Author Archives: virginiasmp

In an update to an April 19, 2023, story, Kristal Glover-Wing was sentenced to six years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for conspiracy to commit health care fraud and three counts of health care fraud. She was also ordered to pay almost $3.7 million in restitution. Read a Department of Justice pressContinue reading “Update: Hospice Owner Sentenced”

Last year, Pittsburgh resident Molly Sinclair, 54, suddenly received ominous-sounding messages from two local banks where she’s a customer. One warned her that her account had been locked because of unusual activity, and instructed her to click a link in order to verify the transaction. The other simply said that her account was locked, andContinue reading “Bank Impersonation Is the Most Common Text Scam: What You Need to Know”

If you want solar panels, be very careful when evaluating installation offers. Con artists use misleading sales tactics and lies to trick homeowners out of money and personal information. If you’ve received an offer for “free solar panels,” it could be a scam. Always look for businesses you can trust – like Accredited Businesses using theContinue reading ““Free solar panels” can cost you big time! How to spot a phony offer and find a trustworthy business”

If you meet someone on social media or a dating website or app, how can you tell if their profile is real? They say they’re in the military — but scammers especially like to pose as military servicemembers stationed overseas. What’s the best way to spot a fake? (Read More)

In an update to a November 7, 2023, story, Gustavo Kinrys was sentenced to over eight years in prison. Read a Department of Justice press release.  Psychiatrist Gustavo Kinrys, who owned and operated Advanced TMS Associates, was convicted of billing Medicare and private insurance companies for over $11 million in treatments he did not provide andContinue reading “Update: Psychiatrist Sentenced to Over Eight Years”

As Michael Bruemmer, 65, shopped for a Christmas tree at a Kiwanis lot near his Austin, Texas, home, a voter registration volunteer approached him with an iPad, wanting to register him for the next election. The registration ploy was a scam, but unbeknownst to the scammer, Bruemmer was not an easy target: He’s a fraudContinue reading “Four Common Election Scams to Avoid This Year”

Use caution when hiring a home improvement contractor, especially following a major storm, flood, or weather event when many homeowners are trying to repair their homes. However, contractor scams can happen anytime, so be wary of high-pressure sales tactics, upfront fees, and fly-by-night businesses. Con artists will take homeowners’ money and deliver (or not deliver) less than qualityContinue reading “Home improvement scammers take money, don’t complete work”

Wondering if you need an international license to drive in a country you’re visiting? Every country has its own rules for visitors who want to drive. In some, like Canada, your U.S. driver’s license is all you need. Other countries require you to get an International Driver’s Permit (IDP). Scammers try to confuse you with fake IDPsContinue reading “Planning to drive in another country? Here’s how to avoid International Driver’s Permit scams”

Five individuals were arrested on criminal charges related to their roles in a years-long scheme to defraud Medicare of more than $15 million through sham hospice companies and then to launder the fraud proceeds. According to an indictment, three of the defendants misappropriated the identifying information of doctors, claiming to Medicare that the doctors hadContinue reading “Five Arrested in Hospice Case”