Never send money to an online love connection

Spring is coming and love may be in the air but beware of romance scams as you begin your online quest for Mr. or Mrs. Right. The pandemic has done a number on peoples' financial and emotional health and as maybe more people turned to the virtual world to make a connection, romance scams reached a record $304 million in losses reported to the FTC in 2020 - which is an increase of about 50% from 2019.

Romance scams may begin with fake profiles on dating apps or social media and they all seem to end in the same way when that person makes up a story about needing money.

Some points to note:

• If a family member or friend tells you about an online love connection, ask if they have met that individual in person.
• If your family member or friend (or you!) have not met the individual in person and they ask for money - it is a scam - even if that individual sends you money or gifts first.
• Only scammers tell people to send money by gift cards, money transfer, or cryptocurrency.

You can report romance scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Know Who's Getting Your Money!

Zelle (and other payment apps like it) are super-convenient ways to get cash quickly to where it needs to go - but always know who is on the receiving end. Scammers are on to this and people are losing money.

Scammers Might:

• Pretend they're having an emergency
• Say they're with the App Company or the Bank
• Trick you into saying you have given them money in the past

You can ABSOLUTELY USE mobile payment apps, just use caution - here are some tips:

• Never send money to someone you don't recognize
• If you get a cash request from someone you do recognize, reach out to them with a known phone number or email address to confirm they are really asking.
• When using a mobile payment app for the first time, it may ask to access your contacts to enable easier payments - you can deny access or delete the app if you don't like that idea.
• If you're suspicious, just call the Bank. 508-627-4266

You can report scams like this to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Scammers Setting Up Fake Charities

War time is no deterrent for scammers to do their thing. Preying on dire circumstances and kind people who just want to help. Your generosity and goodwill need to get to the right place and into the right hands. Here are some tips:

• Research the intended organization online along with search terms such as "review," "scam," or "complaint"
• Check if other people have had good or bad experiences with the charitable organization
• Review if charity watchdog groups have any red flags on the organization
• Don't make a fast decision
• Try to inquire how your money will be spent
• Know who is making the request - just because your friend shared it on social media doesn't necessarily make it valid
• Find out about any fees and how quickly your money can get to the intended destination

If one organization does not give you the answers you need, just look for a different one. Many people need help now and your donations will be greatly appreciated. As always, just use caution. Knowledge is the best defense.

You can report scams to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

People are desperately wanting the COVID-19 vaccine and scammers know it - be aware of their current tactics!

These are all scams:

• You cannot pay to put your name on a vaccine list.
• You cannot pay to get early access to a vaccine.
• No one will call, text, or email you about the vaccine and ask for your credit card, social security, or bank account info.

And keep in mind:

Scammers are taking advantage of the growing confusion around COVID-19 vaccinations and where and how to get them. Here's what to do to protect yourself:

• Contact your local or state health departments for the latest info.
• Ignore sales ads for the vaccine - it is not for sale anywhere and is only available at federal and state approved locations.
• Watch for unusual texts - if you get one, check with your health care provider who supposedly sent it to see if it is legitimate. Same goes for emails or voice mails/calls.

If you are aware of a COVID-19 vaccine scam, report it at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

The US Department of the Treasury and the IRS are in the midst to get a second round of Economic Impact Payments (EIP) to people. It's possible you got your check already - be sure to check your bank account for a direct deposit or your mailbox for a check. Some may get their money on an EIP Visa debit card. Note that the way you received the money the first time may be different the second time.

If you get an EIP VISA debit card, activate it right away by calling 1-800-240-8100 (and you'll have to give the last six digits of your Social Security number). Once the card is activated, it is usable anywhere that accepts VISA debit cards, including online or in a store, or at an ATM to get cash. You can also transfer the money to your personal bank account with no incurred fees. The EIP debit cards expire after three years, but if that happens, you can call customer service and ask for the funds as a check. Visit EIPCard.com for more info.

Important - the government will never call, text, email, or ask you to click on a link to activate your EIP card. Never give anyone your personal or financial information (such as your Social Security or bank account numbers), and do not pay anyone to get your EIP funds. Report any scam immediately to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Martha's Vineyard Hospital is alerting the public to a scam telephone call related to the COVID-19 vaccine. The fraudulent message states the call is coming from Martha's Vineyard Hospital and the caller says this is your last notice to make your COVID-19 vaccine appointment. To do this, the caller is requesting payment information. Martha's Vineyard Hospital is urging people not to engage with the caller and not to give out your personal information.

The Federal Trade Commission is reporting a new scam targeting small businesses that begins with an email claiming to come from the "Small Business Administration Office of Disaster Assistance." The email states that the recipient is eligible for a loan of up to $250,000 and asks for personal information like birth date and Social Security number. A legitimate lender would never say you are "automatically eligible for a loan." Do not respond to this email.

Just like the first round of EIPs last year, the money is meant for a person, not the residential facility they may reside in. The FTC reports that in the first round some nursing homes tried to take the stimulus checks meant for their residents (and seemed more common for those on Medicaid). Be sure to review the situation if you have a loved one who resides in a care facility and you believe they qualified for a stimulus payment.

• How Scammers Tell You to Pay - Scammers often say you've won a price, you owe a debt, or a family member is in an emergency. READ ARTICLE
• Social Security Scams - Scammers pretend to be calling from Social Security and aim to get you to tell them your social security number. READ ARTICLE
• Phishing Scams - Scammers send emails or text messages to fool you into giving them your personal information. READ ARTICLE
• IRS Scams - Scammers pretend to be calling from the IRS, and say they're filing a lawsuit against you for owed taxes. READ ARTICLE
• Fake Check Scams - Scammers ask you to deposit a check for more than the owed amount and send some of the money to another person. READ ARTICLE

1. Spot imposters - Scammers often pretend to be someone you trust, like a government official, a family member, or a charity.
2. Do online searches - Type a company or product name into your favorite search engine with words like "review," "complaint" or "scam."
3. Don't believe your caller ID - Technology makes it easy for scammers to fake caller ID information, so the name and number you see aren't always real.
4. Don't pay upfront for a promise - For things like debt relief, credit and loan offers, mortgage assistance, a job, or a prize.
5. Consider how you pay - Credit cards have significant fraud protection built in, but some payment methods don't.
6. Talk to someone you trust - Before you give up your money or personal information.
7. Hang up on robocalls - Hang up and report it to the FTC.
8. Be skeptical about free trial offers - Research the company.
9. Don't deposit a check and wire money back - If a check you deposit turns out to be a fake, you're responsible for repaying the bank.
10. Sign up for free scam alerts from the FTC at ftc.gov/scams.

• Banks will never ask for your password or pin number in a text message.
• Banks will never ask you to click a suspicious link or provide confidential info in an email.
• Banks will never ask you to verify your pin over the phone.
• Banks will never ask for the following in an email, text, or phone call for any of the following:
  • Your account number
  • Your user name or password
  • Your Social Security Number
  • Your Pin
  • Your Birthday
  • Your Address
  • Share a One-Time Code
  • Fill Out a Form
  • Download an Attachment
  • Reveal a Security Question Answer

Any of the above is a definite RED FLAG. End the call, delete the text, or trash the email.

Pro Tips

• Look for misspelled words
• Call the phone number on your card
• Protect your confidential info
• Beware of scare tactics
• Beware of links

Having a conversation with the seniors in your life about common scams and staying involved in their lives is a great way to start. Check out this link for some more great info on how to help protect our seniors from scams and fraud:

READ ARTICLE

During the past four years, the FTC has logged more than 378,000 reports from veterans - and nearly 161,000 were fraud-related.

FTC Website Info

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• FTC.gov
• IdentityTheft.gov
• DoNotCall.gov
• eConsumer.gov
• AnnualCreditReport.com

If you suspect that you are a victim of identity theft, please CONTACT THE BANK IMMEDIATELY!

After that, visit www.IdentityTheft.gov. It's the federal government's one-stop resource for identity theft victims. The site provides step-by-step guidance, streamlined checklists and sample letters to guide you through the recovery process. If you prefer, you can download the entire kit, or ask a Martha's Vineyard Bank Customer Service Representative to print it for you.