One of the state’s top guardians helped rip the veil of senior scams, identity theft and other cons during a community information meeting, presented by the National Council of Jewish Women, Brooklyn Section.
Mindy A. Bockstein, chair and executive director of the New York State Consumer Protection Board (CPB), delivered the lowdown – and an update – on a variety of consumer issues to members and guests at the Council Center for Senior Citizens, 1001 Quentin Road, with a special talk on identity theft, provided by CPB Community Relations Specialist James Dees.
Among the deceptions to watch for, advises the CPB, is the Medicare scam, which targets Medicare recipients and seniors via telephone calls from a con artist, asking to make an at−home appointment to discuss their plan.
According to the CPB, Medicare administrators never e−mail, or telephone, asking to come to your home, nor will they request personal identifiable information, especially over the phone, or the Internet.
If you are contacted via any of the above methods by an individual claiming to be from Medicare, do not respond, alerts the agency.
Visitors were apprised of other scams, including e−mails being sent by “McDonalds,” or “Walgreens,” containing fraudulent offers to credit their bank accounts with $75 to $80 in exchange for participation in a survey, which requires disclosure of personal identifiable information.
As is typical with phishing scams, the e−mail looks legitimate, and even includes a copyright symbol attributed to McDonalds or to Walgreens, says CPB, which has compiled a video to help consumers understand, prevent and deal with identity theft.
