Author Archives: virginiasmp

Utility scams happen any time of year, but will typically pop up during extreme cold or heat events when many people are more likely to need their heat or air conditioning. Scammers may impersonate water, electric, and gas company representatives, threatening residents and business owners with deactivation of service if they don’t pay up immediately. (ReadContinue reading “Utility impostor scam”

With so many people on social media, it’s no surprise that scammers are there, too. A scammer might, for example, send you a message on Facebook, LinkedIn, or WhatsApp offering a chance to invest in cryptocurrency. But there’s no investment opportunity — just a scammer trying to take your money. (Read More)

In an update to an April 18, 2023, story, Paul Mansour was sentenced to two years in prison for submitting more than $1 million in false and fraudulent claims to Medicare for prescription drugs that were never dispensed to beneficiaries. Read a Department of Justice press release.  Paul Mansour pleaded guilty to submitting fraudulent claims toContinue reading “Update: Pharmacist Sentenced to Two Years”

Jessica, an event planner in Massachusetts, was surprised to discover last December that her 74-year-old mother, Joyce, was deep into text conversations with someone Jessica had never heard of. “My heart was racing,” she says, describing what she was thinking after seeing the Google chat exchanges on her mom’s phone on that Christmas Day. “IContinue reading “How to Keep a Loved One With Cognitive Decline Safe From Scams”

Those who enter sweepstakes and lotteries always await that special phone call notifying them that they’ve won big! Unfortunately, scammers know just how to play into our emotions and are tricking people into paying for prizes they haven’t actually won. BBB has received several reports of phone calls that impersonate Publishers Clearing House to BBBContinue reading “Don’t fall for this sweepstakes scam impersonating Publishers Clearing House”

Some student loan debt relief companies will lie and say they’re affiliated with the Department of Education when they’re not. They want their bogus claims of “guaranteed” loan forgiveness (for a fee) to seem more legitimate (they’re not). (Read More)

In an update to a February 16, 2024, story, Kareem Memon was sentenced to eight years in federal prison. Read a Department of Justice press release.  Kareem Memon admitted his role in a multimillion-dollar durable medical equipment (DME) kickback scheme after previously pleading guilty to carrying out a COVID-19 fraud scheme and being a felon inContinue reading “Update: Felon Sentenced in DME Kickback Scheme”

If you own a house, you’ve probably received postcards declaring, “We want to buy your home.” Or maybe the solicitations arrived by email, robocall or text. You might have seen roadside signs proclaiming, “We Buy Houses” or “Cash for Homes.” Whatever the method, these frequent pitches can seem puzzling and intrusive — and they’re probably not inContinue reading “What to Know About Those ‘We’ll Buy Your Home’ Ads and Mailers”

Many people are looking forward to fun festivals this summer. As usual, scammers are taking advantage of the building excitement. This time, they are cashing in with phony tickets—and even fake events. (Read More)

Providers including Sheldon Rabin and New York Eye Care will pay more than $2.4 million to resolve claims that they billed or caused to be billed false claims for payment to Medicare and Medicaid for certain procedures, tests, and other ophthalmological services that were either unnecessary or could not have been performed because the ophthalmologistContinue reading “Eye Doctor Settles Fraud Claims”