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Sen. Shaheen aids seniors with consumer protection forum

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PORTSMOUTH — Ask questions. Lots of questions. Be your own advocate. And take nothing at face value.

That was the overarching message Friday of a group of fraud specialists invited to the Portsmouth Public Library at the request of, and joined by, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H. Shaheen is holding consumer protection forums across the state, including the one in Portsmouth, to alert seniors in particular to frauds and schemes.

To report fraud or a scam

FTC hotline: 877-FTC-HELP

NH attorney general hotline: 1-888-468-4454

other resources

AARP offers free community forums on fraud and scams. To request a presentation, email nh@aarp.org

Get a free copy of your credit report at www.annualcreditreport.com

www.ftc.gov: Federal Trade Commission web site

http://doj.nh.gov/site-map/consumers.htm: NH attorney general consumer protection Web site

“Sadly, people perpetrating the scams target people whose best qualities are being trusting and honest, and they trust people when they say they’re going to do something,” said Shaheen to an audience of about 60 people. “One of the things I would urge everyone to do is to ask questions if you’re not sure what someone is saying, or you want more information.”

That message was reiterated by Derek Rill of the Federal Trade Commission, who has been working with senators from throughout the country to hold forums like the one at the library. The FTC, he said, is “the nation’s fraud police” and it keeps a nationwide database of consumer fraud complaints that are used by federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

He said if people follow just one consumer rule, they will avoid any type of fraud: go to two trusted sources. “That’s your tip. Before you sign anything or hand over any money, get two trusted sources” to confirm what is being said.

“Just for your peace of mind.” James Boffetti, assistant N.H. attorney general and chief of the consumer protection bureau, urged people to follow Rill’s advice and think before sending money or putting a Social Security number on a form.

“Once the money is sent or the scammer has access to your information, it’s harder to track down,” he said. “Just because someone has a 603 area code doesn’t mean they’re from New Hampshire. Don’t send the check, because if you do, your money is likely gone.”

Rill said half of all complaints received by the FTC involve identity theft. He urged his audience to take a few common-sense steps. Keep your Medicare card at home, because it has your Social Security number on it. Ask questions even of a doctor who wants your Social Security number, and read his or her privacy statement carefully.

“Generally, be careful any time you’re being asked for information. Why am I doing this? Do I have to do this? What are you doing with this information?” said Boffetti.

Rill said everyone should get a copy of his or her credit report. Federal law requires that each of the three credit reporting agencies provide one free report a year. He suggested people seek one report every four months from each of the three agencies and then begin the process again.

“The credit report has been described as your financial DNA. Everything needs to be connected to you. If you see something that is not connected to you, you are probably the victim of identity theft,” he said.

A number of scams were also covered, including “phishing scams,” in which people try to get you to respond to an e-mail; the “mystery shopping” scam, in which you’re asked to evaluate businesses starting with Western Union using a bogus check sent to your home; and the “foreign lottery scam.”

“There are a lot of foreign lottery scams around here,” said Mike Genron of the U.S. Postal Service Postal Inspection Office. “These people are very good at what they do. They send a counterfeit check and if you deposit it and spend it, you’re out that money. And then they hound you for more money and more money.”




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