Legal Tips

Hi Ekalaka!

It is definitely been a while since I’ve been able to write an article for you, but I know that today I’m going to be talking about a very important topic. It is come to my attention that there are several scams going around town affecting our citizens. I needed to write this article, so everyone is aware of how to verify any mailings, phone calls, or other methods you receive about prize winnings.

The most common kind of scams are: phone calls; emails; computer support scams; imposter scams; fake checks; demands for you to send money (check, wire transfers, gift cards); student loan or scholarship scams; and prize, grants, and sweepstakes offers.

I want to make it blatantly clear - any legitimate source of government activities, money requests, prize-winnings or cash winnings will NEVER ask you to do any of the following:

1. Deposit a check to send them money;

2. Provide your credit card number or bank account information in order to receive a prize;

3. Purchase a prepaid cash/gift card and give out the card number;

4. Bail a relative or friend out of jail;

5. Pay money to the IRS over the phone;

6. Ask you to apply for free government grants; or

7. Pay a fee, taxes, or shipping charges to receive a prize.

What you need to do if you receive something like this? First, be sure to be suspicious. Scammers are getting very good at swindling money out of people because sometimes the notifications look pretty legit. Next, be sure to check any postage on a male prize notice. If it was sent bulk rate, it’s probably a scam. Ask yourself if you enter the particular contest. If you did not, it’s likely a fake. If you did enter that contest, be sure to research the company’s contact information and call the information from your research to verify if the prize is legitimate. Be sure to know that scammers use the names of organizations, their logos, and other verifying information such as barcodes or fake claim numbers in order to target their victims.

If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, and looks like a duck… It is probably a duck. Do not, under ANY circumstances, believe anyone claiming to be from a foreign lottery or sweepstakes (this is illegal!) or believe anyone just because they say they’re from a government organization or any other type of official sounding organization. Always verify the source of any information; including, a representative’s name, business number, and employee ID/representative ID number, and DO YOUR RESEARCH. Don’t give in to pressure. These scammers are very good. Scammers will resort to intimidation tactics and harassment in order to get money out of you.

What can you do to help protect yourself from these scams? A great way to start is by registering your phone number with the national do not call Registry. This is an annual registry banning telemarketing calls and other advertisement by a phone. You can register online or by calling 1-888-382-1222. Note that if you are still receiving these telemarketing calls after registering, there is a good chance these calls are scams. Next, be suspicious and hang up on suspicious calls. When you receive calls or other mailings that you think are scams, report them. These can be reported to the State of Montana’s consumer protection office and your local police department. All reports help keep the authorities on alert so people receiving these scam notices in our communities can be more protected. You can also report scams to the federal government. Your report may keep others from being a victim of a scam because these agencies use reports of scams to track scam patterns.

Also, at any time you find that you have given out this personal information or are a victim of fraud and have lost money, know you will likely never get back. But reporting the loss can help someone else not become a victim and set yourself up with protection from future scams.

If anyone in Carter County receives a suspicious mailing or email, do not hesitate to bring it to my office and I will assist you in verifying the legitimacy of the contact. There will be no charges for taking a look at this. It is my goal to keep our communities safe and your hard-earned money in your own pockets. Be safe out there and remember to be suspicious.

Jennifer A. Williams, is a licensed attorney located in Ekalaka, MT. Check out Jennifer’s website at http://www.jawlawoffice.com for more information about her and the services she provides. She can be reached at (406) 775-6655 or jawilliams@jawlawoffice.com should you have any questions regarding this article.

* DISCLAIMER: This article is for general informational purposes only. In no way shall this article constitute legal advice or substitution for legal counsel – and should not be relied upon as such. The information contained in this article is not promised to reflect the most current legal developments; accordingly, information found here is not promised or guaranteed to be correct or complete. As legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, nothing provided in this article should be used as a substitute for advice of competent counsel.