Scam Squad

This week hosts Patti Teel and Deputy District Attorney Kristina Perkins interview a recent victim of a credit card scam during her wedding brunch. Learn how to protect yourself from being scammed by phony travel agencies you find on internet searches.

Patti and Kristina discuss a reoccurrence of the Process Warrant Scam in Santa Barbara. Learn how to detect and deal with it.

This week, hosts Patti Teel and Deputy District Attorney Kristiana Perkins tells us about two old scams that are making the rounds again. The IRS Scam and the Magazine Subscription Scam. It can be very easy to be taken by either of these scams, so please do not miss this episode.

This week Patti and Kristina interview a person who had the old Summons Scam tried on them, with some interesting new twists. Fortunately, she didn't fall for it. Find out exactly what saved the person from becoming a victim of the scammer. Very interesting show.

This week, hosts Patti Teel and Deputy District Attorney Christina Perkins interview Shawn Dyer, Chief Fraud Specialist at Montecito Bank and Trust, about Check Fraud and how to spot and prevent it.

This week, Host Patti Teel and Deputy District Attorney Christina Perkins introduce us to the D.A.'s County Consumer Protection Unit. The local County Consumer Protection Unit mostly deals with consumer complaints from local businesses that falsely advertise or defraud customers. This type of consumer protection is different from most of the typical online, phone, text, and email scams that Scam Squad talks about. You won't want to miss hearing about this great consumer complaint resource. In this episode, the County of Santa Barbara DA’s Consumer Protection Unit won a default judgment against the company, Sun Fire Defense, who were ordered to pay 2.5 million in penalties and 2.5 million dollars in restitution. In an injunction, the company was also ordered to stop making a number of claims which were proven false. Sun Fire Defense claimed that its exterior coating product, SPF 3000, would protect homes from fires and also claimed that the coating could extinguish flames. Experts tested both treated and untreated wood and found that the untreated wood and the treated wood performed about the same. The product also contains chemicals that California law presumes to be hazardous because they are toxic. The false claims were particularly egregious because it triggered people’s fear following the Thomas Fire in December 2017.

This week, Patti and Christina tell us all about FTC Scams and Jury Duty Scams, how to spot them and what to do with them.

This week, Patti and Christina explore the dangerous world of QRC Scams. QRC scanning is so new and is so rapidly coming on everywhere and changing so much that Patti and Christiana want to warn you as much as they can about them. It is so easy nowdays to lose your personal information and get scammed out of thousands of dollars, so don't miss this QRC episode of Scam Squad.

This week, host Patti Teel and Deputy District Attorney Christina Jenkins discuss unsolicited text messages that try to get you to do something, such as go to a link or download software. Learn how to avoid these scams and more in this episode of Scam Squad

This week, Host Patti Teel and Deputy District Attorney Christina Perkins review Political Election Scams. They will discuss the three major election scams attacking voters this election cycle which are Voter Registration Scams, Political Donation Scams, and Fake Surveys and Polls. Learn how to avoid falling victim to these scams and stay safe.

This week on Scam Squad, hosts Patti Teel and Christina Perkins discuss the latest Fake Social Media Scams currently happening in Santa Barbara County and the nation, as well as how to guard yourself from being taken in by them.

Today, Host Patti Teel introduces Scam Squad’s newest co-host, Chief Investigator, Christina Perkins , from the Bureau of Investigations at the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office. Together, Patti and Inspector Perkin discuss the duties of the Investigators, as well as the latest scams currently affecting the Santa Barbara area and the nation in general. This week, Inspector Perkins alerts us to a recent scam called the, Hacking Scam, which has just started to plague our area. You won’t want to miss this episode.

To begin with, we meet Patti Teel's new co-host, Christina Perkins, from the District Attorney's Office. This week's Scam Squad's guest is Montecito Bank's Senior Securites Expert, Doris M. Roof, who will tell us about the latest ways we might get scammed at the bank. Recently, there has been a rise in the Altered Paper Check scams as well as a a brand new, rather sophisticated version of the standard P to P bank scam. Doris explains how these new twists on old scams work so well and how to try to protect ourselves from them as well as attempt to recover funds from the bank if you are scammed by them.

This week, Patti Teel and Deputy D.A. Vicki Johnson, host their favorite Criminologist, Judy Yates, who will update us on the major scams currently afflicting us now. She will also explain how many of these scams have been altered or evolved into much more sophisticated and complex scams that are making it much more difficult for all of us to spot and determine whether or not they are scams or whether they are legitimate contacts. Yates will also tells us how to avoid them.

This week, Patti and Vicki interview Deputy DA, Casey Nelson about his recent court case prosecuting an Affinity Scammer. Affinity Fraud is an investment fraud in which a scammer targets members of a common identifiable group based on things such as attending the same church or being members of the same country club. This is a very, very exciting episode you definitely can't miss.

This week, host Patti Teel and co-host Deputy District Attorney, Vicki Johnson, discuss the latest new weight loss drugs that have been all the rage of the world. due to their very, highly effective results. Unfortunately, there is a huge problem with floods of scammers advertising and selling fake, phony, and dangerous imposters of these very popular weight loss drugs, that can cause great sickness, hospitalizations, and even death. Learn how to avoid purchasing these scam fake weight loss drugs. You won't want to miss this episode if you are interested in the latest news about these highly effective weight loss medications.

Impersonation Scams have become the most lucrative scam for scammers. The most impersonated company that scammers impersonate is Best Buy and often say they are from Best Buy's tech support experts the Geek Squad. The second most impersonate company scammers use is Amazon. Patti and Vicki will tell you all about it on this weeks episode of Scam Squad. Don't miss it.

This week, Patti and Vicki are warning all of us about new scams to especially watch out for this year. As we know, scammers are getting more resourceful and convincing every day for three basic reasons. Patti and Vicki with explore in depth these three basic reasons and tell us how to guard ourselves against being scammed with these new scammer tricks and methods.

This is one of Scam Squad's most exciting and best episodes ever. The Fake Vince Gill Romance Scam. Patti and Vicki interview the daughter of a Romance Scam Victim who thought she was in an online romance with famous Country singer songwriter, Vince Gill. It turned out to be a Nigerian Romance Scam that swindled this 72 year old woman out of her life's savings of nearly a half million dollars. Runtime: aprox 21 mins

This week hosts Patti Teel and Vicki Johnson have special guest Criminologist Judy Yates tell us all about the latest technology that is causing huge increases in imposter scams with Social Security, Medicare, Banks, fake employers, and many common agencies and services. The gals will tell you how to protect yourself from these scams as well as what to do if you have been scammed by a fake employer or imposters pretending to be from Social Security, Medicare, Sherriff's Office, and other agencies and businesses. You won't want to miss this episode.

Scam Squad's guest this week is Fraud Expert, Shawn Dyer, from Montecito Bank & Trust. In this episode you'll learn about the Tech Support Scam that is still being used to manipulate our computers and steal our money. Dyer also tells listeners about the Altered Check Scam. Learn how the scam is pulled off and what you can do to safeguard yourself. Runtime 21 mins

Summer is approaching and soon it will be time to go on vacations. The Scammers are out in full force, especially with the phony B&B booking scams. Learn how to avoid these scams and others in this week's episode of Scam Squad. Don't let a scammer ruin your summer vacation. Learn how to get you money back if you have been scammed by booking your B&B.

This week, Retried Senior Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson tells us about how many of the old scams that sort of died out awhile ago which are now making a comeback resurgence in a huge way. You won't want to miss this episode about these tricky Resurrected Scams.

This week's guest is Criminologist Dr. Judy Yates who tells us the ten most common lies that scammers tell their victims in order to drain out their entire life savings accounts and perform other devastating and heart wrenching scams. This is a super packed anti-scam episode you will not want to miss nor can afford to miss. Learn what the government is doing to stop scams and a clue as to why more victims are needed to report scams to law enforcement to help make a difference.

This week, Doris Roof from Montecito Bank and Trust tells us all about the Tech Support Scam, the latest scam terrorizing and affecting the bank's customers, . Patti, Vicki, and Doris all join in to provide you with all you need to know about this very tricky and sneaky scam. Also, Vicki tell us how to get monetary restitution through the FBI if you've been scammed by a scammers that got caught. Don't miss it.

This week, Vicki and Patti focus on the Scam Victims. We need to realize that people who have been scammed are "VICTIMS." All too often, American society treats Scam Victims as Idiots, Old Fools, Airheads, and Morons. The facts are that Scammers are generally highly skilled, trained and well experience professional thieves that prey upon honest, innocent victims. Too many Americans will blame and criticize the poor Victim for being scammed. They will say things like, "How could you ever be so stupid to fall for a scam like that," or "You Idiot, you moron, how could you believe and be taken in by a scammer." or boast, "I'd never ever fall for an obvious scam like that. Victims need to be treated like Victims and not be lectured to by critical family members and friends.

Criminologist Judy Yates is back this week with a whole load of dangerous new scams to tell us about such as the all new Apple products scam that is affecting all types of Apple devices and products. If you have Apple, you definitely should not miss this episode. Judy Yate is one of the best Criminologists in the USA.

This week Vicki talks about the Virtual Kidnapping Scam, which seems to be on the rise in our area. Essentially, a scammer calls you on your phone, claiming to have kidnapped a loved one of yours. They try to get you to pay ransom, but most often, the call is fake and your love one has not bee kidnapped. However, of course you don't want to take the chance of risking. Listen for full details.

This week, Vicki tells us all about the horrible destruction that Romance Scams play on entire families. It's not just the victims of Romance Scans that get their lives totally ruined. Even the most intelligent of people get sucked into these cruel scams and lose all their money, sometimes becoming homeless on the streets.

A.I., or Artificial Intelligence, is seriously increasing the success rate of many types of fraud and scams this year. Most people, especially seniors, do not know how Artificial Intelligence can easily fool them into being scammed out of thousands of dollars by a variety of old and new scams. In today’s episode, host Patti Teel and Senior Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson ask special guest scam fighter Shawn Dyer from Montecito Bank about how A.I. scams and frauds can fool you into losing huge amounts of money and how to help prevent it. RUNTIME aprox 14 mins

TAX SEASON SCAMS - This week we have one of our most popular returning Scam Squad guest, Criminologist Judy Yates. Because tax season is here, criminologist Judy Yates will focus on all of the latest new tax scams, as well as new changes in the old standard types of ruthless Tax Scams and frauds the scammers and fraudsters are throwing at us now. She will also give us sound tips on how to discover, prevent, and resolve these frauds.

CONFESSIONS OF A NIGERIAN ROMANCE SCAMMAR. You really don’t want to miss this episode about a Reformed Nigerian Romance Scammer who once scammed fifty women out of more than $85,000.00 by using a 40 page bible especially for Nigerian Scammers titled “How to Make a White Women Fall in Love with You from Online Chat.” He spent five years as a romance scammer posing as an American Army man with rippling biceps, short blond hair, and a military uniform. He now works as a consultant at a fraud busting group called, Social Catfish. He tells the whole shocking story about his exploits and adventures as a Nigerian romance scammer in South Africa.

This week, Patti and Vicki explore the latest Scam Statistics and explain why these alarming numbers indicate we are so much more likely to be scammed this year, especially on Social Media, than in anytime in previous history. Deputy District Attorney Vicki Jonson will tell us why scammers are so much more sophisticated now because of technological advancements such as Artificial Intelligence. She will alert us as to why it is almost impossible to tell whether a person is a scammer or a family member, friend, or the person they claim to be. What are the chances you will be scammed this year? Is there anything you can do to protect yourself? Have police and law enforcement totally lost the War on Scams? Find out this week on Scam Squad’s Latest Scam Statistics episode.

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1 watching now Premiere in progress. Started 3 minutes ago Subscribe Today so you Don’t Miss any Important Warnings! With Doris Roof, Senior Fraud Specialist from Montecito Bank & Trust. The IRS and California Franchise Tax Board extended the federal and state tax deadline to Oct. 16, 2023, for most California counties. Because of this, many people who are filing their taxes now are finding out that a scammer has already filed their taxes and taken their refund! In another scam, people are contacted by a con artist who is pretending to be from the IRS. These con artists generally contact people by phone or by mail. They use scare tactics and demand you contact them immediately, saying you owe them money. Don’t believe it! Never wire money to them or pay them with gift cards. If they ask you to do so, IT’S A SCAM! Remember, if you get one of these letters, don’t call the number that’s in the letter. And don’t trust that the phone call you’re receiving is really from the IRS. At the very least, they will want you to disclose information so that they can steal your identity! Go to the IRS official website and click on customer service for help. GOOD NEWS! At the end of the podcast, Vicki shares some good news! A woman in Washington State had been systematically stealing people’s identities and then making fake ids and opening bank accounts in her victim’s names. She stole over $472,000 from victims but FINALLY got caught and convicted. Please call SCAM SQUAD’S FRAUD HOTLINE at 805-568-2442 You can simply get information from Vicki, or share your story of being scammed (or nearly scammed) to help others.

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With Special Guest, Criminologist & Financial Exploitation Specialist, Judy Christman Yates, DPA RESOURCES What to Know about the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/03/what-know-about-us-census-bureaus-american-community-survey?utm_source=govdelivery, 3/7/2023. • Check to see if American Community Survey (ACS) is legitimate: California and five other states are covered by the Los Angeles Region Office of 1-800- 992-3530. • More about ACS and the 10 years census, go online to https://www.census.gov/ Medicare Fraud Prevention: What’s on your statement? https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/06/medicare-fraud-prevention-whats-your-statement?utm_source=govdelivery, 6/8/23. About AARP Fraud Watch Network, https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraud-watch-network/, May 26, 2023: • Look up a scam in AARP’s Fraud Resource Center, • See or report scams in your area with our Scam-Tracking Map, • Get regular updates on the latest scams by signing up for biweekly Watchdog Alerts or text FWN to 50757 to receive text alerts, • Hear directly from fraud experts at one of our webinars, tele-town halls or live events in communities around the country, • Hear stories of real scams on our award-winning podcast, The Perfect Scam, Get social with the AARP Fraud Watch Network on Facebook and Twitter, where you’ll also have access to online events. You can also • connect with others on the Scams & Fraud channel in AARP’s online community, • Online resources to help protect veterans, service members and their families against scams at the and Looking for resources in Spanish? Go to www.aarp.org/fraude"

In this episode, Deputy District Attorney, Vicki Johnson, reviews the top text scams. Generally, text scams will offer you a reward/prize or pretend to notify you of a serious problem. Don't fall for them! Here are some of the most common text scams: 1. Fake Package Delivery Text Scams: The text will look like it's coming from UPS, Fed-X, USPS, or other delivery services. The texts says there has been a problem with your delivery. The text has a link to a website offering to re-delivery your package for a small fee. This is just a RUSE to get your information. 2. Phony Job Offer Text Scam: Often these are secret shopper jobs or 'car wrap' opportunities. The phony employer may send you a check which ends up being fake but before you figure that out, you're asked to pay them for job materials you'll need. Of course, when you fill out the job application, they'll acquire your personal information, leaving you vulnerable to identity theft. 3. Phony Security Alerts from a well-known company asking if you made a large purchase. If you get a text like this, don't respond to it or to the phone number in the text. Instead, call the company directly! Another Scam to Watch Out For: Americans are receiving mail which looks like it's from the IRS, saying you're owed a refund. People are asked to send photos of their Driver's license. Don't fall for this scam! Stay until the end of this episode so that you can hear Vicki's GOOD NEWS! To share your own story on Scam Squad or to receive help from Vicki, call the Scam Squad Fraud Hotline at 805-568-2442. Please subscribe today so you don't miss any important warnings!

Senior Fraud Specialist, Doris Roof, warns about Tax Refund Scams, which are one of the most costly scams--with 5.7 billion in losses. Fraudsters sometimes manage to steal their victim's refunds or they contact people with aggressive tax collection tactics--convincing people that they need to pay their taxes immediately. Here's How to Spot Tax Scams: - Fraudsters pretend to be IRS agents and contact victims via the phone, email, text, of postal mail. IIt's true that the IRS will contact people by mail but even if you receive something that looks like it's from the IRS, reach out to them directly to be sure it's a REAL notice, and not from a scammer. - Watch out for aggressive tax collection attempts demanding payment through pre-paid debit cards, wire transfers, or Bitcoin. - Beward of emails or texts asking you to verify your personal information. It may contain a link to a fraudulent form or website. It may say they need you to update your personal information such as your address, phone number, or social security number. Sometimes the correspondence contains a link and if you click on it, malicious malware can be installed on your computer. Vicki also warned listeners about professionals who snatch billfolds amd wallets from purses left in shopping carts. She also shared news that the FTC is suing Walmart for turning a blind eye to scammers, allowing payouts of suspicious transfers.

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BE SURE TO SUBSCRIBE TO SCAM SQUAD TODAY SO YOU DON'T MISS A SINGLE WARNING! Shawn Dyer, Senior Fraud Specialist from Monteciot Bank & Trust warns of four basic signs or a scam: 1. Scammers pretend to be from a familiar organization or agency, like the Social Security Administration, or Internal Revenue Service. They may email attachments with official-looking logos, seals, or signatures. 2. Scammers mention a problem or a prize. They may indicate the customer’s account number was involved in a crime or ask for personal information. 3. Scammers pressure the recipient to act immediately. They may even threaten arrest or legal action. 4. Scammers tell the customer to pay using a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire, or money transfer, or by mailing cash. Shawn also reviews the recurring Tech Support scam and peer to peer scams using Venmo, Zelle, or CashApp. She also explains the difference between scams and fraud. With scams, you were tricked, and a business or bank is unlikely to reimburse you because you authorized the transaction. (For example, sending a crypto payment to a scammer.) In contrast, with fraud, you are swindled, but it is not due to any action that you took. In this case, you are in a better position to be reimbursed by your bank or a business.

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A gentleman almost falls for a sophisticated Jury Duty Scam. Randy, a gentleman from Santa Maria, received a threatening call from authorities who told him that he had missed Federal Jury Duty. At the time, Randy was returning from a grocery shopping trip. The authorities told him that he had to immediately drive from Santa Maria to Santa Barbara to pay $4,500 and that if he didn't, they would ping his location, arrest him and put him in jail. Randy asked if he could stop by his home to put away his perishable groceries but the authorities told him that they would consider that fleeing and that he must drive straight to the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Department! They instructed him to stay on the line with them while he made the hour long drive to Santa Barbara. He was told not to disconnect or mute the call for the entire drive. Randy made it to Santa Barbara, went to his bank, and was able to withdraw the $4,500 that they demanded--even though he told them that it would cause him great hardship. Randy was ready to take the money to the Santa Barbara Sherrif's Department but at that point the 'authorities' told him to take the money to a kiosk and to send the money that way, and then to take the receipt to the Sheriff's Station. Thankfully at that point, Randy realized that he was dealing with scammers. He took the money back to the bank and re-deposited it--and was kind enough to share his story to save others from falling for this scam.

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Today's Expert Guest - Dr. Judy Christman Yates, DPA, Criminologist & Financial Exploitation Specialist On past shows we have talked about Artificial Intelligence. Now there seems to be something new that has world attention called ChatGPT. But first, Judy explains what ChatBot is before explaining how ChatGPT works and what we can do with it. While ChatGPT can be an amazing tool, scammers also use it; and Judy tells us what to watch out for--and how it is being used with the Romance Scam. Finally, Judy reviews the Trade Commission's eight favorite lies used by scammers in Romance Scams. Remember, to always report if you think you are being scammed! ( FTC.gov, IC3.gov, FBI.gov) If you'd like to tell your story on Scam Squad to warn others, call Deputy District Attorney, Vick Johnson on the FRAUD HOTLINE at 805-568-2442. References and Links from this show: OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT, https://openai.com/ What is DALL-E? How it works and how the system generates AI art, 11/3/22, https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/what-is-dall-e-how-it-works-and-how-the-system-generates-ai-art#, “It is changing the future of art. DALL-E, written as DALL·E on the company website, is a machine-learning model created by OpenAI to produce images from language descriptions. These text-to-image descriptions are known as prompts. The system could generate realistic images just from a description of the scene. DALL-E is a neural network algorithm that creates accurate pictures from short phrases provided by the user. It comprehends language through textual descriptions and from “learning” information provided in its datasets by users and developers.” ChatGPT: Everything you need to know about OpenAI's GPT-4 tool, https://www.sciencefocus.com/future-technology/gpt-3/, 5/5/2023. How to tell GPT Scams Apart from the Real Thing, 3/17/23, https://www.howtogeek.com/879206/how-to-tell-chatgpt-scams-apart-from-the-real-thing/ What is a chatbot?, IBM https://www.ibm.com “A chatbot is a computer program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) to understand customer questions and automate …” How does ChatGPT differ from the human brain? https://gcn.com/emerging-tech/2023/02/how-does-chatgpt-differ-human-intelligence/383086/, 2/17/2023. “Humans and computer intelligence harbor many similarities in how they process information, researchers say, but machines still have limitations.” ChatGPT is a data privacy nightmare. If you’ve ever posted online, you ought to be concerned, https://gcn.com/data-analytics/2023/02/chatgpt-data-privacy-nightmare-if-youve-ever-posted-online-you-ought-be-concerned/382718/, 2/8/2023. ChatGPT: A Scammer’s Newest Tool, https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/internet-security/chatgpt-a-scammers-newest-tool/, 1/25/2023. “ Voice deepfakes are calling – here’s what they are and how to avoid getting scammed, https://gcn.com/emerging-tech/2023/03/voice-deepfakes-are-calling-heres-what-they-are-and-how-avoid-getting-scammed/384188/, 3/20/2023. “The next time your mother calls [or your bank], you might want to decline. Experts warn scammers are using voice deepfakes of individuals' family and friends to steal money. . . . Thousands of people were scammed this way in 2022. . . . [it is] . . . increasingly possible to convincingly simulate a person’s voice. Even worse, chatbots like ChatGPT are starting to generate realistic scripts with adaptive real-time responses.” Federal Trade Commission (FTC.gov) Help stop scammers by reporting suspicious profiles or messages to the dating app or social media platform. Then, tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If someone is trying to extort you, report it to the FBI. Learn more at ftc.gov/romancescams."

Scmsqd - 2023 - 05 - 24 - Drained Giftcards by Hub for Podcasting

With Special Guest--Shawn Dyer, Montecito Bank & Trust Fraud Specialist Rental scams have been around for a long time. However, as college lets out for the summer, they are on the rise. Here's how the Scam Works: You see a great rental listing on Craigs List. The price is likely to be better than other similar properties. When you respond to the ad, the person who posted it tries to get you off the Craigslist platform as soon as possible to continue a conversation. They send you photos of the property, but will make up some reason why they can't show it to you in person. However, they promise they'll send you keys to the property after you fill out an application and give them a deposit--often by Zelle or Venmo. Now the scammer has your personal information and a deposit and/or first and last rental payments. DON'T BE FOOLED! It's likely that they sent you photos of a property that is for sale. (The scammer can easily find photos on Zillow or other real estate sites.) Remember, if a rental property sounds too good to be true, it probably is! Another old scam that's on the rise is wallet and billfold thefts, stolen from people who are out shopping. Rings from other cities sweep into town. One of the thieves distracts the shopper, while the other one quickly steals their billfold or wallet. Often, the thief is already using stolen credit cards before the victim even realizes they're gone. The thieves are hard to catch because they travel from city to city. In a similar scam, Vicki reports that thieves run up to a car as men get in them, saying they accidentally dropped their keys and that they fell underneath the person's car. Usually the gentleman will offer to help and as he crouches down to help find the missing keys, the crook will quickly take the wallet out of the victim's back pant's pocket. Lastly, Vicki shares some Good News. The Dept of Justice formed a task force to prosecute and sentence a Texas man for his role in romance scams using the images of two United Stated generals. If you'd like to talk to Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson about a scam, or would like to tell your story on Scam Squad to warn others, call the FRAUD HOTLINE at 805-568-2442.

Thanks for tuning into Scam Squad. If you'd like to support this channel and our effort to work together to stop scammers. please consider making a donation. Just click on the donate button on the banner--or click here. https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=2NUJKFFC4RPNY Scams you May Not Have Heard of: Ooops - Wrong Number Scam: You receive a text that was obviously sent to you by mistake. It sems to be urgent information (such as a doctor's appointment reminder or an investment opportunity), so you text or call the sender to let them know they sent the message to the wrong number. The scammer starts a friendly conversation in an attempt to befriend you. This is how they get you to trust them, and may be a lead up to a romance scam or an investment scam. If they send a link, don't click on it! It may contain malicious malware. Also, if you receive messages with an opportunity to text back STOP, don't do it! (This let's the scammer know that they reached a live person.) Instead, just delete the message and block the phone number. Crypto Refund Swindle: You may have lost money through a crypto swindle or investment. A company that refers to itslef as a Refund & Recovery Company from the US Department of State offers to get you your money back, for a fee. Don't fall for it! They will steal your identity and money and you' won't get your money back. Or, they'll falsely tell you they'll refund the money they charged but only if you make them a testimonial video saying how great their company is. Fake High School Sports Streaming Scam: Fake sites are sprouting up, promising that for a fee, you can watch a streaming video of their favorite high school team. They take your money but when it's time for the game, they don't deliver. And, they have your credit card information! It's advised that you check with the school itself to find out if it's a legitimate site before purchasing online streaming videos of sport's events. Out of Stock Scams.: Fake ads are placed on social media sites. They take your order but later you get an email that the item is out of stock. You never get a refund but now, they have your credit card information. Delivery Driver Cant Find your Home Scam: A delivery driver calls and says they have a package for you but that they can't find your address. If you say you didn't place an order, they'll tell you that it's a gift. In order to deliver the package, they'll con you out of your personal information. It's recommended that if you get a call like this from a delivery driver, you contact the seller directly to find out if it's a legitimate delivery. Good News! Many consumers have purchased what they thought was a free trial offer with a small delivery fee, but they ended up being charged hundreds of dollars for months. The FTC just returned 1.1 million dollars to consumers who fell for this scam. If you feel like you may have fallen for this scam and are eligable for a refund, go to the FTC website, and look for 'refunds to consumers.'

Scmsqd - 2023 - 05 - 06 - Oragnaize Wallet by Hub for Podcasting

With Special Guest, Santa Barbara DA's Victim Advocate, Dayton Aldrich. After a warning about spoofing, Dayton discusses Artificial Intelligence (AI) Voice Cloning, which scammers are using it to impersonate people. Scammers often obtain a sample of someone's voice from social media, videos or podcasts. AI can clone a voice with a recording of a dialogue that's only three seconds long. Scammers can then use AI voice cloning services to generate a synthetic version of a person's voice, simply typing what the cloned voice will say. These 'phony' recordings can be used by to swindle CEOs, executives, lawyers and every day people. Vicki told listeners that recently a mother was terrorized by a con artist who demanded a million dollar ransom--using the cloned voice of her daughter. The mother was convinced that it was her fifteen year old daughter's voice--because even the inflection and crying sounded like her. Tips to Avoice Voice AI Voice Cloning Scams: 1. Be very skeptical if someone calls and puts pressure on you--even if you think you recognize the voice. 2. Ask questions that only the person it sounds like you're speaking to, could answer. 3. Call back the person it sounds like you're speaking to--don't trust caller ID. Remember, the number may be spoofed. 4. Don't send money. Be very suspicious if you're asked to send gift cards or crypto. 5. Report this scam to law enforcement and warn your family and friends. If you'd like to talk with Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson, or share your story on Scam Squad, Call the Fraud Hotline at 805-568-2442. 0 Comments

Scmsqd - 2023 - 04 - 08 - Dark Web by Hub for Podcasting

Scam Squad Guest, Dr Judy Christman Yates, DPA, Criminologist discusses IRS scams to avoid and the FTC Top Scams of 2022 1. Top Scams of 2022, https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/02/top- scams-2022?utm_source=govdelivery, 2/23/2023 by Federal Trade Commission, Andrew Rayo, Consumer Education Specialist. “The latest FTC data book says people reported losing $8.8 billion to scams. • Investment scams were huge, with reported losses of $3.8 billion. That’s more than people lost to any other scam, and more than double the loss reported in 2021. • Impersonator scams were still the most-reported scam, with reported losses of $2.6 billion. The difference this year? Higher losses to business imposters: 2022 losses were $660 million, compared to $453 million in 2021. • If people paid a scammer, the biggest reported losses were through bank transfers ($1.5 billion reported lost to scams) and cryptocurrency ($1.4 billion reported lost). • Younger adults (ages 20-29) reported losing money more often than older adults (ages 70-79). But when older adults did lose money, they lost more than anyone else.” 2 IRS [Internal Revenue Service] scams to avoid this year, https:// www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/privacy-security/avoid-tax-scams/, 2/15/2023, Capital One. Scam Squad Guest, Dr Judy Christman Yates, DPA, Criminologist discusses IRS scams to avoid and the FTC Top Scams of 2022 1. Top Scams of 2022, https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/02/top- scams-2022?utm_source=govdelivery, 2/23/2023 by Federal Trade Commission, Andrew Rayo, Consumer Education Specialist. “The latest FTC data book says people reported losing $8.8 billion to scams. • Investment scams were huge, with reported losses of $3.8 billion. That’s more than people lost to any other scam, and more than double the loss reported in 2021. • Impersonator scams were still the most-reported scam, with reported losses of $2.6 billion. The difference this year? Higher losses to business imposters: 2022 losses were $660 million, compared to $453 million in 2021. • If people paid a scammer, the biggest reported losses were through bank transfers ($1.5 billion reported lost to scams) and cryptocurrency ($1.4 billion reported lost). • Younger adults (ages 20-29) reported losing money more often than older adults (ages 70-79). But when older adults did lose money, they lost more than anyone else.” 2 IRS [Internal Revenue Service] scams to avoid this year, https:// www.capitalone.com/learn-grow/privacy-security/avoid-tax-scams/, 2/15/2023, Capital One. “According to the IRS, it doesn’t “initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request personal or financial information. Here are some common scams to watch out for, according to the IRS: IRS impersonation scams • Email phishing: Known as phishing, scammers may ask for personal or financial information from a taxpayer through unsolicited emails. • IRS scam calls: phishing—scammer makes a call & impersonates IRS. • IRS text messages: Another form of phishing is smishing. A taxpayer may receive a text message from a fraudulent number claiming to be the IRS. Other Tax-related scams • identity theft: uses a taxpayer’s Social Security number (SSN), to file a tax return in a taxpayer’s name. • Abusive arrangements: Scammers may reach out and tell filers they can earn tax savings if they take part in a complex scheme or arrangement. • Tax debt settlement companies: Dishonest tax companies might target individuals having trouble paying their taxes. • Ghost tax preparers: Sometimes scammers pose as tax preparers and offer to help with tax returns. But they won’t sign the return or include a preparer tax identification number (PTIN), which are both required by law. • Spear phishing: This type of attack is when scammers send an email trying to steal information—like software preparation credentials—from tax professionals.

Shawn Dyer, Fraud Specialist at Montecito Bank & Trust, sounds the alarm about check fraud, which is on the rise. She urges people to utilize online banking so they can check the activity of their bank accounts frequently and pull up check images that may have been altered. She also talks about the Tech Scam, which is still rampant. The scammer pretends to work for a tech company. They tell the victim that they are owed a refund and then accidentally overpay them . In reality, after gaining access to a person's login information, the scammer transfers money from their savings account to their checking account online. When the victim sees the balance, they believe the scammer really did pay them too much. Of course the scammer claims that if the money is not returned, they'll lose their job. The victim is sympathetic and wants to help out. They are instructed to make a cash withdrawal from their bank and deposit it through a bitcoin machine. Don't fall for this scam; your money will be gone forever! Lastly, Vicki shares some Good News. A Russian Malware Developer who extorted a small fortune from US citizens was extradited to the US where he was convicted and sent to federal prison. To talk to Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson about a scam or to tell your story on Scam Squad to warn others, call the Fraud Hotline at 805-568-2442.

In this episode, a woman is almost taken in by the Jury Duty Scam. It's easy to see why. She received a call and the caller ID was spoofed to say it was the Sheriff's Department. The scammers identified themselves by using names of real sheriffs and judges. Plus, the victim occasionally received subpoenas to testify, because she was a medical expert--making it even more believable. They told her that someone had signed for the subpoena and gave her the date and time that it happened. They threatened that if she didn't pay a $10,000 fine immediately, she would go to jail. Initially, the scare tactics worked. She followed their instructions and went to stores to purchase money packs to give them. The first store limited the number of money packs that she could buy so she went to a second store. Here, the Vons employee told her she was being scammed. Then the woman did something very right. She told the scammer that she was driving to the sheriff's department and she did just that. When she arrived, the Sheriffs confirmed that it was a familiar scam. Scammers use fear tactics to scare their victims. Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson says that police officers and sherriffs will never call and threaten to arrest you if you miss jury duty. If you get a call like this, don't trust the caller ID. Tell the scammer you'll call them back and then look up the number yourself. Good News! A group of people who were stealing mail were recently arrested. They were soliciting crooks to help them through social media! Vicki reminds listeners to avoid using mailboxes to mail out their bills. Get a locked mailbox on your own property. Don't use the blue bins. Instead, walk your mail into the post office and set it on the counter.

It can be very difficult to convince someone that they're involved in a Romance Scam. Here are tips on how to help a friend recogize that the person they think they love is nothing but a scammer.

Doris Roof, Montecito Bank & Trust Fraud Manager, and Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson, give advice on how to use Zelle safely. Roof reeals that Zelle guidelies are set up by Early Warning Systems. To help prevent fraud, Early Warning Systems is adding more prompts, asking questions such as, "Did you initiate this transaction or did someone else ask you to initiate the transaction?" Other Zelle Tips include the following: - Dont send money to people you don't know. - Confirm the email and/or mobile number when receiving requests or sending money, looking for slight changes, such as an l replaced with an i. - Look at the entire header and be sure it doesn't originate from overseas. - If you get a text or email warning saying your account has been hacked, don't reply directly. Instead contact your bank from the number on the back of your bank card. - Legitimate companies are unlikely to send invoices through Zelle. If you receive a payment request through Zelle, don't trust it. - Don't reveal anything in response to an unknown text or email. Call yourself to verify its legitimacy. - Be careful not to reveal two factor verification codes. Pay Pal Warning! In Maine, 30,000 Pay Pal coounts were hacked. They are advising people to ignore unexpected messages and to reach out directly to Pay Pal to report them. Lastly, they're advising customers to change their password, using 12 + characters and choosing multi-factor authorization. Good News! Five defendants were sent to federal prison for receiving, transporting and laundering money with the Grandparent scam. Victims were directed to send money to unoccupied homes across the country and scammers would collect the package, take their share, before sending it off to other scammers overseas.

With Special Guest, Dayton Aldrich, Victim Restitution Specialist To tell your Story on Scam Squad, contact Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson at 805-568-2442 Recently in Santa Barbara, a couple's Ring Security Camera, which was linked to their phones, let them know that someone was at their door, claiming to be from Door Dash. They were both at work and told the phony Door Dash person that there had been a mistake and that they had not placed an order. This signaled the person that the no one was home and he and his accomplice let themselves in the back door and ramsacked the home. These types of home invasions are happening across the country with crooks claiming to be from Door Dash, Grub Hub, Uber Eats and other delivery companies. This is a new take on an old scam. In addition to food delivery companies, any type of service company who claims they are at your house to work on something you didn't order should arouse your suspicion. Dayton recommends you give one stern warning and then tell them you're calling the police. Dayton describes simple, Do it Yourself, affordable security items that can help to keep you safe at home. These include home security systems, security cameras, motion detector lights, panic buttons, mail box sensors, and more. Dayton and Vicki also give warnings about revealing information on social media which can signal criminals that your are out of town so they can rob you -- or give them enough information to steal your identity. They also recommend that everyone consider getting a password manager to create and store unique passwords for each of your accounts.

Scmsqd - 2023 - 02 - 25 - Pig Butchering by Hub for Podcasting

Information from WHAT TO DO IF YOU WERE SCAMMED, https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/what-do-if-you-were-scammed What should you do if… You Paid a Scammer by credit/debit card or there was an unauthorized transfer from your bank account: • Contact the company or bank that issued the credit card, debit card or wire transfer from your bank account • Tell them it was a fraudulent charge. • Ask them to reverse the transaction and give you your money back. What if you Paid by gift card? • Contact the issuing company the gift card. Ask them to refund your money. Keep the gift card and the gift card receipt. What if you Sent a Wire Transfer to the scammer? • Contact the wire transfer company such as MoneyGram or Western Union • Tell them it was a fraudulent transfer. • Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back MoneyGram: 1-800-926-94 Western Union: 1-800-448-1492 1 Ria (non-Walmart transfers): 1-877-443-1399 Ria (Walmart2Walmart and Walmart2World transfers): 1-855-355-2144 What if you Sent a Wire Transfer from your Bank? • Contact your bank and report the fraudulent transfer. • Ask them to reverse the wire transfer and give you your money back. What if you Sent Money through Money Transfer App such as Zelle, PayPal, CashApp or Venmo) • Report the fraudulent transaction to company behind the money transfer app • Ask them to reverse the payment. • If you linked the app to a credit card or debit card, report the fraud to your credit card company or bank. • Ask them to reverse the charge. What if you Paid the scammer with Cryptocurrency? • ASK person you paid to send it back. • Contact the company you used to send the money and tell them it was a fraudulent transaction. Ask them to reverse the transaction. What if you Sent Cash? • If you sent cash by U.S. mail, contact the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (877-876-2455) or other shipping company, ask them to intercept the package as soon as possible. WHAT If You Gave Scammer your Social Security Number? • Go to IdentityTheft.gov to see what steps to take, including how to monitor your credit. IdentityTheft.gov can help. What if you gave the scammer your User Name or Password? • Create a new, strong password. Make sure your password is long and strong. • Don’t reuse passwords you’ve from other accounts. • Consider a password manager. • Add multi-factor authentication [2nd verification] when it’s an option. • Pick security questions only you know the answer to. What If Scammer Has Remote Access to Your Computer or Phone? • Update your computer’s security software, run a scan, and delete anything it identifies as a problem. • Turn off your computer and physically take it into a local reputable computer store. Run scans on your computer to see what actions were taken once they accessed your computer, like downloading your files and/or adding viruses and other malicious code onto your computer so they can continue to get access. What if the scammer gets Control of your cell phone number and account? • Contact your service provider to take back control of your phone number. Change your account password. • Check your credit card, bank, and other financial accounts for unauthorized charges or changes. If you see any, report them to the company or institution. Go to IdentityTheft.gov to see what steps you should take. Where should a victim report scams? If you experienced a scam — or even spotted one, ALWAYS report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.[and to IC3.gov if the scam happened online.] and to local law enforcement. For more in-depth information on what we reviewed today go to ftc.gov and search for WHAT TO DO IF YOU WERE SCAMMED, https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/wha... . You can also report scams on BBB's Scam Tracker. If you would like to speak to Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson about a scam, or would like to share your story on Scam Squad, call the Fraud Hotline at 805-568-2442.

Scmsqd - 2023 - 02 - 11 - Latest Scams by Hub for Podcasting

Today's show features advice from Criminologist, Dr. Judy Christman Yates. First, Dr. Yates gives advice on Spotting Phony Websites and reviews six ways to tell if a website is credible. This information is drawn from an article by the University of Wisconsin. https://uknowit.uwgb.edu/page.php?id=... Tip: Go to your web browser and type in the name of a person, business, or organization followed by the word 'scam' or 'complaint', and see what comes up. Next, Dr. Yates reviews what to do when a stranger unexpectedly sends you money on Cash Apps such as Venmo, Zelle, or Pay Pal. https://lifehacker.com/don-t-return-t... , 12/9/22 The last topic covered by Yates is a vile crime aptly coined, 'Sextortion.' Today, predators use phones to stalk and blackmail teens on social media and dating apps. Sextortion — the act of threatening to share nude or explicit images — is more common than you may think, and cases affecting young children, teens and adults have increased exponentially in the past two years. In fact, Homeland Security Investigations received over 3,000 sextortion tips in fiscal year 2022. If you or a family member has been a victim of sextortion, contact your local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at tips.fbi.gov. The FBI also has staff dedicated to assisting victims of crime. https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-y... Remember, all ages can be taken in by scams. Here are some tips for Talking to Your Kids and Grandkids about Fraud: https://www.aarp.org/money/scams-frau... , CHRIS GASH, By Sari Harrar, AARP, December 02, 2022 If you have been a victim, report crimes to: Local law enforcement IC3.gov (FBI Internet Computer Complaint Center) ftc.gov (Federal Trade Commission); FTC is excellent resource of information Better Business Bureau and AARP also have excellent information about fraud. If you'd like advice from Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson, or if you'd like to tell your story on Scam Squad, call the Santa Barbara County Fraud Hotline at 805-568-2442.

Scmsqd - 2023 - 01 - 28 - Vicky Social Media by Hub for Podcasting

Scam Squad: With Special Guest, Shawn Dyer, Senior Fraud Specialist at Montecito Bank & Trust Shawn Dyer reports about a rise in the Pay Pal Imposter Scam, and reminds us that it can also occur on other platforms such as Amazon or E-Bay. Here's how it works: You are contacted by an email or a text message telling you that you have had a large dollar amount charged on your account. You are asked to immediately call a number provided in the message to review it. When you call the number and tell them that you didn't make the charge, they offer to credit back your account. However, they 'accidentally' pay you too much and ask you to correct the over payment by getting Gift Cards and calling them back with the numbers on the card. Of course, this is just a ploy that the scammer uses to get you to send them money that you likely WON''T be able to get back. How to Avoid this Scam: If you get this type of email or text message, DON'T REPLY. Go directly into your Pay Pal accout and your bank account (or call them directly), to double check that you don't have any unauthorized charges. Next, Shawn warns us about the Online Loan Scam. Usually, this happens when someone searches online for Fast Cash and applies for a loan. In order to deposit money into your account, you will be asked for your online banking credentials and account number. The fraudsters also say that in order for them to ensure that you are trustworthy, you need to send them a gift card and call them with the numbers on the back of the card. They make a fraudulent deposit in your checking account with a counterfeit check. In a few days the check is returned by your bank and the victim is out money from the gift cards, and any return item fees which may have been spent before the victim realizes that the loan was a scam. To add insult to injury, the scam victim will need to close their checking account and change their online banking credentials so that they don't become a victim of identity theft. This scam is particularly abhorrent because it targets people who are already struggling financially. Lastly, the newest scam that Shawn reports on has to do with the CA Middle Class Tax Refund Debit Card. The card is being sent to Californians, loaded with a specific amount of money. The card comes from the State of CA, and is legitimate. However, scammers are calling, pretending to be from Medicare, asking for people to validate the numbers on the card. Of course, this is an attempt to steal the funds on the card. GOOD NEWS! Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson reports that an Interpol Rapid Response team was deployed against the Black Axe Gang, who are responsible for massive cyber-enabled financial scams and have their base of operations in South Africa. The task force specifically targeted the money mules who are the blood supply for these vicious scam artists. It was a great succhess; they recovered a large amount of money and there were a numerous arrests. Lastly, Vicki reminds us that price gouging is illegal after a State of Emergency has been declared--such as the recent floods in California. If you would like to talk to Deputy District Attorney, or tell your story on Scam Squad, call the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Fraud Hotline at 805-568-2442.

Scmsqd - 2023 - 01 - 14 - Identity Fraud by Hub for Podcasting

We appreciate it when fraud and scam victims are brave enough to share their stories in order to warn others. In this episode, Doris (our victim), received a phone call from a woman who identified herself as Holly, a Cox Cable technician. She knew that Doris had been having conectivity problems and asked Doris if it was any better. (There had been repair trucks on Doris' street, which probably tipped off the scammers.) Holly offered to check Doris' computer and showed her a series of graphs and diagrams which confirmed a weak signal. She told Doris that she was due a refund and transferred the call to a man who told Doris she was due $500. He pulled up a form on Doris’ computer and had her type in the amount. Doris is sure she typed in $500 but it appeared as $5,000. The man told Doris she’d have to send back $4,500 immediately! Then, in an alarming move, the man showed her that he had accessed her bank account and threatened to wipe it out if she didn’t immediately buy $4,500 in gift cards from Target and relay the gift card numbers to him. Doris realized that she was being scammed but was frightened that the con artist would wipe out her account if she didn’t follow his directions to the letter. She bought the gift cards, took pictures of them with the receipts and sent them to the crook. “Now we’ll give you your money back but it will take an hour or so,” he told her. Doris immediately drove to her bank. At first they told her that $1,500 had already been cashed but later, Target told her they would pay her back the entire $4,500. While the story has a good ending because Doris didn’t lose her money, it can’t be underestimated how traumatized Doris was by the experience. Plus, she said she had to change her bank account, passwords, and have her computer checked out by an expert. Deputy District Attorney, Vicki Johnson, revealed the results of a study that highlights the emotional and physical problems toll that victims experience in the aftermath of being scammed. They often blame themselves, feel ashamed and suffer from physical problems. Vicki reminded Doris and our listeners that victims are not to blame…it’s the fault of the perpetrator. At the end of the episode, Vicki shares some Good News. Believe it or not, a brazen crooked business called “I Spoof” was offering spoofing services to cyber criminals and advertising their services online! (As a reminder, spoofing is when you get a phone call and the caller ID is spoofed. For example, caller ID may say it’s your bank when it’s really a scammer.) As the result of a coordinated international law enforcement effort, the site was shut down and the site’s owner was arrested. If you’d like to get advice from Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson, or share your story to warn others, call the Santa Barbara County District Attorney’s Fraud Hotline at 805-568-2442.

Rick Copelan President of BBB of the Tri-Counties Talks with Deputy District Attorney, Vicki Johnson by Hub for Podcasting

Scmsqd - 2022 - 12 - 31 - Dayton by Hub for Podcasting

With Special Guest, Criminologist, Dr. Judy Christman Yates In this episode, Dr Christman Yates points out dark patterns in advertisements that are psychologically deceptive, specifically designed to induce false beliefs. They often get us us to purchase more than we want or misunderstand what we're getting. Here are common tricks that are used: 1. We're told that the product or service is only availble for a limited period of time. 2. The ads look like editorials, giving them unwarranted credibility. (Watch for buzz words such as News, Educational, Journal, etc. 3. The ads use logos from reputable organizations such as the Food & Drug Administration. (If you look closely, you may see a disclaimer in miniscule letters saying that they are not a part of the organization depicted in the logo.) 4. Additional fees and charges are often added very late in the buying process. They may add on high shipping fees, and/or 'convenience fees.' TIPS: - If you're offered a free trial and are then required to provide a credit or debit card, don't trust it! - Use trusted websites. Look closely at the site's url. - Avoid clicking on pop ups. - Don't believe pop ups, texts or emails that tell you that you've won something. It's likely a scam to get your personal information. - Read the fine print when considering a purchase. - Pay with a credit card. (You'll be more likely to recover the money if it's a scam.) - Be sure to review your credit card statements every month for unauthorized charges! (If too much time has passed, it's unlikely your bank will refund the charges.) - Report suspicious websites and online companies to ic3.gov At the end of this podcast, Vicki shares some good news! Here's a teaser. Have you noticed that you aren't getting the dreaded phone calls about renewing your extended auto warranty? Find out why! If you'd like to speak to Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson to report a scam or tell your story on SCAM SQUAD, call the Santa Barbara District Attorney's FRAUD HOTLINE at 805-568-2442. 0 Comments

Montecito Bank & Trust Senior Fraud Specialist, Doris Roof, reports on a recent scam. Here's what happened. A woman attempted to Venmo money to her son, but the transaction was declined. She looks up Venmo's number online and inadvertantly contacts the scammers who have a phony site that looks like the legitimate Venmo website. The scammers talk her into giving them remote access to her computer and keep her on the line for over TWO HOURS! While she thinks they're trying to help her, in reality they are mining her computer for information and manage to transfer $2,000 our of her account. Here are the takeaways: - Watch out for fraudulent accounts which may come up first on Google. (They may look very much like the real company site so be very careful!) Legitimate sites start with https. - If you're asked to call any number that doesn't start with 800 or 877, be VERY cautious! - Don't give remote access to your computer!!! Vicki reminds listeners that during the holiday season, there are a lot of wallet/purse thefts. Often, thieves work in pairs. Someone may ask for help to get something off of a shelf while their partner in crime reaches into your purse to complete the theft. Remember, scammers are very opportunistic! With the recent FTX Crypto Currency collapse, scammers are coming out of the woodwork, offering phony crypto recovery services. Don't be fooled! Lastly, Vicki shares some GOOD NEWS! Two California men who were carrying out money laundering for Nigerian scammers were apprehended and convicted. Vicki welcomes you to call her FRAUD HOTLINE to get her advice, or to share your story on Scam Squad! The FRAUD HOTLINE number is 805-568-2442.

Medicare is a federal government health insurance program in the United States. Of course, it doesn’t cover everything. Most people buy additional insurance to bridge the gaps. The two main types of coverage that you can buy to help with this are Medicare Advantage (also called Part C) or a Medicare Supplement which is also referred to as Medigap. If you choose a Medicare Advantage Plan, you've basically left the govt funded program to go with a private insurance company. This works well for some people and for others it does not, depending on your circumstances. It's important to get balanced, unbiased information so you can make an informed choice. In CA, the HICAP program can help you sort through various plans to help you make the choice that's best for you. If you live in another state, you can call the Area Agency on Aging for a referral to their Medicare Counseling Program.

Victims of tech support scam often give their computer access to scammers who claim they are trying to help them.