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Scammers take advantage of people’s generosity and busy schedules during the holiday season to steal information and money. People over the age of 65 are especially vulnerable to being targeted because they’re more likely to own their own home, have a retirement fund and have excellent credit. To keep Grinches out of your holidays, keep an eye out for the following common holiday scams:

• Online shopping schemes.

  During the holidays, everyone is on the lookout for good shopping deals. But it’s important to be hypervigilant and cautious when something seems too good to be true. Scammers use compelling – but fake – offers to lure people into sharing information or clicking a link that downloads malware on their computer. These schemes can take several forms, including the following:

  • Download an app for great discounts: A fake app will be made to look like a major retailer’s and offer significant discounts. Before downloading any apps, look to see if the business’s name is spelled correctly and whether the app has customer reviews. If there are typos and no reviews, it’s likely fraudulent.
  • Loyal customer gift card: A retailer you frequent says they want to reward you with a gift card. All you need to do is click a link and provide your information to apply. Ignore the offer, as it’s unlikely to be real and probably an attempt to steal your information.
  • Online secret shopper: You’re invited by email to shop online and rate retailers’ service. You can keep what you buy, and you may even be offered payment. To get started, you’re required to provide your financial information. Online secret shoppers are rarely recruited by email or through social media. Avoid these offers.
  • Problem with your purchase: A business you’ve shopped at says there’s an issue with your order and asks you to click a link and provide your information again. An actual email about an order would reference the order number, and you would be asked to login to your actual account – not click a link.

  In each of these examples, the scammer’s intent is to get you to click a malicious link and/or share sensitive information. During the holidays, and throughout the year, avoid clicking any links or attachments in suspicious emails, and don’t provide your personal information outside of your secure online accounts.

• Fake lottery or sweepstake winnings.

  The risk here is twofold. You may be offered an enticing prize in exchange for filling out a survey, but it has a fraudulent link that downloads malware. Or, you may be contacted with the exciting news that you’ve won a lottery or sweepstakes. You may even receive a check, only to discover it’s fake when it bounces days later. In the meantime, they may claim they need you to cover a prize fee or taxes and direct you to send money.

• Fraudulent gift cards.

  Gift cards are a great gift for adult grandchildren out on their own for the first time. But be careful where you purchase your gift cards. Fraudsters have been known to tamper with the gift cards displayed in grocery stores. Your best bet is to buy gift cards directly from the retailer at their register or on their website.

• Grandparent scam.

  The holidays are a perfect time to reconnect with family. Scammers may pretend to be a grandchild in trouble. The act goes something like this: They explain they’ve experienced some difficulty, be it medical, financial or legal, and they need you to send money for bail, legal fees, hospital bills or some other need. If they’re pretending to be a grandchild, they may stress that you can’t tell their supposed parent.

  To avoid this scam, tell them you’ll call them right back. Then call the number you have for your grandchild directly. Also call their parent. If your grandchild is safe at home, you’ll know it was a scammer.

  And, in general, be wary of any request to wire money. They’ll likely create a sense of urgency that pressures you into taking quick action. But money is rarely the immediate concern in a medical or legal emergency, and you have time to do your due diligence.

• Charity cheats.

  People love to give back during the holidays, and scammers know this. They may pose as someone from a reputable charity or solicit donations for a made-up cause. Before you write that check, confirm the charity is legitimate.

Scammers are clever, so if you fall prey to one of their schemes don’t be too hard on yourself. If you are involved in a scam, contact us right away.

The post Watch out for these common holiday scams against senior citizens. first appeared on Bridge Pioneers.

Every 14 seconds, someone becomes a victim of identity theft.1 These fraudsters can usually trigger warning signs of identity theft — and prevention is key, helping you catch the thief before you find out they inflicted thousands of dollars in damage. To help ensure you don’t pay this price, review our list of identity theft warning signs and our tips to help you avoid becoming a victim.

10 warning signs of identity theft

1. Unfamiliar transactions you didn’t make appear on your bank or credit card statements. (Even small $1 or $2 charges can be the sign of a problem.)
2. Receive a statement for credit card or other account you never opened, or they appear on your credit report.
3. Missing bills you’ve been expecting by mail or email. The fraudster could have changed the mail or email address to ensure you don’t see their fraudulent charges.
4. You’re unexpectedly denied for a loan, credit card, checking account or healthcare coverage.
5. Bills for medical services you didn’t have performed appear, you are told you’ve mysteriously reached your benefits limit, or your records suddenly show a condition you don’t have.
6. Start getting debt collection calls, even though you regularly pay your bills.
7. Your employer or former employer tells you someone is trying to collect unemployment benefits under your name.
8. You receive a two-factor authentication notice you didn’t trigger.
9. Your credit report contains obviously fraudulent information, such as an incorrect name, address, employer or Social Security number.
10. You get notices from the IRS that your e-filed tax return was rejected or a second return was filed in your name.

This is just a short list of triggers that if not caught early could become a larger issue. If you’re worried you might be a victim, contact us to file a report and recover your funds.. With today’s technology, it can be easier for fraudsters to get our Personally Identifiable Information (PII). Here are some easy ways to keep your PII safe:

10 ways to help prevent identity theft

1. Keep your smartphone, computer, wallet and checkbook safe — more than 40% of identity thefts are tied to their loss.
2. Shop only on secure sites (look for “https” in the URL, or for a lock or unbroken key icon) — 21% of identity thefts occur when the victim is shopping online during the holidays.
3. Avoid using public Wi-Fi unless you can connect securely, such as over a virtual private network (VPN). When you’re done, disable the connection.
4. Use strong passwords with a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. Password-protect any device that connects to the internet or saves your personal information. Don’t use the same password across multiple sites, update your password often, and always log out when you’re done.
5. Keep your devices current on anti-virus, anti-spyware and anti-malware software, and keep firewalls active.
6. Only give personal information to trusted sources and always ask why it’s needed.
7. If you don’t know the sender of an email, don’t open it. Even if you do open it, don’t click any links or download attachments.
8. Use credit cards rather than debit cards for shopping — they typically offer more fraud protection.
9. Routinely review your financial accounts and check your credit report. You can request one free from each credit bureau every 12 months.
10. Consider signing up for fraud alerts and freezing your credit files.

At the end of the day, this can be a lot to manage. At Bridge Pioneers, we recognize that managing your identity is more important than ever.
If you’re ever worried that your accounts have been compromised, contact us to start recovery process.

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Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer to this question. Whether or not your bank will refund scammed money depends on various factors — such as the bank’s policies, the type of scam, how you paid, and how quickly you reported the fraud.
The good news is that there are some protections for consumers who have been  scammed out of money:

• • The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA): This 1974 federal law limits consumer liability for credit card fraud to $50 in most cases, and provides special rights for fraud victims — like the ability to dispute charges via phone instead of in writing.
  • Credit Card Zero Liability Protection Policies: Many credit card companies offer zero liability protection policies that protect consumers from fraudulent charges made with their cards.
  • Bank Account Zero Liability Policies: Some banks’ policies include zero liability protection to ensure that customers don’t have to pay for fraudulent transactions made on their accounts — with limitations.
  • Regulation E: This federal regulation protects consumers who use electronic fund transfers, such as ATM transactions, debit card payments, gift cards, and direct deposits. In 2022, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) updated Regulation E to protect all peer-to-peer (P2P) online payments.
    The bottom line: Refund and reimbursement policies change from bank to bank. There’s no guarantee that your dispute will be accepted. Instead, it’s a good idea to get additional protection and coverage from an

identity theft protection service

• • .

Your First Step: Secure Your Identity and Report the Fraud

Almost 50% of identity theft victims are repeat victims. Once scammers have your personally identifiable information (PII), they can exploit you with different payment scams — or even sell your information to other fraudsters.
That’s why the first thing you should do if you’ve been scammed is secure your identity and report the fraud.
Here’s what to do:

• • • Document the fraud and stop all contact with the scammer. Download statements and take screenshots of emails, texts, and any other correspondences that occurred with the scammer. Then, break off contact to stop any further fraud.
    • Lock your cards to prevent more damage. Contact your bank or credit card issuers and ask them to lock your cards and cancel your accounts. Double-check that they have your correct address for sending replacement cards to you.
    • Check your insurance coverage. Your home insurance provider or employer may provide coverage for fraud or identity theft. If not, you might want to consider getting dedicated identity theft insurance.
    • Freeze your credit with all three bureaus. Contact each of the three major credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to request a credit freeze. This prevents anyone from accessing your credit file or opening new accounts in your name.
    • File an official report with the FTC. Gather details of the incident and your personal information to file a report now. The FTC will provide a recovery plan and help you dispute fraudulent charges.
    • Update your passwords. A crucial step in the wake of a scam is to change all of your online account passwords. By creating complex, unique login credentials that you can remember or store with a secure password manager, you’ll reduce the chance of a hack.
    • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA). For added protection, use 2FA on all of your accounts. If imposters can’t provide the second form of proof — like a one-time password (OTP) or biometric scan — they won’t be able to access your accounts.‍
    • Scan your devices for malware and other viruses. A reputable antivirus software scans your devices to detect and isolate malicious programs that hackers use to steal your passwords and data — like trojans, keyloggers, and spyware.

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You might be able to get your money back after you’ve been scammed.
What you should do, and whether you’ll get a refund, depends on what happened.

If there’s an unknown payment from your account

Contact your bank immediately if:

• there’s a payment from your bank account you don’t recognise – this is known as an ‘unauthorised transaction’
• you’ve used your debit card and more money was taken than you expected

Explain what’s happened and ask if you can get a refund. If you’re not happy with how the bank deals with your claim, you can complain to them. Find out how to do this by checking their website.
If it’s been 8 weeks since you complained, and you haven’t got your money back, contact the Bridge Pioneers. You can also contact Bridge Pioneers if you’ve had a letter from the bank saying it’s not going to take any action. This is sometimes known as a final response letter.
If Bridge Pioneers decides you’ve been treated unfairly, it’s got legal powers to put things right.

If you can’t get your money back

Find out how to get emotional support after a scam.
If you need help with debt, reach out to us to help you recover your stolen funds.

Report the scam

It’s a good idea to report the scam – even if you haven’t got your money back yet. Find out how to report a scam.

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Scamming is rampant. More than 40,000 people filed scam reports with the Better Business Bureau in 2022, and the median reported dollar loss was $171, according to that year’s BBB Scam Tracker Risk Report. A lot of those scams are targeting your bank accounts.
And though federal law limits liability for credit card fraud, it’s not the same for bank scams, such as being given a fake check you deposit and then send part of the amount to a fraudster.
“You are responsible for any deposits made to your account,” says Liz Cackowski, a certified financial crimes investigator and senior fraud investigator for Republic Bank.
Luckily, you can protect yourself and your bank account by learning how to identify six common bank scams.

Check Overpayment Scams

Check overpayment fraud is a popular scam that targets sellers from online auctions and classified advertisement websites. During a transaction, the scammer will pay the seller with a bogus check for more than the amount of the item. The scammer will then ask the seller to wire the difference back after making the deposit. The seller will be out not only a returned item fee from the bank, but also whatever cash the supposed buyer received.
How to avoid this scam: Independently verify a buyer’s name, address and phone number. A check that comes from an unknown party should be a red flag, Cackowski says. If you are selling an item to someone in Ohio, but the check lists the name of a dental office in the District of Columbia, the payment may not be legitimate. Regardless of how insistent a buyer may be, never cash a check and immediately wire money from it. Talk to your bank if you have any concerns about a payment you receive.

Credit Card and Bank Account Scams

You may get emails or calls from someone who claims to be from your credit card issuer or bank. The messages may ask you to call back to discuss a problem or to click on a link to update your account information. In some cases, scammers may even claim they are investigating possible fraud on your account and ask for details such as your account number or Social Security number to investigate further. These are all attempts to get you to hand over sensitive information.

How to avoid this scam: Do not click on any email links or attachments. Scam phone messages may include a callback number, but you should ignore that. “Don’t call the number they gave you. Call the number you have,” says Michael Foguth, president and founder of advisory firm Foguth Financial Group in Brighton, Michigan. Otherwise, you could find yourself on the phone with the scammer rather than a bank representative.

Charity Scams

Not everyone asking for a charitable donation may be on the up and up. “Fraudsters are out there, and they do prey on people’s good intentions,” says Caleb Barnum of Sydney-based Integrated Research. For example, you could receive a call asking for donations to the local police department or to military families. The crooks elicit information about your bank account or debit card to make the donation over the phone, giving them full access to your checking account.
How to avoid this scam: To make sure your good intentions don’t go to waste, the safest way to give to a charity is by choosing an organization you know and trust. Also, be careful about sharing your personal information with people who reach out by telephone or email.

Online Lending Scams

Victims of these scams are often those who have trouble obtaining a bank loan. They may receive an email from a supposed lender or find a website offering easy access to money. “Because the victim thinks they are applying for a loan, they don’t think twice about providing sensitive information,” Cackowski says. After the scammer obtains bank account details, the victim may send a loan payment or direct deposit. The victim may also be asked to make an immediate good-faith payment, but as with the check overpayment scam, the “loan” is fraudulent.

How to avoid this scam: Always check reviews and the Better Business Bureau rating of any company offering a loan. If you can’t find reviews or ratings, the business may not be real.

Employment Scams

Younger adults are more likely to be the victims of employment scams than other age groups, the Better Business Bureau reports. In most of these scenarios, the crooks offer a job but request personal information or money for “training” or “equipment.”
How to avoid this scam: Never send money to a potential employer. You should not have to pay for equipment, background screening or, generally, the promise of work. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Award Scams

In these scams, you are typically told you’ve won a foreign lottery. Crooks will send you a large check to deposit into your personal checking account. You will then be asked to immediately wire a portion of the funds to pay for government taxes and administrative fees.
How to avoid this scam: If you didn’t enter the contest, then you didn’t win it. Note that if you participate in a foreign lottery via mail or phone, you are violating federal law. Also, U.S. lottery winners typically pay taxes on a lump-sum payment in the year the money was received or each year on installment payments.

Protecting Yourself From Bank Scams

Keep common scams in mind, and remember how to avoid them before you put your funds at risk. Most important, “Do not pay something (you didn’t initiate) over the phone,” Foguth says. “Just don’t do it.”

Scammers will continue to come up with creative ways to get into people’s bank accounts.
“They go after easy targets,” Barnum says. Criminals often look for people who are searching for jobs, dating, selling products and even do-gooders looking to help the needy.
What’s more, seniors are in the bull’s-eye for scams. “Unfortunately, that generation tends to be a very trusting generation,” Barnum notes.

Do Banks Refund Scammed Money?

Your bank may refund money from a scam depending on the type of scam and bank policies.
Contact your bank immediately if you suspect unauthorized transactions or money missing from your account, advises the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. You’ll need to notify your bank within 60 days after your bank sends your statement showing the unauthorized transactions. If you wait longer, you could owe the full amount of any transactions that occurred after the 60-day period and before notifying your bank, according to the CFPB.
Once you notify the bank, it has 10 business days to investigate the issue, and the bank has three business days to report its findings to you. If the bank can’t complete the investigation within 10 business days, it may issue a temporary credit to your account while it continues to investigate. The bank must then resolve the issue in 45 days, but in certain cases, you could wait up to 90 days.
With fraudulent checks, deposits could later be reversed, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. You’ll need to pursue the person who gave you the check if you want to be reimbursed.

If you think you have been the target of a scam or you have been scammed, you should Contact Us NOW!!!

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Online businesses are quickly becoming easy targets for cybercriminals as fraud in e-commerce continues to rise. The era of digitalisation has presented fraudsters with a massive opportunity, especially with millions of personal credentials easily available on the dark web. It’s now far easier for fraudsters to hide behind false details and cover up their tracks.
And e-commerce fraud shows no signs of slowing down. According to a recent Experian report, in 2017, there was a 30% increase in e-commerce fraud attacks compared to 2016.
Additionally, “there were 16.7 million reported victims of identity fraud the same year, proving to be another record year for the number of fraud victims,” according to the report.

So what types of fraud do e-commerce retailers face?

Although stealing bank cards and account details to make payments are the most common types of e-commerce fraud, cybercriminals are notoriously creative. They also target phones, tablets, computers, and even gift cards. Here are some methods of fraud that are used to target e-commerce businesses.

1. <

   Payment fraud: also known as Identity Theft

   This is the most common form of e-commerce fraud, comprising a tremendous 71% of all attacks. Identity fraud is part of the majority of the methods used by cybercriminals, either as the end goal or the precursor to another attack.
   This type of fraud doesn’t always involve stolen card details however. Fraudsters will also use email accounts, user accounts, names, addresses, IP addresses and personal devices to make them seem like a real customer. This can lead to fraudulent purchases, the creation of fake accounts and the manipulation of traffic.

2. Friendly fraud

   Friendly fraud can occur by design or by mistake. The basic premise is that a customer (legitimate or otherwise) will pay for a service or product which they claim is never delivered or was damaged on delivery. The merchant then has to issue a refund, re-deliver the item, or face a chargeback. Chargebacks involve the retrieval of funds from the merchant by the issuing bank, which are then given back to the customer. Chargebacks are a common point of contention for e-commerce retailers.

3. Clean fraud

   Clean fraud refers to fraudulent transactions that appear to be legitimate. This type of fraud is increasingly problem for retailers as the usually the transaction doesn’t get flagged up or blocked by blacklisted fraud accounts. This involves using stolen credit card information to impersonate the card holder.
   Fraudsters can get hold of these details through convincing account holders to make a purchase on a fake website, intercepting messages between transaction parties and even by buying them on the dark web, which can only be accessed by using certain browsers.
   According to Chargebacks911, clean fraud is one of the fastest-growing and most dangerous challenges faced by retailers.

4. Affiliate fraud

   Through affiliate fraud, malicious actors can manipulate traffic and sign ups to make a merchant think they are receiving consumer attention that doesn’t actually exist. Many companies are part of, or run, an affiliate marketing programme that generates commission through sharing links and content. Unfortunately, affiliate fraud can be as simple as refreshing a webpage multiple times, or sending spam emails and popups to create a false sense of high traffic.

5. Triangulation fraud

   This type of fraud is when online criminals set up a fake or replica website and entice buyers with cheap goods. Sometimes these fake websites may appear in ads, or be sent to a user’s email directing to the website through a phishing attempt.
   The catch is that these goods don’t actually exist, or of course are never shipped. If the website is an impersonation, the existing legitimate business also suffers damage to their image.
   And when the customer pays for something they don’t receive, they can also suffer the loss of their bank details. Getting hold of credit card credentials in this way and using them to make fraudulent purchases is called triangulation fraud. The name comes from the threefold process of enticing buyers, stealing their details, and using them as part of a wider scheme.

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