FRAUD ALERTS!
From the Office of Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey

H1N1 Scams: Scams attempted to scare consumers into purchasing cures or providing essential information to prevent the H1N1 virus.

Memorabilia: 2009 provided many opportunities for scammers to sell memorabilia and collectibles at inflated prices.

Weight Loss Pills Free Trial Offers: Free trial offers for weight loss pills actually ended up costing unsuspecting consumers thousands of dollars.

Phishing E-mails: Phishing e-mails appearing to be from government agencies popped up in in-boxes. These phishing emails attempted to trick victims into divulging sensitive financial information.

Mystery Shopping: Consumers were told they would be paid to secretly shop in order to evaluate merchants' customer service. In some instances, victims were asked to wire money back to scammers as a way to evaluate money wiring services such as MoneyGram and Western Union. Victims who participated were sent authentic looking checks which, when cashed left the victims "holding the bag".

Lottery Scams: Victims received bogus letters or phone calls informing them that they had won millions of dollars. Unfortunately, victims were also told they had to wire hundreds or thousands of dollars back to the scammers to cover taxes or other bogus fees.

Friend/Family in Distress: Also known as the Grandma Scam, victims received messages from scammers claiming to be "friends" or "family members" needing immediate help. Victims were asked to wire money to pay for lawyer's fees or to post bail.

Mortgage Foreclosure Rescue/Debt Assistance: Victims paid upfront fees to avoid home foreclosures or to get help with credit card debt - with no results.

Job Hunter Scams: Job seekers paid bogus upfront fees as part of an application process. Job applicants were also asked to provide personal financial information or social security numbers under the guise of evaluating their applications.

Robocalls: Thousands of people received automated telephone calls related to auto warranties and lower credit card interest rates.

Census

Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will gather information about every person living at each address in the United States. Information for the 2010 Census includes name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data. Most people in the Denver Metro area will receive a Census form by U.S. Mail in March 2010. A few remote locations and harder to contact households will be contacted in person beginning in January 2010. It is important to know how to tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist.
U.S. Census workers will have a badge (no photo), a notebook, a black Census Bureau canvas bag with white lettering, and a confidentiality notice.
Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. If you ask, the worker should provide you with a phone number to call to verify their employment with the Census.
Never invite anyone you don't know into your home - no matter who they say they are!
There are only 10 questions on the official Census form.
The Census Bureau will not ask for any financial information, such as a salary range, and will NOT ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers.
Census workers will never ask for payment or contributions of any kind.
Census workers may contact you at your home in person or by telephone only if you are in a hard to access situation or you did not return your mail-in form. They will NOT contact you by email.
For assistance or questions related to fraud, call the Denver DA's Fraud Line: 720-913-9179.

Think Before You Pump

Be aware of your surroundings when filling your tank. There is an increase in break-ins while individuals are at the gas pump. Thieves pull up on the opposite side of vehicles from where drivers are pumping gas. While drivers are occupied, thieves take purses, wallets, and other valuables from unattended vehicles. In most cases, stolen credit cards are used immediately before owners realize the theft has occurred.

Be cautious:
· Don't leave purses or other valuables on the front seat of vehicles.
· Lock car doors - even when remaining in close proximity to the vehicle.
· Always be aware of your surroundings.
· These quick "snatch and run" crimes can be prevented if we just take a moment to think before we pump.

Here are a few additional safety tips related to driving:
· Travel on well-lighted, busy streets.
· Keep doors locked and windows up.
· Do not leave purses on the seat and keep packages in the trunk.
· Avoid stopping to aid disabled motorists. Report it to the police instead.
If you have car trouble, use a cell phone to call for assistance. Raise the hood and stay in the car with the doors locked. If someone tries to enter the car, sound the horn.
Be aware of surroundings when entering a garage. Close the garage door before getting out of your car. Have your keys ready to enter your home before exiting the garage.

Denver DA's Fraud Line: 720-913-9179

Don't Forget to Get Your Free Credit Reports this Year!
Reviewing your credit report is a critical step in stopping Identity Theft. Every person is entitled to a copy of their credit report every year - free of charge - from each of the three credit bureaus. Use caution when accessing your free credit reports - some websites and telemarketers trick people into paying for services they don't want. Keep the following points in mind.

Never respond to an e-mail or telephone offer for a free credit report - you may be linked to an imposter site trying to steal social security numbers.
Don't search for a website using the words "Free Credit Report" - you may be directed to a site which offers free reports only after purchasing credit monitoring or a credit score. If a credit card number is requested, you will be paying for something!
Under federal law, www.annualcreditreport.com is the only authorized online source to obtain free credit reports. The website is secure and free. Free credit reports are also available by calling Annualcreditreport.com at 1-877-322-8228. Follow these tips:

Watch the spelling when typing in the web address - many imposter sites differ from the official site by only one character.
For maximum benefit, spread out the three reports over the year; this will assist you in recognizing unauthorized changes.
Print or download credit reports immediately; then close or "quit" the internet to prevent anyone else from accessing your report.
You may also get your free credit reports directly from the three credit bureaus:

Equifax
1-800-525-6285 www.equifax.com
Experian
1-888-397-3742 www.experian.com
TransUnion
1-800-680-7289 www.transunion.com

Need help or have a question? Call the Denver District Attorney's Fraud Line: 720-913-9179

Phony Water Department Employee Reported
Denver Water does not conduct random water pressure or quality checks.

Denver Water is warning customers that they should not allow persons claiming to be water department employees to enter their homes without proper identification.

An incident was reported this week of a man posing as a Denver Water employee who said he needed to enter a home to conduct a random water quality check. Fortunately, the customer did not allow him to enter the home.

In the past, persons claiming to be utility companies contractors and employees have gained access to customers' homes on the pretext of checking water pressure, water quality, telephone lines, gas and electric issues. After entering the home, they look for cash and valuables. Some have asked for direct payment for the "service call" from the homeowners.

It is important to know that Denver Water does not conduct random water pressure or quality checks. All Denver Water employees carry photo-identification cards. Service personnel wear shirts, jackets or caps, and drive vehicles clearly marked with Denver Water's logo.

Customers who are approached by suspicious individuals should call the police and Denver Water Customer Care at 303-893-2444.

Xcel Energy, on rare occasions, may require access in order to read an older gas meter located inside the home. Contractors and employees of Xcel will have properly labeled vehicles and identification. To verify that an Xcel representative is working in your area, you can call 1-800-895-4999.

In addition, contact the businesses that provide service to your home - such as internet, telephone, cable - to learn about their specific policies regarding in home access and service calls.

Questions about financial fraud - call the Denver District Attorney's office at 720-913-9179

Jury duty

The caller claims to be a jury coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo; your identity was just stolen.
The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma , Illinois , and Colorado . This is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system. The FBI and the federal court system have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites, warning consumers about the fraud.
Check it out here: http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm

What You Need to Know About Sweepstakes

Don't Pay to Win
Buying magazines and other products does not increase your chances of winning. Never pay taxes or fees to receive your winnings.

Participating in Prize Promotions Will Put Your Name on Lists
Con artists buy and sell leads on people who play sweepstakes. If you play, your name may appear on "sucker" or "mooch" lists and you'll be targeted for fraud. To reduce your risk for fraud, stop playing sweepstakes and don't talk to telemarketers - it's that simple!

Reduce Sweepstakes and Other Junk Mail/E-mail
Send a letter to: Mail Preference Service, P.O. Box 643, Carmel, NY 10512, or register online at: www.dmaconsumers.org/consumerassistance.html.

Don't Play Canadian and Out-of-State Lotteries
It's illegal under federal law to sell and purchase foreign lotteries in the U.S. It is also illegal to sell and purchase lottery products over state lines.

Don't Fall for Mailings or Callers That Appear Official
Promoters use mailings with pseudo government logos and official looking statements to persuade you that the promotions are legitimate. Telemarketers will lie and claim to be a government official or attorney as well.

Keep Credit Card, Bank and Personal Information to Yourself
Never give your credit card number, bank account information, or social security number to anyone who calls or e-mails you, especially if it is to verify your eligibility or to "deposit" your winnings into your account.

For assistance call the Denver DA's Fraud Line: 720-913-9179

FRAUD ALERT!
from the Office of Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey

It’s No Secret – It’s a Scam!

Looking for a way to make a little extra cash? If so, you aren’t alone. But please be careful to avoid employment scams.

Many companies hire consumers to patronize stores and restaurants as a way to evaluate how a business is performing. These “undercover consumers” are known as mystery shoppers or secret shoppers. It can be a legitimate “work from home” opportunity. There are also many scams that try to take advantage of consumers.

In most scams, a consumer receives an unsolicited recruitment ad offering them an opportunity to earn money as a secret shopper. The scams usually involve sending the “shopper” a large counterfeit check. They are instructed to cash the check, keep a couple hundred dollars as payment, then send the remaining money to a specificaddress via businesses like Money Gram or Western Union. Other scams steal the consumer’s identity by getting them to pay a “one time sign up fee.”

To avoid scams:

• Avoid companies that contact you unsolicited. Instead, seek out a reputable company.

• Check a company’s reputation using Better Business Bureau 303-758-2100 or www.bbb.org.

• Scams will often promise outrageously high hourly fees, when in reality most secret shoppers are paid by the assignment.

• Never pay in advance to be a secret shopper. Scams may ask you to pay an upfront fee.

Need help or have a question? Call the Denver DA Fraud Line: 720-913-9179

Mitch Morrissey

FRAUD ALERT!
From the Office of Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey

Slam the Door on Door-to-Door Con Artists!

Traveling con artists are in metro Denver. These con artists arrive every spring with door-to-door roofing, paving and other scams, intimidating the consumers into paying thousands of dollars for poor quality work. “There is absolutely no reason to do business with people who come to your door and never let strangers in your home,” says Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey.

How to Recognize Door-to-Door Con Artists

•They peddle roofing, paving, and other repair work door-to-door.
•They often prey on the elderly using friendly, high-pressure tactics.
•They may say they have material left over from a previous job, or insist they did work for you or a neighbor before.
•They quote bargain prices, but demand much more after the job is complete.

To Protect Yourself from Door-to-Door Scams

•Don’t do business with door-to-door contractors – even if they promise to do the work for bargain prices.
•Get at least three bids on work, and don’t always choose the lowest.
•Insist on a written contract and don’t be pressured into paying more or doing additional projects.

Need help or have a question?
Call the Denver District Attorney's Fraud Line: 720-913-9179
Mitch Morrissey