Paying by smartphone a not-so-smart idea
You can use your smartphone to do just about anything, and now you can buy a flat screen TV with a single screen tap. But is it a good idea? T-Mobile just launched a new service dubbed “Direct Carrier Billing,” which allows users to make purchases on their phone and billed to their T-Mobile account. Consumer attorneys warn that these services don’t offer adequate fraud protection, which means that in a dispute the consumer can be stuck with the bill.
UCAN Stands Firm Against Anthem/Blue Cross and United Healthcare Demands For Employee's SSN
Recently, UCAN stood its ground against Anthem/Blue Cross and United Healthcare when each company, allegedly based on Medicare (Section 111) reporting requirements, demanded the social security numbers (SSNs) of all applicants in order to offer UCAN employees group health insurance coverage.
In response to UCAN's inquiry, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) replied, "some insurers are insisting that they get the SSNs of everyone they may be covering, and sometimes they say they must do so because of the Section 111 reporting requirements.
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Any message to you stating or implying that you must provide your SSN because of the new Section 111 reporting requirements is not accurate."
Both companies backed down and provided coverage without the employee's SSN after seeing the message from CMS.
Does the Fair Credit Reporting Act apply to Equifax's National Consumer Telecom and Utility Exchange?
Telecom and utility companies use the National Consumers Telecom & Utilities Exchange (NCTUE), a members-only, unique Equifax database to review consumer credit history. The question remains whether the Fair Credit Reporting Act applies to the NCTUE and what information consumers should be able to obtain about themselves.
Clever scams target seniors' stimulus payments
During the month of May, the federal government is sending one-time $250 stimulus payments to senior citizens and others who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and other government benefits and scam artists are already poised to steal them in any way they can.
The law says you have to PAY to keep your phone number private.
If you want to keep your home phone number private, you must PAY ATT for the privilege of not selling it to every advertiser, telemarketer, and scam artist they can find. Now, a new law, SB437 will force AT&T to respect your privacy and the California Constitution.
ATTN: Boomers - Now you can apply for Social Security online
As the first wave of millions of baby boomers looks to retirement, the Social Security Administration has launched an online application process for Social Security and Medicare that can be completed in about 15 minutes.
Caller ID Scam Using Fake Phone Numbers to "Spoof"
The number on your caller ID may or may not be a law firm, the IRS or your bank calling you! By using a special prepaid calling card, you can become the victim to real financial disaster if you give away any personal information requested by the caller. Watch the Good Morning America story.
There are Internet sites like www.SpoofCard.com or www.itellas.com where anyone can buy a prepaid calling card. This prepaid calling card has special features to hide the real identity of the caller. There are Federal regulations prohibiting the use of this technology by telemarketers and debt collectors. This service is also a stalker's dream and a victim's nightmare. Who else but telemarketers, debt collectors, scam artists trying to get your personal information and stalkers trying to harrass you, would need this type of service? Even though it is said that the service is for Law Enforcement, Skip Tracers, Private Investigators, etc., everyone knows that these professionals have other means to accomplish the same goal. The "Spoofer" is also able to change his/her voice to be a man or a woman and not sound like a recording. With a "Spoof" call, *69 (Call Return), *57 (Call Trace), and Anonymous Call features to typically provide you with information, do not work.
The people or companies using this service are able to send any number to your Caller ID. As a victim of identity theft, I received calls where total strangers pretended to be someone else and were demanding my date of birth, social security number, current and previous addresses and my mother's maiden name. One call came from a 512 area code and turned out to be the Secretary of State Comtroller Office for Texas to gather information for taxes. There is no state tax in Texas! Another call was a law firm in Tampa, Florida calling to collect debts on three credit cards. Again, personal information was requested including my bank account number. As a victim of ID theft, I did not take the threat of a major lawsuit or the threat of taking my home lightly. These scam artists fortunately said I owed on 3 cards that I had never used or ordered and that were already removed from my credit history as part of the ID theft.
The attempt to personally violate others is inexcusable and reflects the lowest form of human character. Now that a legislator was "spoofed", laws against the companies providing the service are being enacted. If problems had resulted for regular consumers like you and me, there is no telling how long this practice would have continued.
DomainUSA aka Domain Name USA website registration scam
UCAN recently received a complaint that gives us reason to believe a company known as DomainUSA, or Domain Name USA, is attempting to scam consumers. Here's how it works: DomainUSA sends a website owner a bill to renew the domain name registration on the site. DomainUSA makes it appear that due to a merger, you must now register through them. The problem is that DomainUSA has nothing to do with your domain name, in fact, they don't even register domain names. Domain USA provides domain name SEARCH ENGINE registration. Of course, many places are willing to submit your domain to search engines for FREE. If you receive a letter from DomainUSA, DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY, it is a scam. Read more. Also, you can comment below if you receive anything similar.
North American Clearing Services fraudulent check scam
One of our senior UCAN members received a letter form North American Clearing Services in Canada stating she won a sweepstakes prize of $50,000. In addition to the letter was a check that looks real and is NOT. The scam artists used the Mellon United National Bank in Florida, State Farm Insurance name and logo and an agent of State Farm in Miami without the permission or knowledge of these companies. The UCAN member received the fraudulent check in the amount of $2775.26. State Farm Corporate and Mellon Bank are aware of the fraud and have notified the appropriate authorities.
If you receive a check like this for a sweepstakes or other prize, do not cash it. It is a scam!
Click on the images below to see the fake check and fraudulent letter for yourself, and remember to fill out our complaint form if you receive anything similar.
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Utility Consumers' Action Network - (619) 696-6966
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