National Consumer Protection Week.
In celebration of the National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW), March 1 to
March 7, 2020, the Regulatory Commission of Alaska’s (RCA) Consumer
Protection & Information Section and its NCPW partners would like Alaskans to
remember to be on their guard against various fraud and scams.
Share the following information to your colleagues, friends, family, and neighbors.
Word of mouth is powerful!
AARP SLAM THE SCAM Webinar:
March 5, 2020, 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Join AARP’s Slam the Scam Webinar and hear from the Federal Trade
Commission for some commonly impersonated government agencies: Medicare,
the Internal Revenue Service, the Census Bureau, and the Social Security
Administration (SSA). Click on this external link to register for the webinar: AARP
Fraud
Watch Network.
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION'S Facebook Live:
March 5, 2020, 7:00
p.m. Eastern Time. Join the SSA's Office of the Inspector General and learn
how to spot and avoid SSA scams.
FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION:
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
protects consumers and competition by preventing anticompetitive, deceptive,
and unfair business practices through law enforcement, advocacy, and education
without unduly burdening legitimate business activity. See Most Recent Scam
Alerts.
FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION:
The Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) regulates interstate and international communications by
radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable in all 50 states, the District of Columbia,
and U.S. territories. The FCC's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau
develops and implements the FCC's consumer policies, including disability
access. The bureau serves as the public face of the FCC through outreach and
education, as well as through its consumer center, which is responsible for
responding to consumer inquiries and complaints. See
Robocalls
and Other Telephone Scams and video on Spoofing Scams.
LOCAL RESOURCES
Alaska
Department of Law: The Consumer Protection Unit of the Attorney
General’s Office investigates unfair or deceptive business practices and files
legal actions on behalf of the State of Alaska to stop such practices. The
Consumer Protection Unit also engages in informal mediation of consumer
complaints, educates the public about consumer issues, proposes legislation and
regulations regarding trade and business practices, enforces antitrust laws, and
registers telemarketers, charitable organizations, paid solicitors, and sellers of
business opportunities. See News &
Alerts.
Alaska Division of Banking
and Securities: The division regulates state depository and non-depository
financial institutions, administers and enforces Alaska’s financial services laws,
and provides information to consumers, investors, entrepreneurs, and the
financial services industry. The division includes three sections that administer
12 statutory programs. In addition to licensing, examination, and enforcement
duties, division staff answer inquiries, investigates and resolve complaints, and
contribute to education and outreach activities. The division is also part of the
North American Securities Association (NASAA), which issued the 2019 Top Five Investor Threats.
Alaska
Medicare Information Office: The Medicare Information Office provides tips
on how to spot and report Medicare errors, waste, and fraud. Staff also offers
classes and one-on-one counseling to Medicare beneficiaries and their families.
UTILITY RELATED SCAMS
Great Deal on Your Cable? Could be a Trick. The Better Business Bureau is
getting reports of scammers impersonating cable company representatives. Con
artists claim to offer a great deal on your service, but it’s really a way to trick
unsuspecting customers into shelling out hundreds of dollars for nothing.
Refund Ruse. Scammers will claim you overpaid on your utility bill and will
request personal bank account information to refund your money.
Vacate Your Home. Scammers will request you leave your home for them to
install meters or other equipment, leaving your property vacant and susceptible to
easy break-ins.
Power Restoration Fee. In the aftermath of severe storms, scammers will offer
to restore your power more quickly for a fee.
Online Bill Pay and Text. Unexpected emails or texts containing mock links to
online bills. If you click on the link, it can make your mobile device or desktop
computer vulnerable to viruses. Scammers use malware to steal personal
information, send spam, and commit fraud.
Social media posts are telling customers that a charity will pay for their utility
bills if the customer makes a partial payment by money transfer. According to United Utilities against Scams (UUAS)
this new scam is still under investigation by authorities, and it is unclear if the
scammers are seeking money, personal identifiable information, or both.
Homeowners and businesses should also be on their guard from imposters
claiming to be representatives from the RCA. While the RCA regulates public
utilities in Alaska, the RCA does not - and will never - collect utility payments
from customers. Contact your utility company at the phone number shown on
your utility bill if you suspect a fraudulent phone call, text, email, or mail.
Date Issued: 2/28/2020