This morning I was awakened by a telephone caller who politely asked "Mr. X please? May I speak to X?" I replied "Yes, this is he; who is this?" She said: "You need to verify that this is X first; please tell me the last 4 numbers of your Social Security!" "WHAT?" She repeated the request and I again asked her who she was and only got the same request to disclose my 'last 4'. At which point I told her that she was absolutely crazy and told her to send me a letter.
BEWARE! The scammers are really cranking it up early for Christmas!
By Cajun from Collinsville
This page contains the following solutions.
With the vast of spam/scam/viruses out there, sometimes you get bad messages that appears to be real. Always remember, no real message will ask for any of your private information.
You shouldn't have to cough up cash to be able to work for a company. Start-up investments are for the birds.
I just have to write to let everyone know that I'm so tired of getting phone calls from people pretending to be from the law asking for money...My husband is a deputy sheriff an I know first hand they do NOT ever ask for money over the phone. So many people thinking these phone calls are on the up an up an give their hard earned money to these "people" are just plain taken from these scams...there are so many scams out there any more its terrible. Please do everyone a favor an address this issue ... It just makes me so mad that these people will take money, or even worse they ask for people credit card numbers, ect. People think that just because these people say they are with any law agancy thats its ok...its NOT. Thank you.
If you receive a phone call or automated phone call telling you your credit card information has been compromised, do not call them back. Read on . . .
We received an email today that some of you may receive. We have many spam filters in place and this one made it through. The subject is "Important News About Your Bank Account." Because the address it was sent to has no relation to a bank account I was suspicious. It claims that in cooperation with the Office of Homeland Security FDIC insurance has been denied to our the bank account.
"WARNING! Fraudulent e-mails purportedly from the FDIC are circulating. Do not respond to any requests for personal account information. See Special Alert."
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Can a company like Utility Management Association be a scam? I wonder, because in fact they got financing from companies like GE and Wells Fargo.
By Daniel from Lenoir, NC
I'd call the BBB (better business bureau)and ask if any complaints have been filed against them.
First off I have never heard of them. If you go to google.com and put in "Utility Management Association" the first thing that comes up is a complaint...even before the link for their official site. On their official site on the left is a link for them being in good standing with "Online Business Bureau"...never heard of them...google that and it comes up with complaints/scam. Looked up UMA on the BBB site and they aren't accredited through them at all.
On any business if you google the name of company then add: scam or complaints or review etc it should give you a good idea of how they stand. When typing UMA's name into google search box before I even finished typing the auto complete had already suggested scam, BBB so apparently others are having the same questions about them.
Call your state's Public Service Commission. We had a scam in our state a few years ago with one of the natural gas providers. The other company who enrolled people for lower rates were scammers, and they worked out a deal with our local provider.
It is important to be cautious of anyone contacting you via telephone. There are many criminals who use fraudulent tricks to get personal information, which can result in identity theft or credit card fraud.
