Scam Squad

NEW AMAZON SCAM by Hub for Podcasting

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there has been an 80% increase in 'Romance Scams' in the last year. In one common scenario, scammers target lonely widows. (This typically takes place on social media sites such as Facebook or Instagram.) Often, the scammers say they have also been heartbroken by the loss of a spouse and send a warm and empathetic message. Gradually, the scammer wins the trust of their victim--and they chat frequently. Eventually the scammer asks for money. Rather than asking for money for themselves, they may pretend to be giving their victim information on an investment opportunity, which often involves cryptocurrency. This is a particularly cruel scam because in addition to losing money, the victim is heartbroken and humiliated to have fallen for the scammer's lies. The victim may unknowingly break the law by becoming a 'money mule', following the scammers instructions to transfer money into other accounts--inadvertantly helping the scammer to 'launder' money. To avoid falling for this cruel scam, the FTC shares the following tips: - Don't send money to someone you haven't met in person. - Don't buy gift cards or wire money to someone you haven't met in person. - Don't follow the financial advice of someone you haven't met in person and be especially wary of requests to purchase cryptocurrency or to wire money. - Talk to friends and family about the online relationship. - If your new friend has sent you a photograph, do a reverse image search. - Google their name. - Report suspicious profiles or messages to dating apps and social media platforms. - Report the scam to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov - If you live in the Santa Barbara area, call Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson on the Santa Barbara County Fraud Hotline at 805-563-2442

Shawn Dyer, Senior Fraud specialist from Montecito Bank & Trust, warns listeners about QR Scams. They have received a warning from the FBI about cyber criminals who tamper with QR codes which redirect victims to malicious sites. When scanning QR codes, be sure they have not been tampered with, (such as having a sticker placed over them), and that the URL address you are taken to is legitimate. Also, do not download an app from a QR code and if a person you know sends you a QR code, confirm it's really from them.

Investment Scams take people in most often followed by romance scams. Oftentimes, scammers are able to trick their victims by using information found on social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram. While it's often assumed that seniors are scammed most often, people between the ages of 18 and 39 are twice as likey to report losing money to scammers. The phony kiidnapping scam, (where a scammer demands ransom money in exchange for the release of a loved one), continues to terrorize victims. In reality, no one is kidnapped but once again the scammer uses information found on social media, giving them convincing details to make the kidnapping believable so that their ransom will be paid.

Sometimes you may end up on a scammer's list no matter how careful you are. However, there are some things you can do to reduce your risk: 1. Don't fill out consumer/marketing surveys. 2. Don't fill out surveys attached to warranty registration cards. 3. Don't fill out sweepstakes forms. 4. Exercise 'opt out' rights whenever you have the chance. 5. When giving money to a charity, enclose a note instructing them not to share, sell, or rent your name to any other organization. 6. Donate to established charities. Give by check or credit card, not through wires, gift cards or cash.

DANGERS OF INSTANT MONEY TRANSFERS by Hub for Podcasting

In this special interview with Deputy District Attorney Casey Nelson, you'll learn how the Santa Barbara District Attorney's office worked together with the Santa Barbara Police Department in an intensive investigation that lasted for more than two years, leading to the apprehension of crooks who made off with BILLIONS in California unemployment benefits. Learn how the crooks breached a property management company's data base to gain access to people's identity, and how they were finally CAUGHT!

Senior Fraud Specialist from Montecito Bank & Trust, Doris Roof, sounds the alarm about the dangers of real estate fraud. Currently, home buyers are often closing very quickly and it's vitally important to be sure to verify that the escrow instructions emailed to you are coming from your realtor and escrow company--and not a fraudster.. Once the wire is sent, your money could be lost forever. Pick up the phone to verify the wire instructions before sending the money!

As we start a new year, many of us are determined to get in shape and lose weight. Beware of companies advertising quick weight loss with their 'special formulas'! In this episode, special guest and ciminologist, Dr. Judy Christman Yates, shares tips to help us recognize unreputable companies and scams! Then, Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson, issues a warning about phony Covid-19 tests and testing sites. Don't miss this timely episode!

Criminologist, Dr Judy Christman Yates, gives great advice on shredding or burning personal information, making sure your online passwords are safe, two-step login authentication and even your car’s GPS system. Don’t miss this important episode and be sure your personal information stays safe!

HOME IMPROVEMENT SCAMS by Hub for Podcasting

Does your purse or wallet feel like a filing cabinet? Crooks want wallets for MORE than the cash they contain. With the information they may find, fraudsters often steal our identity to open bank accounts and credit cards in OUR NAMES! Stay safe by taking the time to clean out your wallet or purse today!

Shawn Dyer, Senior Fraud Specialist at Montecito Bank & Trust shares the following warnings: 1. Don't unsubscribe to an unwanted email by clicking on a link you receive in an email or text. It can be another way for scammers to install malware on your computer. Instead, go to the company's legitimate website and safely unsubscribe. 2. If you are a business owner, or work at a business and receive an invoice via email, asking you to send payments to a new account, be very, very cautious. The email may look like it came from the person you usually do business with but look closely at who it's from. A very small email address variation from the sender is a RED FLAG! Pick up the phone and call your contact to confirm the email really came from them.

Supply chain issues have made some items, such as popular toys, hard to find. Scammers have been taking advantage of this problem by creating phony websites and links featuring these hard-to-find items. In this episode of Scam Squad, learn how to recognize phony websites and links that can cause BIG problems!

With the holidays upon up, porch pirates are once again stealing our packages. Be sure to listen to these tips to keep your precious packages safe from thieves!

No one is immune from being targeted by scammers; not even a judge! In this episode of Scam Squad, Retired Superior Court Judge, George Eskin, shares his story of how scammers targeted him--and how they hacked into private email correspondence, giving them private details/information that made them seem very believable. Luckily, the Judge didn't fall for the scam. Learn what tipped him off so that you don't fall for it either.

When a woman believes she is corresponding with her friend (who has really hacked her friend's account), she is led down a primrose path with promises of a $90,000 grant--but first, she needs to pay a few fees, to the tune of $12,000. Beware of this vicious scam!

Montecito Bank & Trust warns that scammers may call to question an Amazon transaction. They may pretend to be confirming a transaction which they feel may be fraudulent but they're really trying to get your person/financial information. Another scam involves logging into your Amazon account or convincing you to allow them to access it remotely. Don't fall for it!

Special guest, Carol Baizer, from the Independent Living Resource Center of the Tri-Counties, shares a threatening voice mail from a fraudulant bill collector. While it sounds official, Baizer points out that the caller omitted vital information such as what the bill was for and what agency they were with. The caller did, however, ask for a call-back where they most certainly would have tried to get the intended victim to pay them. The Independent Living Resource Center assists individuals with disabilitie s and among other things, helps them to navigate social security, medicare and medicaid. They are a national organization. The Independent Living Resource Center of the Tri-Counties serves San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and Ventura. https://ilrc-trico.org/

CABLE TV REPAIR SCAM by Hub for Podcasting

COURT SUMMONS SCAM by Hub for Podcasting

Senior Fraud Specialist Shawn Dyer, from Montecito Bank & Trust, reminds us to only use P to P apps to pay friends or family. She warns us that fraudsters are requesting payments via P to P apps such as Venmor or Zelle and then don't provide the goods. Also, caller ID can be spoofed so don't be fooled! If you receive a call that says it's from your bank, call them back instead of trusting that it's really from them! Subscribe to Scam Squad today so you don't miss an important Scam Alert!

Beware of emails which appear to come from friends, but aren't what you'd expect to receive from them. In this special edition of Scam Scam, a retired defense attorney shares the red flags he recognized when a board member from an organization he's a member of asked for gift cards for what seemed to be a 'good cause.' Then, the County of Santa Barbara's restitution specialist, Dayton Aldrich, shares great tips which include: changing your password, having a computer specialist check for malware or ransomware, using a VPN server, and changing your social media settings to make them as private as possible. He also recommends using passphrases rather than passwords, and to have a different password for every single site. If this seems overwhelming, there are password apps that can do it for you, such as Lastpass. Dayton also reccommended the useful site, haveIbeenpwned.com, where you can put in your email address or password and be shown where your accounts may have exposed and/or breached.

ONLINE ROMANCE & INVESTMENT SCAMS by Hub for Podcasting

MOST COMMON SCAMS by Hub for Podcasting

Doris Roof, Fraud Manager at Montecito Bank & Trust, shares a warning from processors of debit and credit cards. Fraudsters have found a way to trigger an alert about a suspicious transaction (which they instigated). After you receive a two-step verification code, the crooks call you and pretend to be your bank. They may request the two-step verification code that you were sent, pretending to try to help you. Don't fall for it! It's a ruse to gain access to your account so they can reset your password and gain access to your account. Remember, the caller ID may LOOK like it's coming from your own financial institution! Always call your bank directly after researching their legitimate phone number! Be sure to subscribe to Scam Squad so you don't miss any important Scam Alerts!

NEW GRANDPARENTS SCAM by Hub for Podcasting

PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE SCAM IS BACK by Hub for Podcasting

REFUND SCAMS by Hub for Podcasting

VACCINATION CARD SCAMS by Hub for Podcasting

Santa Barbara Police Officers, together with the Secret Service, work quickly and recover 50 K to a ninety-year old gentleman who was scammed by ruthless con-artists who used the Social Security Scam.

Shawn Dyer, Senior Fraud Specialist at Montecito Bank & Trust, reports on the Craigslist Overpayment Scam and Tech Support Scams. Beware of fraudsters who overpay or try to get you off the Craigslist platform for your communications. Don’t click on links that pop up on your computer or phone, telling you that you’re having a technical problem. And once again, we’re reminded that gift cards should NEVER be used as a form of payment

Deputy District Attorney, Vicki Johnson, speaks to criminologist, Dr Judy Christman Yates, who walks listeners through steps that can be taken to stop unsolicited junk mail and 'junk phone calls.' Together, they also review the guidelines that legitimate telemarketers MUST follow. If they don't, you're urged to file a complaint with the FTC. Telemarketers who are violating the guidelines face serious fines and the FTC means business! If you live in the Santa Barbara area and would like to report a scam, call the FRAUD HOTLINE at 805-568-2442.

FAKE ELECTRIC BILL SCAMS by Hub for Podcasting

Dayton Aldrich, restitution specialist for the County of Santa Barbara shares tips on how to choose a financial advisor. Then, Jeannie West, from Hospice of Santa Barbara, shares a personal story of sending money to a scammer through Western Union. The story has a happy ending because Western Union has been ordered to pay back victims who sent money through Western Union and after more than ten years, Jeanne received her money back!

CONTROLLING SPAM & SCAM by Hub for Podcasting

FINANCIAL MANAGER SCAMS by Hub for Podcasting

Scam Squad features Dooris Roof, Senior Fraud Specialist at Montecito Bank and Trust. Host Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson and Co-Host Patti Teel follow the latest scams involving P2P and Other Money Transfer Scams. Watch out for suspicious e-mails and text-messages from fraudsters trying to steal your sensitive personal and financial information. To report a scam or if you believe you have been scammed, call Vicki Johnson at 805.568.2442 Tune in to the most recent episodes of Scam Squad, now streaming on Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts! Stream Scam Squad on our website and more! Watch the full video interview on our YouTube Channel @ Scam Squad

Watch out for scams when booking your next vacation through a third party website. Look for red flags when booking with an alternative booking site such as price reductions. When booking your next trip, be sure to pay with a credit card, that way you are protected by fraud as a consumer. Tune in to the most recent episodes of Scam Squad, now streaming on Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts! Stream Scam Squad on our website and more! hubforpodcasting.com/scam-squad/ Watch the full video interview on our YouTube Channel @ Scam Squad https://youtu.be/tfUv-Bz-b2M

Our guest host today Anthony Giannini interviews Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson about the latest scams happening in our communities. Today, Vicki highlights a recent Medicare Scam that involves fraudsters who pose as AARP or similar 'official' organizations. Watch this week's episode to learn more about how to identify suspicious phone calls and identify scammers before they take your valuable personal information. Tune in to the most recent episodes of Scam Squad, now streaming on Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts! Stream Scam Squad on our website and more! https://hubforpodcasting.com/scam-squad/ Watch the full video interview on our YouTube Channel @ Scam Squad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjOPR4bCRyo

Are business fraud alerts a part of the scam? Sometimes consumers receive texts or emails from what appear to be legitimate organizations, but in fact are fraudsters trying to bait your personal information! Remember that businesses like banks who call directly asking to provide sensitive information, like your social security number, are often scammers! Consumers can be reassured, however, that large corporations like Amazon are taking action to prevent fraud. To report a scam in Santa Barbara County, call the DA's fraud hotline at 805-568-2442. Follow our channel on YouTube @ Scamsquad Tune in to this podcast and more on our website! https://hubforpodcasting.com/scam-squad/

Join Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson and host Patti Teel Feature Senior Fraud Specialist Shawn Dyer. Shawn talks about the latest scams, including fraudsters who lure unsuspecting victims by impersonating banks and other institutions. To report a scam in Santa Barbara County, call the DA's fraud hotline at 805-568-2442. Follow our channel on YouTube @ Scamsquad

This week's episode of Scam Squad features Dayton Aldrich, who gives us a review of what he calls 'classical scams'. Classical scams are scams that the DA sees regularly; these scams just won't go away! Dayton discusses how valuable your privacy is to tech companies and talks about the security of payment services such as Zelle and Venmo. To report a scam in Santa Barbara County, call the DA's fraud hotline at 805-568-2442. Follow our channel on YouTube @ Scamsquad

This week's special guest is restitution specialist, Dayton Aldrich, who shares his latest scam alerts with us. As the State of California makes the last push for its residents to become vaccinated before CA once again fully reopens, the State of California is offering cash prizes to its residents who choose to become vaccinated. As the governor's office begins to make calls to residents announcing them as winners of a cash prize, scammers are also making calls to CA residents, announcing them as winners. As always, be careful about who you share your personal information with over the computer and telephone. To report a scam in Santa Barbara County, call the DA's fraud hotline at 805-568-2442. Follow our channel on YouTube @ Scamsquad

Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson interviews senior fraud specialist Dr. Judy Christman Yates, who warns us about computer hackers and their associated scams. Dr. Yates explains to our audience what is computer ‘hacking’ and what can you do if your computer gets hacked! To report a scam in Santa Barbara County, call the DA's fraud hotline at 805-568-2442.

This week’s episode of Scam Squad features Senior Fraud Specialist at Montecito Bank and Trust, Doris Roof. Doris updates our listeners about what is happening at the bank in the world of scams. Called ‘smishing’, it is very common to see scammers reach out to anyone via text message or email, claiming to be an official merchant or organization. Even if you receive a text message to your personal cell-phone, it can be a scammer attempting to phish personal information. When accessing the internet, especially when providing sensitive information, be aware of your online security. To report a scam or if you believe you have been scammed, call Vicki Johnson at 805.568.2442

Patti and Vicki talk about current scam updates that are happening now! AARP has issued a warning to watch out for calls, texts, or emails, supposedly from government agencies, that ask for you to provide sensitive information in order to receive the recent stimulus check. Also be aware of scams related to vaccines and tech support companies. You won’t want to miss the story of the mystery man, ‘The Scam Rescuer! To report a scam or if you believe you have been scammed, call Vicki Johnson at 805.568.2442 Follow Scam Squad and other great podcasts on our website! hubforpodcasting.com/scam-squad/

It starts with a call or a text from a tech support company that claims you are entitled to a refund. Watch out for Tech Support Scams! To report a scam or if you believe you have been scammed, call Vicki Johnson at 805.568.2442 Follow Scam Squad and other great podcasts on our website! hubforpodcasting.com/scam-squad/

Our guest, Richard, talks about recent Craigslist Scams he has encountered. To report a scam or if you believe you have been scammed, call Vicki Johnson at 805.568.2442 Follow Scam Squad and other great podcasts on our website! hubforpodcasting.com/scam-squad/

Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson interviews Dr. Judy Christman Yates, who shares about identity theft scams and how to avoid being a victim. To report a scam in Santa Barbara County, call the DA's fraud hotline at 805-568-2442. Follow our channel on YouTube @ Scamsquad