Scams

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How Scams Work
Most scammers will use trust and / or pressure to take immediate action. They target your money, your identity and your insurance. They will separate you from those you trust or encourage that you not share the information with anyone else.

How to Protect Yourself
Do not make a quick decision. Discuss with others before entering the transaction or sharing your information. Do your homework, verify the source, find accredited agencies to clarify any questions and or doubts. Seek the details. If you suspect that you or your loved one has already been scammed, contact Adult Protective Services.

Additional Information

Types of Scams

Grandparent Scams

How it Works: A supposed family member will contact you indicating that they are in trouble, usually in a foreign country and need money quick to get them out of trouble. They may say to you: “Please do not tell (other family members)”. Scammers will have information about the family member and will use this knowledge to gain trust / credibility (remember there is personal information on the internet that many can access from social media sites etc.). Scammers may represent themselves as an attorney or other official to direct where and how money should be sent to save the family member from jail etc.

How to Protect Yourself: Speak with others to verify the status of the family member. Use independent verification to find the real agencies the Scammer is representing them as.

Lottery Scams

How it Works: The scammers will usually send an e-mail or letter, or they may use a phone call indicating that “You Won!” They may even send you a fake check counting on banks to honor the original deposit. It is not until the bank tries to clear it that you find out that the check is not real. Usually the scammers request you to pay the taxes on the prize.

How to Protect Yourself: Do not provide your bank account information.

The best solution is to request that they take the taxes directly out of your prize and send the rest. Ask your bank if what you have received is a valid check because you have some concerns prior to withdrawing any funds from the check.

Deceased Relative Scams

How it Works: Someone is notifying you of a long lost relative who recently passed away and left you in their will or estate. They use similar tactics to those of Lottery scam usually wanting you to pay taxes or provide bank account information.

How to Protect Yourself: Verify the source independent of the caller.

IRS Scams

Consult the IRS site for latest and older scams.

Home Improvement or Contractor Scams

How it Works: Individuals will come to your door claiming to be able to make repairs that are often not needed or overpriced. Scammer will want payment prior to working.

How to Protect Yourself: Verify and check customer references. Seek multiple bids. Obtain written contract and verify Contractor license and check Better Business Bureau.

Veterans Benefits Scams

How it Works: Advisers at retirement centers use aggressive marketing tactics and promise to obtain veterans benefits for residents of independent-living communities. These "Aid and Attendance" benefits are limited to eligible seniors in assisted living facilities or home care only. Some services may illegally charge fees to help veterans obtain benefits.

View a related news article

How to Protect Yourself: Apply directly to the county veterans services office for benefits. If you have been issued an overpayment letter by the VA within the last 30 days, contact your local county veterans services office to ask about getting a waiver based on financial hardship.

CalFresh Call Center Scam

How it Works: The scammers make an unsolicited phone call to you from what appears to be the SNAP (CalFresh) toll free information line (1 (800) 221-5689) requesting personal information offering assistance for filling out a SNAP application or other non-SNAP related services such as home security systems.

How to Protect Yourself: Never provide personal information or your credit card number over the phone to unsolicited callers. If you suspect that you are receiving illegitimate calls from 1 (800) 221-5689 you may file a complaint with the FCC.

If you have already fallen victim to this or a similar scam, please visit the Federal Trade Commission website for more information on identity theft.

Kern County, CA