It may be an unsupported or replaced browser. For a more productive experience, use the latest edition of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Microsoft Edge to visit this website.
If this Halloween you’re worried about werewolves, zombies, and vampires, give them a life-size candy bar. What you need to worry about are scammers, hackers, tow truck drivers, and other scammers hoping to take a bite out of your hard-earned money.
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), this criminal monster costs the average American family between $400 and $700 a year in additional insurance premiums.
And this is one of the scariest things about scammers: they look like everyone else. It is not possible to identify them by their tattered clothes, sharp teeth, or distaste for garlic. Instead, those friends look like ordinary roofers and crane drivers, and are often the lovely voice on the other end of the phone or email waiting in your inbox.
In the wake of severe thunderstorms and hurricanes, scammers disguised as valid contractors prey on wrecked neighborhoods and plan to post roofing repair scams. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) warns consumers to beware of fraudulent contractors hoping to take advantage of vulnerable people.
The typical scam goes like this: Let’s say a violent hailstorm hits your community and damages your roof. You are contacted through an unsolicited user (sometimes knocking on your door) claiming to be a contractor. They are offering you a low offer and forcing you to sign a contract without delay and/or pay the money upfront. Sometimes the scammer leaves town with your payment. If repairs are really started it is of poor quality or incomplete paintings with inferior materials.
Here’s a ploy that could turn you into a ghost: After a car accident, someone who wasn’t in the other car files a complaint against you. In fraudulent language, this is called “incorporation” and is not an unusual ploy. .
A typical scam works like this: you are involved in a twist of the car’s fate and exchange insurance data with the other driver. There were no witnesses and police were not called to the scene. Later, your insurance company will inform you that a passenger is reporting injuries and hopes to get a settlement from their auto liability insurance. You are sure that this “injured” passenger is not in the car.
Here’s how to avoid the scam: With no police and no witnesses, it’s your word against theirs. The most productive thing is to collect accurate data about the scene of an accident. Take photos with your phone. Get a count of everyone involved in the car accident, adding drivers and passengers. If possible, get the names and tactile data of everyone involved.
If there are witnesses at the scene of the accident, ask for their contact information. You can call the police and ask them to file a report.
If you believe you are filing a claim against your insurance and are not involved in the car accident, contact your adjuster. Most auto insurance companies have a research unit that looks at those kinds of issues.
There are many unwanted incidents that can leave you stranded on the road, such as a dead battery, a flat tire, or a car accident. To make matters worse, there are unsolicited tow truck drivers waiting for the opportunity to take advantage of a bad situation.
These drivers run as rescuers to the scene of the accident to hit you with an inflated bill. The NICB warned drivers to be on the lookout for bandit cranes.
Here’s how the scam works: Your car is deactivated due to a twist of fate and a random tow truck driver appears. Shaken by the twist of fate, he signs a blank document authorizing the towing, then the driver adds Other charges for that were not mandatory or possibly would not have been made. You find yourself stuck with a big bill.
Here’s how the scam is committed: If you or the police haven’t called the tow truck, don’t deal with the tow truck operator and never give permission to an unsolicited tow truck to take your car. Before docking with a crane, be sure to get a published list of values, adding the daily garage fees and any miscellaneous fees that may apply. If the values seem too high, ask the police or your insurance company to rent you a towing service.
Another smart way to trick tow truck drivers is to purchase roadside assistance insurance, which you can get through your car insurance, car credits, or a car club like AAA.
While many of us have embraced more online communications and shopping, cybercriminals have stepped up our efforts. There have been more than 4,000 ransomware attacks per day since 2016, according to the FBI. That’s a whopping 300% increase from 2015, which saw 1,000 ransomware attacks per day.
Scammers target your email inbox and cell phone to borrow your nonpublic information. They used techniques known as phishing, identity theft, spam and robocalls. Americans lost more than $54 million in phishing scams in 2020, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime. 2020 Report.
Here’s how the scam works: emails, texts, and robocalls are designed to eliminate worry and anxiety. For example, during the pandemic, scammers made false promises about Covid cures and vaccine appointments. The purpose is to trick you into clicking on a link and downloading malware that can then borrow your private data from your phone or computer.
Here’s what you can do about this scam: Don’t open emails, answer phone calls, or answer text messages from others you don’t know. Be careful with links or attachments and do not divulge non-public data (such as passwords or bank and credit card details).
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns that phishing scams can look like a company you know and trust, such as a bank, credit card company, social media site, store, or payment site.
The FTC recommends these 4 anti-phishing steps:
You can also purchase insurance that protects you against cyberattacks:
Jason Metz has worked in the insurance industry since 2007. As a former claims manager and fraud investigator, he has noticed many things and enjoys helping others navigate the complexities and opacity of insurance. She holds a bachelor’s degree in insurance in Criminal Justice from Kutztown University and a master’s degree in fine art writing from the University of California Riverside, Palm Desert.