Scams that are on the Rise and a NEW Scam in CA

Scam Squad: With Special Guest, Shawn Dyer, Senior Fraud Specialist at Montecito Bank & Trust Shawn Dyer reports about a rise in the Pay Pal Imposter Scam, and reminds us that it can also occur on other platforms such as Amazon or E-Bay. Here's how it works: You are contacted by an email or a text message telling you that you have had a large dollar amount charged on your account. You are asked to immediately call a number provided in the message to review it. When you call the number and tell them that you didn't make the charge, they offer to credit back your account. However, they 'accidentally' pay you too much and ask you to correct the over payment by getting Gift Cards and calling them back with the numbers on the card. Of course, this is just a ploy that the scammer uses to get you to send them money that you likely WON''T be able to get back. How to Avoid this Scam: If you get this type of email or text message, DON'T REPLY. Go directly into your Pay Pal accout and your bank account (or call them directly), to double check that you don't have any unauthorized charges. Next, Shawn warns us about the Online Loan Scam. Usually, this happens when someone searches online for Fast Cash and applies for a loan. In order to deposit money into your account, you will be asked for your online banking credentials and account number. The fraudsters also say that in order for them to ensure that you are trustworthy, you need to send them a gift card and call them with the numbers on the back of the card. They make a fraudulent deposit in your checking account with a counterfeit check. In a few days the check is returned by your bank and the victim is out money from the gift cards, and any return item fees which may have been spent before the victim realizes that the loan was a scam. To add insult to injury, the scam victim will need to close their checking account and change their online banking credentials so that they don't become a victim of identity theft. This scam is particularly abhorrent because it targets people who are already struggling financially. Lastly, the newest scam that Shawn reports on has to do with the CA Middle Class Tax Refund Debit Card. The card is being sent to Californians, loaded with a specific amount of money. The card comes from the State of CA, and is legitimate. However, scammers are calling, pretending to be from Medicare, asking for people to validate the numbers on the card. Of course, this is an attempt to steal the funds on the card. GOOD NEWS! Deputy District Attorney Vicki Johnson reports that an Interpol Rapid Response team was deployed against the Black Axe Gang, who are responsible for massive cyber-enabled financial scams and have their base of operations in South Africa. The task force specifically targeted the money mules who are the blood supply for these vicious scam artists. It was a great succhess; they recovered a large amount of money and there were a numerous arrests. Lastly, Vicki reminds us that price gouging is illegal after a State of Emergency has been declared--such as the recent floods in California. If you would like to talk to Deputy District Attorney, or tell your story on Scam Squad, call the Santa Barbara District Attorney's Fraud Hotline at 805-568-2442.