I have been scammed … now what?
BBB ON SENIORS
When it comes to consumer scams, at the BBB Education Foundation, the priority is prevention.
However, as I was sitting in the waiting room at my doctor’s office listening to a gentleman give his Medicare number to a fraudulent medical equipment salesman over his speakerphone, I realized I needed to focus some of my attention on damage control.
Unfortunately, there is not a whole lot to be said about getting back any money you lose in a scam, because scammers typically don’t use their real names and more often than not you’re left with unreliable contact information.
Once your money is gone, it’s gone. This is an important fact to remember, because once you fall victim to a scam you are more likely to be targeted again. In the event you have paid money to a fraudulent company or individual, you should be on the lookout for subsequent recovery scams.
These scams lure those who already have lost money in one scam by promising the recovery of those funds for a fee. Don’t fall for it.
Knowing the red flags of fraudulent marketing and popular scams is a great way to keep you safe and your money where it belongs, in your pocket.
Nonetheless, even the savviest consumers can get caught up in the ruse of a cunning scammer. In this case, denial is your worst enemy. Scammers are persistent, and if they’ve gotten money from you once they will keep coming back for more. If you even suspect that you have been the victim of a scam, call the BBB Education Foundation at 713-341-6141 and we will be happy to answer any questions you might have about what might have happened and your possible next steps, but sadly it won’t get your money back.
If you have paid money or given out sensitive information, such as your Medicare number or Social Security number, to someone you don’t know or trust, cease contact with them immediately. Scammers are persistent, and they will keep calling you, emailing you, or sending you letters in the mail. Block their numbers on your cell phone if you can, ignore them, delete their emails and throw their letters out with the trash. Remember scammers may still call from other unknown numbers, so it’s important to remember not to answer calls from numbers or entities you do not know.
You also have the option to report what happened to you to the authorities. Your local district attorney’s office has jurisdiction over criminal matters such as fraud and theft, so you may inform them of the situation in case they know of similar cases in your area. The Office of the Attorney General has a consumer protection department that investigates consumer complaints and can be reached toll free at 1-800-621-0508. If you have fallen victim to an internet scam, you can report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center of the FBI at www.ic3.gov. Also, be sure and put a fraud alert on your credit report to prevent further identity theft at 1-800-525-6285.
If you have given out your Medicare or Social Security number to someone you don’t know or trust to be a legitimate Medicare service provider, it is important review your Medicare Summary Notices, which you can access online anytime at www.MyMedicare.gov, to keep an eye out for fraudulent claims being made in your name.
Finally, it is so important to continue to talk about what happened to you. Tell your friends and your family. Tell whoever will listen. Get the word out so you can prevent the same thing from happening to someone else.