with

Bruce Mandelblit

The record flooding in Pakistan has affected millions of anxious people including countless children.  There are media reports that the worst flooding in 80-years has displaced about 20 million Pakistanis.  In addition, millions of Pakistanis are absolutely frantic for even the basic necessities such as food, water and shelter.  The flooding in Pakistan is one of the worst natural disasters of recent years.

Given these dire circumstances, it would be hard to believe that anyone would be so brutal as to take improper advantage of these awful conditions for their own personal financial gain. 

Within days of the horrific flooding in Pakistan, there have been indications that heartless scammers and wicked cyber-thugs were already trying to scam the charitable donations of hard-working Americans … and therefore preventing this essential money from reaching victims of the disastrous flooding.

Sadly, it is reported by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) that it is common for criminals to steal funds from generous folks who think they are donating to legit charities that are trying to assist the hard-hit victims of disasters, such as the flooding in Pakistan.  As such, the FTC warns consumers to use caution when donating to charities that claim to help victims of the devastating catastrophes.

According to the FTC, while many legitimate groups help victims, scam artists may take advantage of the disaster by creating bogus fundraising operations.

The FTC warns consumers to be wary of appeals that tug at the heart strings, but are short on details about how disaster victims will benefit. The FTC advises consumers who are asked to contribute to a charity of the following:

       1 — Don’t be shy about asking who wants your money. Some charities hire professional fundraisers for large-scale mailings, telephone drives, and other solicitations rather than use their own staff or volunteers, and then use a portion of the donations to pay the fundraiser’s fees. If you’re solicited for a donation, ask if the caller is a paid fundraiser, who they work for, and the percentage of your donation that will go to the charity and to the fundraiser. If you don’t get a clear answer – or if you don’t like the answer you get – consider donating to a different organization.

       2 — Call the charity. Find out if the organization is aware of the solicitation and has authorized the use of its name. If not, you may be dealing with a scam artist.

       3 — Ask for written information about the charity, including name, address, and telephone number.

       4 — Contact the office that regulates charitable organizations and charitable solicitations in your state to see if the charity or fundraiser must be registered. If so, check to make sure that the company you’re talking to is registered. For a list of state offices, visit the National Association of State Charity Officials at www.nasconet.org/agencies. Your state office also can verify how much of your donation goes to the charity, and how much goes to fundraising and management expenses. You also can check out charities with the Better Business Bureau’s (BBB) Wise Giving Alliance (www.bbb.org/charity) and GuideStar (www.guidestar.org).

       5 — Trust your gut – and check your records if you have any doubt about whether you’ve made a pledge or a contribution. Callers may try to trick you by thanking you for a pledge you didn’t make. If you don’t remember making the donation or don’t have a record of your pledge, resist the pressure to give.

       6 — Be wary of charities that spring up overnight in connection with current events or natural disasters. They may make a compelling case for your money, but as a practical matter, they probably don’t have the infrastructure to get your donation to the affected area or people.

       7 — Watch out for similar sounding names. Some phony charities use names that closely resemble those of respected, legitimate organizations. If you notice a small difference from the name of the charity you intend to deal with, call the organization you know to check it out.

       8 — Be cautious of promises of guaranteed sweepstakes winnings in exchange for a contribution. According to U.S. law, you never have to give a donation to be eligible to win a sweepstakes.

       9 — Be wary of charities offering to send a courier or overnight delivery service to collect your donation immediately.

       10 – Know the difference between “tax exempt” and “tax deductible.” Tax exempt means the organization doesn’t have to pay taxes. Tax deductible means you can deduct your contribution on your federal income tax return.

       11 – Do not send or give cash donations. Cash can be lost or stolen. For security and tax record purposes, it’s best to pay by credit card. If you’re thinking about giving online, look for indicators that the site is secure, like a lock icon on the browser’s status bar or a URL that begins “https:” (the “s” stands for “secure”).

For more information on these FTC charity scam tips, go to FTC.gov.

My Final Thoughts:  Most charities that raise money to help the victims of disasters are legit and work very hard to help those people in desperate need.  A few cruel scammers, however, are lurking out there trying to take advantage of good and generous people who are willing to donate their hard-earned cash to help victims of disasters.

So before you donate your money, take the time to make sure the charity to which you are giving is legitimate.

If you think your donation was given to a fake charity or other scam artist, please contact your local law enforcement agency and call the FTC at 1-877-FTC-HELP for assistance.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the hard-hit victims of the flooding in Pakistan, one of the worst natural disasters of recent times.

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Copyright 2010 by Bruce Mandelblit

Bruce is a nationally known security and safety journalist, as well as a recently retired, highly decorated reserve law enforcement officer.

Bruce blogs on www.CrimeZilla.com.

This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.

The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.

2 — Don’t trust a site just because it claims to be secure.

3 — Before using the site, check out the security/encryption software it uses.

4 — Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.

5 — Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate.

6 — Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.

7 — Send them e-mail to see if they have an active e-mail address and be wary of sellers who use free e-mail services where a credit card wasn’t required to open the account.

8 — Consider not purchasing from sellers who won’t provide you with this type of information.

9 — Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller’s area.

10 – Check out other web sites regarding this person/company.

11 – Don’t judge a person/company by their web site.

12 – Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).

13 – Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.

14 – The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit card because you can often dispute the charges if something is wrong.

15 – Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers.

16 – You should also keep a list of all your credit cards and account information along with the card issuer’s contact information. If anything looks suspicious or you lose your credit card(s) you should contact the card issuer immediately.

For more information, go to FBI.gov

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This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.

The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.

How the scam works …

Consumers may receive a post card in the mail telling them they won a “free” original and valuable piece of art. Next, after returning the post card, the consumer will get a call from a salesperson trying to sell them a piece of art. The telemarketer will try to convince the consumer he or she is being presented with a great investment opportunity.

A common sales tactic is to claim the artist is close to death and that the death of an artist will increase the value of his or her work. The final selling point is the promise of a “certificate of authenticity” which the consumer will receive upon purchase. Often the certificate is worth nothing more than the value of the paper it is printed on.

Note: Some art galleries and auctions also sell counterfeit or worthless art.

Get professional advice …

Only an art expert can tell the difference between a valuable piece of art and a fake piece of art. Before purchasing expensive piece of art, have an independent art appraiser or a museum curator appraise the work. Obtain as much specific information about the object as possible. If it is a print or painting, ask for the edition size, print medium, year of publication, and the printer or publisher. Do not buy the piece of art until it has been appraised.

Be wary of too-good-to-be-true claims …

Consumers should be cautious and wary of promises of unrealistic investment returns and/or high pressure sales tactics. A legitimate business will not push anyone into a purchase until he or she has had an opportunity to have an independent appraisal.

Research the company …

Find out how long the company has been in business and research its past successes and failures. Call the Attorney General’s Office, the local Better Business Bureau, the County Consumer Affairs Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission to determine whether any complaints or lawsuits are pending. For an out-of-state company, consumers may wish to call the appropriate agencies and authorities in the state where the company maintains its headquarters.

For more information, go to MyFloridaLegal.com

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This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.

The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.

Many people do not realize that losing the cash in their wallet or purse may actually be the least of their problems. 

Do you know that a lost or stolen wallet or purse is a potential gold mine of information to identity thieves?

If your wallet or purse is missing or stolen, the following measures should be taken as soon as possible:

• File a report with the police immediately and keep a copy.
• Cancel your credit, debit and ATM cards immediately.
• Get “new” cards with “new” account numbers.
• Call the fraud departments of the major credit reporting agencies.
• Ask each agency to put out a fraud alert on your accounts.
• Report the loss to the fraud department at your bank.
• Review your credit reports regularly and have them corrected when necessary.
• Report a missing driver’s license to your state’s department of motor vehicles.
• If your keys are missing, change the locks on your home and car.

Please note:  Be sure to carefully review your credit reports to make sure no fraudulent accounts have been opened in your name and to check if any unauthorized changes were made to your existing accounts.

For more information contact your local law enforcement agency and visit FTC.gov.

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This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.

The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.

Pre-paid phone cards can be very convenient. But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the nation’s telecommunications agency, caution that some pre-paid phone cards have hidden costs or other problems, like bad connections, access numbers that are almost always busy, and personal identification numbers (PINs) that don’t work.

Some calling cards come with fees that can take a big bite out of the calling time you’ve bought. As a result, the cards don’t deliver the call time they advertise. And because you’ve paid in advance, you may be out of pocket – and out of luck – if you discover a problem.
If you’re considering buying a calling card, read the poster, flyer, website or other advertisement for it – including any fine print – before you buy. Keep these questions in mind:

• Are fees going to diminish the value of the card? Common fees to look and listen for:
  • “Post-Call,” “Disconnect” or “Hang-Up” fees: charges deducted each time you hang up the phone after using the card.
  • “Maintenance” fees: charges deducted shortly after you use the card and at regular intervals.
  • “Pay phone surcharges”: charges deducted if you use the card at a pay phone.
• Do the advertised minutes apply only for a single call? Some cards lose a lot of value if you try to make more than one call, regardless of the number of minutes advertised.
• Do the advertised minutes apply only if you use the “local access” number? Some cards charge higher rates if you use the “toll-free access” number to place your call.
• Is there an expiration date for minutes?
• Do the advertised minutes apply to calls to a cell phone? In most cases, cards charge higher per-minute rates for international calls to cell phones.
• Does the explanation of fees make sense to you? If it seems unreasonable, buy another card. Ask the retailer for a card with no fees or fewer fees. If you’re buying the card online, check a different website.
• Is there a toll-free customer service number?

Finally, think about buying a card of a small denomination – say, $2 – first. It may provide the best value because if something goes wrong, your loss is limited.

If your pre-paid phone card doesn’t work as advertised – even after you’ve called the customer service number – contact FCC.gov.

For more information, go to FTC.gov.

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This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.

The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.

The Federal Trade Commission’s Free Credit Reports Rule will require new prominent disclosures in advertisements for “free credit reports.” For example, any Web site offering free credit reports must include a disclosure, across the top of each page that mentions free credit reports, which states:

THIS NOTICE IS REQUIRED BY LAW. Read more at FTC.GOV.
You have the right to a free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com
or 877-322-8228, the ONLY authorized source under federal law.

The Web site disclosure must include a clickable button to “Take me to the authorized source” and clickable links to AnnualCreditReport.com and FTC.GOV.

The Credit CARD Act of 2009 requires the Commission to issue a rule by February 22, 2010, to prevent deceptive marketing of “free credit reports.” Specifically, the Act requires that certain advertisements for “free credit reports” include prominent disclosures designed to prevent consumers from confusing these “free” offers with the federally mandated free annual credit reports available through the “centralized source,” which is AnnualCreditReport.com, or 877-322-8228. The Credit CARD Act of 2009 requires a slightly different disclosure between now until April 1: “Free credits reports are available under Federal law at: AnnualCreditReport.com.”

The FTC proposed amending the Rule in October 2009 and received more than one thousand comments from consumers, consumer reporting agencies, consumer report resellers, business and trade organizations, state attorneys general, consumer advocates, law firms, members of Congress, and academics.

The amended Rule also restricts practices that might confuse or mislead consumers as they try to get their federally mandated free annual credit reports. For example, the amended Rule requires nationwide consumer reporting agencies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to delay any advertising for products or services on AnnualCreditReport.com until after consumers get their free credit reports.

The amended Rule is effective April 1, 2010, except for the wording of the disclosures for television and radio advertisements, which takes effect on September 1, 2010. The FTC will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the amended Rule and the required disclosures, and will consider additional changes as necessary.

The amended Rule can be found on the Commission’s Web site as a link to this press release and will soon be published in the Federal Register. The Commission vote authorizing the publication of the Federal Register notice was 4-0.

Information in credit reports may affect whether consumers can get a loan or a job, so it is important that consumers check their credit reports and correct any information that is inaccurate. Each of the nationwide credit reporting companies is required to provide consumers with a free copy of their credit reports once every 12 months upon request. Consumers can learn more about their right to a free credit report under federal law at ftc.gov/freereports.

For more information, go to FTC.gov.

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This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.

The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.

Masked men jumped from the vehicle, shattered the salesman’s driver-side window and held him while their accomplices smashed the back window and grabbed two suitcases containing gems worth $3.7 million.

The lightning-fast robbery was just another day’s work for gangs of thieves—mostly Colombian nationals in the U.S. illegally — who prey on traveling jewelry salesman. A number of these theft groups operate around the country, and our jewelry and gem program was established in 1992 to help combat the problem.

“This type of theft is something of a unique crime category for the FBI,” said Special Agent Frank Aimaro, who supervises our Jewelry and Gem Task Force in Los Angeles in conjunction with the Los Angeles Police Department. “It’s a serious issue, resulting in substantial losses.” (The Jewelers’ Security Alliance trade group estimates that crimes against U.S. jewelry firms last year resulted in losses of nearly $100 million.)

The lightning-fast robbery was just another day’s work for gangs of thieves—mostly Colombian nationals in the U.S. illegally—who prey on traveling jewelry salesman. A number of these theft groups operate around the country, and our jewelry and gem program was established in 1992 to help combat the problem.

“This type of theft is something of a unique crime category for the FBI,” said Special Agent Frank Aimaro, who supervises our Jewelry and Gem Task Force in Los Angeles in conjunction with the Los Angeles Police Department. “It’s a serious issue, resulting in substantial losses.” (The Jewelers’ Security Alliance trade group estimates that crimes against U.S. jewelry firms last year resulted in losses of nearly $100 million.)

The thieves are bold and cagey. Working in groups, they use phony identities, rental cars, and sophisticated surveillance techniques. When they rob, they would rather not be violent, but they will resort to violence if necessary. “They will do whatever it takes to get the jewels,” Aimaro said, adding that the robberies and carjackings aren’t glamorous in the way often portrayed by Hollywood.

The Los Angeles group that pulled off the 2009 Ohio robbery usually commits about 45 heists a year and net about $15 million, Aimaro said. “And that’s just the L.A. crew. You also have crews from New York, Miami, Houston, and Chicago.” The thieves fence stolen gems for 20 cents on the dollar, he added, “and they have no problem getting rid of the stuff.”

When they are not planning thefts from the many jewelry merchants who carry their inventory to trade shows and other venues, the crews steal expensive laptop computers or rob bank customers of large withdrawals or deposits. And their girlfriends are often engaged in high-volume shoplifting, known as boosting. “They are always doing something criminal,” Aimaro said.

What the L.A. crew hadn’t counted on during the Ohio robbery was that the salesman had a gun under the front seat of his car. As the robbers made their getaway in a rented Chrysler 300, the salesman fired seven shots, several of which hit the car.

When police later found the abandoned vehicle, they also discovered that one of the thieves had left a wallet behind with a Los Angeles driver’s license. That’s when Aimaro and the task force got involved. Aimaro recognized the thief’s picture, even though the license was a fake. From that information, agents were able to track the crew to New Jersey—they were planning to fence the jewels in New York City.

Three days after the heist, detectives from the Westerville (Ohio) Police Department and sheriff’s deputies from Passaic County, New Jersey arrested the six robbers in a New Jersey hotel. All the jewelry was recovered and all six later pled guilty and are currently in jail.

Special Agent Kristin Cadieux, who worked the case out of our Columbus office, said the quick capture of the thieves and the recovery of the gems was possible because of the L.A. task force. “Their expertise was invaluable,” she said.

For more information, go to FBI.gov.

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This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.

The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.

1 — Allow plenty of time for the trip, listen to soothing music, improve the comfort in your vehicle, and understand that you cannot control the traffic, only your reaction to it. In the end, we may very well discover that personal frustration, anger, and impatience may be the most dangerous “drugs” on the highway.

2 — Be polite and courteous, even if the other driver is not. Avoid all conflict if possible. If another driver challenges you, take a deep breath and move out of the way. Never underestimate the other driver’s capacity for mayhem.

3 — When entering traffic or changing lanes, make sure that you have enough room.

4 — Make sure you have established a safe following distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you.

5 — Don’t make aggressive hand gestures to the other drivers when they offend you with their driving.

6 — Signal when turning or changing lanes.

7 — Control your anger; remember it takes two to start a fight.

8 — Avoid prolonged eye contact with the bad or angry driver.

9 — Get help. Call police on your mobile phone or go to a public telephone or place. Don’t pull to the side of the road.

10 — Forget about winning. No one wins in a highway crash.

11 — Put yourself in the other driver’s shoes. They may be driving that way because of an actual emergency!

For more information, go to the Washington State Patrol’s website at WSP.WA.gov.

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This column is provided for general information purposes only. Please check with your local law enforcement agency and legal professional for information specific to you and your jurisdiction.

The information in this article is provided “as is”, with all faults, expressed or implied. The author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder makes no guarantee regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information. In no event shall the author and/or publisher and/or copyright holder be liable for any incidental or consequential damages, punitive damages, lost profits, and/or any indirect damages.