By Susan A. Neufeld
Mountain Communities – Senator Mike Morrell had a teleconference call with the Riverside Sheriff and San Bernardino Sheriff personnel. They were discussing scams especially targeted at seniors.
Here are some of the scams discussed:
- The grandparent scam – you get a call from your grandchild asking for money because of some terrible thing happening to them. Tell them to call you back and, in the meantime, call your grandchildren to see if they are alright..
- Stimulus relief Scam – person poses as an official from IRS asking for your bank information so the IRS can send your relief check faster. The IRS does not call nor do they email.
- Threatening calls regarding one of your accounts if you don’t pay immediately there may be a warrant out for your arrest. These are scam calls so just hang up.
- New scams telling you they can send you a test kit for “x” amount of money for the coronavirus. Scams for masks too should be ignored. Don’t send any money.
- People calling to offer help should be verified before you do anything. If they are well minded people they won’t mind being verified.
- The robo calls seem to be on the rise. Either don’t answer them or just hang up.
- Law Enforcement or Fire will not call you for donations. These are also scams. The only honest collection is when you see some Firemen with a large boot asking for a donation at a large intersection.
Please be aware that the IRS will never call you or send you an email. Some of these calls can be very intimidating and they sound quite official. If you have Caller ID be aware that they are smart enough to change the ID to look official too.
Check your bank account often.
This information was discussed in the teleconference with law enforcement.
There have been some seniors, unfortunately, fall victim to a scam and they have lost a lot of money. Don’t be one of them. Just hang up!
