Recently residents of Tulare County have been receiving letters from outside the United States announcing winners of international lottery programs. The letters sound official, indicate a large amount of money is waiting and give a deadline for a response. The letter asks for banking information as well as information about your relatives. Beware! These are scams with the purpose of…
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The Office of the Tulare County District Attorney, Phil Cline, District Attorney, the Elder Abuse Prosecution Program and the Elder Abuse Advocacy and Outreach Program issue the following warning: Individuals and groups of individuals have been calling and approaching citizens in Tulare County offering to make repairs or handle major maintenance projects on homes. Elderly…
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We have recently become aware of credit card offers that are not quite what they appear to be. If you receive an offer of credit that requires you to submit a “processing” or “membership” fee along with your signature on an acceptance certificate, think twice. These offers may restrict your use of qualified credit to…
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According to the Federal Trade Commission, Internet auction fraud has become a significant problem. Most consumer complaints center on sellers who: * Don’t deliver the advertised goods;* Deliver something far less valuable than they advertised;* Don’t deliver in a timely way; or* Fail to disclose all the relevant information about the products or terms of…
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Identify the seller and check the seller’s feedback rating. Remember, some unscrupulous sellers may input their own feedback rating to deceive buyers. Be sure you understand what you are bidding on, its relative value and all terms and conditions of the sale, including the seller’s return policies and who pays for shipping. Establish your top…
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Try to work it out directly with the buyer or the auction web site. If that doesn’t work, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission by calling toll-free 1-877-FTC-HELP or visiting the FTC’s web site at www.ftc.gov. Although the Commission cannot resolve individual problems for consumers, it can act against an individual or company if…
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Provide an accurate description of the item you are selling, including all terms of the sale and who will pay shipping costs. Respond quickly to any questions bidders may raise during the auction. Contact the high bidder as soon as possible after the auction closes to confirm details of the sale. Ship the merchandise as…
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