Category: Fraud

It’s funny how holiday traditions get started. Some are rooted in faith, religion or cultural heritage and have been handed down for generations. Others are more personal and reflect the relationships, history and humor unique to a particular family. I always associate Christmas with a homegrown scam, perpetrated by my little brother. When we were… Read More

There’s a disturbing trend that’s endangering the financial security of you and your parents. Identity thieves are stealing other people’s personal information and using it to file fraudulent tax returns. These thieves file fraudulent returns without being caught, hoping that IRS processing weaknesses will prevent them from being identified before they receive a refund. These… Read More

Protect Yourself from Imposter Scams There are ways that you and your loved ones can protect yourself against imposter scams. Never wire money to someone before you have verified the identity of the person with whom you are communicating. This may mean hanging up and calling the person back, or checking with other family members, or… Read More

Joan, 81, received a call from a woman claiming to be her 52 year old daughter. “This doesn’t sound like you,” said Joan. The caller ignored her, saying that she had bounced checks for her car insurance and was at the bank. “I’m so embarrassed, Mom—I need cash right away.” Joan offered to come to… Read More