could be helpful in sorting out the bad from the good.

IRS Impersonation Scam Update
With arrival of a new year, scammers are ready to steal our money. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has designated January 29 to February 2, 2018 as Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week.  

A clever scammer who steals an owner's social security number will likely use the information for unauthorized purposes --including stealing any tax refund due a taxpayer.
 
A call from a scammer purporting to be from the IRS is a fake event. The fake caller may state the person called owes tax money and will be thrown in jail if payment is not made immediately. That is wrong. A taxpayer will not be sent to jail for an innocent mistake or failure to pay taxes on time.
IRS personnel will not contact a taxpayer by E-mail or telephone for any alleged due taxes. Any legitimate communication from the IRS will be in writing. Alternatively, the fake caller may purport to be able to expedite any tax refund due if a taxpayer will send money ("commission") in advance for that service. The IRS warns against sending money for this bogus service.
 
Scammers purporting to be from the IRS or the U.S. Treasury Department may demand payments by iTunes Gift Cards, Green Dot prepaid Cards, MoneyPak Cards, Reloadit Prepaid Debit Cards, or other prepaid credit cards, Western Union or Moneygram. These requests are fraudulent. The IRS will not make such demand. If anyone insists you pay in one of these ways, the FTC wants you to report it via  www.ftc.gov or FAX (877) 479-9135.

Cancer Cure Fraud
"Anyone who suffers from cancer, or knows someone who does, understands the fear and desperation that can set in," says Nicole Kornspan, a consumer safety officer of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)."There can be a great temptation to jump at anything that appears to offer a chance for a cure."

Beware of products claiming on websites or social media platforms, such as Facebook and Instagram, to cure cancer.
Legitimate medical products such as drugs and devices intended to treat cancer must be approved by the Federal Trade Commission

Nevertheless, it's possible to find someone or some company hawking bogus cancer "treatments". They may come in many forms, including pills, capsules, powders, creams, teas, oils, and treatment kits.
 
Certain fraudulent red flags include:
  • Cures cancer
  • Treats all forms of cancer
  • Miraculously kills cancer cells and tumors
  • Shrinks malignant tumors
  • Selectively kills cancer cells
  • More effective than chemotherapy
  • Attacks cancer cells, leaving healthy cells intact
Additional warning information can be obtained by contacting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov.