Op-Ed: Residents Should Be Wary of Scams

Editor's note: This piece was sent to Upper Saucon Patch -- and other media outlets -- by state Sen. Bob Mensch.

Scam artists and criminals are targeting residents of Bucks, Montgomery, Lehigh and Northampton counties on a daily basis, constantly looking for new and devious ways to take the hard-earned money of local seniors and other residents.  Because even the most astute individuals can fall victim to a scam, education and awareness is important to avoid becoming a victim.  

A look at some of the fraud activities over the past several weeks in our region is an eye-opener in terms of how these criminals operate.

In Lumberville, a 90 year old woman was defrauded out of $5,000 following a phone call by two males posing as her grandson and his defense attorney, who claimed he needed to be wired money to be bailed out of jail.

A Lynn Township man also lost $5,000, falling victim to a similar scam from someone posing as his granddaughter who claimed she was being held in a Mexican jail. 

This "Grandparent scam" plays on the victims' love of their own grandchildren and the promise not to tell their parents to avoid getting them in more trouble.  A sure tip off for this and numerous other scams is the requirement that the money be paid by Western Union or some other money order. 

In another example, scammers phoned local residents and posed as PPL Electric Utilities customer service representatives.  They threatened to turn off their power if they did not pay a bill immediately. Other area residents received calls from individuals posing as a fundraiser with their local police or fire department requesting a donation be sent to a specific address or made over the phone.  

The goal of these scams is to obtain your credit card or banking information so the scammers can gain access to your money. To avoid falling victim to these phone scams, experts advise to avoid providing any banking information over the phone unless you initiated the call to a known number on a bill.    

Then there are the "phishing" emails that seek to gain access to your personal bank account or other information as part of an identity theft effort.  Authorities recently reported an increase in fraudulent e-mails that by every appearance seem to be from the IRS claiming that an individual’s tax refund has been delayed. 

The goal: to obtain their social security numbers or bank account numbers.  The IRS or any banking or financial institution will never use email or social media to request your personal information.  If you receive an e-mail like this from a government agency or bank do not click any links in the email as this could unleash a virus on your computer.  Instead, call the bank directly or visit their website by typing their site address directly into your web browser. 

But not all scams and fraud are carried out over the phone or by email. Home improvement fraud is an ongoing problem that consumers need to guard against – particularly related to chimney sweepers, roofers, driveway sealers, and basement water-proofers. 

To help make sure you do not become a victim of contractor fraud, never hire a contractor who is going door-to-door in your neighborhood. In addition, use referrals from friends and family or make sure the contractor is a registered home improvement contractor with the Pennsylvania Attorney General at http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/hic.aspx

Every day, local residents are targeted by scams. Seniors in particular are a target of these scams because they are less likely to report them, typically because of a mix of embarrassment and fear. Empower yourself and help protect others by stepping forward if you are the victim of a scam or believe you could be the target of one by contacting the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection at 610-821-6690.

 For more information on how you can help protect yourself or loved ones from fraud, please contact my office at (215) 541-2388.

Senator Bob Mensch represents the 24^th Senatorial District of Pennsylvania, which includes portions of Northampton, Bucks, Lehigh, Montgomery counties.