you to send money by Western Union or MoneyGram, or by getting a prepaid ... doing yard work, make sure you LOCK YOUR HO
September—Dec 2017
2017
Fake Publishers Clearing House scams Most of us have seen those ads with Publishers Clearing House knocking on someone’s door with balloons and a big check for millions. It’s a life-changing moment marked by joyous tears. Dreams are about to come true.
Email:
[email protected]
Publishers Clearing House and the FTC have both gotten many reports about scammers using the Publishers Clearing House name to deceive people. Scammers call, claiming you’ve won the sweepstakes – but, to collect your prize, you need to send money to pay for so-called fees and taxes.
847-289-2626
Community Outreach Specialist & Elderly Service Officer
Written by: Cherie Aschenbrenner
ELGIN POLICE DEPARTMENT
But the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) wants to be sure your tears are not sad ones and the dream doesn’t wind up being a nightmare, because scammers are pretending to be Publishers Clearing House and tricking people into sending them money.
Paying to collect a prize is a scam. Every time. And scammers like to ask you to send money by Western Union or MoneyGram, or by getting a prepaid card or gift card, like Amazon Gift Card or Itunes card. Why? Because it’s nearly impossible to trace that money – and you’ll almost never get your money back. If you think you’ve won a prize, here are a few things to know: Publishers Clearing House will never ask you to pay a fee to collect a prize. In fact, no legit prize promoter will ever charge you to win. If anyone calls asking you to pay for a prize, hang up and report it to the FTC. Never send money to collect a prize. It’s a scam. And here’s another insider tip: Publisher's Clearing House doesn’t call ahead to say you’ve won. Did you send money to a prize scammer, or know someone who has? Report the loss immediately to the company you paid through (Western Union, MoneyGram, the prepaid or gift card company). And then tell the FTC. And, if you wired money to a scammer via Western Union between January 1, 2004 and January 19, 2017, you might be eligible for a refund.
Midwest Region— Federal Trade Commission, 55 West Monroe Street, Suite 1825 Chicago IL 60603 By phone: toll free 877-FTC-HELP (382-4357); 9:00 am to 8:00 pm Eastern Time, Monday through Friday;
Be sure to sign up for the Fall Senior Safety Academy being held at the Senior Service Associates Bldg at 205 Fulton in Elgin. Just call Elgin Township at 847-741-2045. You do not need to reside in Elgin to attend…. just be 55 years old or older. What great topics …. So much to learn….tell a friend!
Do you know of a veteran that Elgin Township TRIAD can recognize at our Day of Honor? If so, please have them or a family member call to register them. If you would like to attend this recognition, call the number on the flyer to register. You MUST call to REGISTER!
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Writte n by: C he rie Asche nbre nner
A good time was had by all at the Elgin Twp TRIAD picnic at Willow Lake Estates on July 27th. We had good food, good music and so many wonderful raffle prizes. Due to possible rain in the forecast we hade to move inside the clubhouse. Don’t miss it next year! Fingers crossed for sunshine!
Now the bad news…. We recently had a “ruse entry” happen to one our elderly residents in Elgin. The resident was outside doing some yard work when she was approached by a white male who claimed to be a roofing contractor. The subject was accompanied by two other white males who stood at a distance. The first male subject told the elderly resident that his father replaced her roof many years ago and noticed it had some loose shingles that needed attention. He offered to repair them if she could fetch a pail of hot water. The elderly resident agreed and entered her home and went downstairs to the basement for the bucket and half way back up stairs she was intercepted by the same suspect who asked if she needed help. She never invited him into her home. He then followed her back outside and kept her distracted with small talk. After several minutes he told her he needed to go get a ladder and never came back. Afterwards she noticed that valuables were missing from inside her home. THIS IS THE CLASSIC ruse entry. One person approaches you….making up a story, keeping you busy, getting you to go to basement, or outside in the backyard showing you something, making small talk, etc. while one or two others will enter your home and go straight to your master bedroom looking for money and jewelry. Please don’t trust people who approach you outside or come to your door and makes up stories such as “my father put on your roof years ago” or “your neighbor is putting up a fence and I need you to come outside and show me the lot line”, “we work for the City and hit water lines, can we come in and have you run water for us in the basement”, etc. The lies and stories are endless. You need to be vigilant and NOT fall for these lines. NO ONE COMES IN YOUR HOUSE and YOU DO NOT GO OUTSIDE FOR ANYONE. As in the above case, they approached her while she was outside. If you are outside doing yard work, make sure you LOCK YOUR HOUSE and keep the key in your pocket. Tell the person you are NOT interested in what they are offering and go inside and call the police. Let us come out and ask them for their ID’s to see what they “really” want. Chances are, they will leave abruptly. Always call us for any suspicious activity. 847-289-2700 September—Dec 2017
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