Two Scam Warnings, Including a New Payment Scam

An “Ask Amy” reader shares her tale of almost being scammed, and a national bank warns customers about a trending payment scam.

Nearly scammed!

Dear Amy:

I receive many phone calls from people claiming to be from Publishers Clearing House telling me that I have won millions of dollars.

I hang up, but then the other day I received a letter telling me I had won $250 million!

Many instructions and phone numbers were included. I wondered where I could verify this without calling any of the phone numbers.

Then I read your column, where there was a letter from a man wondering whether he was involved in a scam. You advised him that he was and gave him ways to check.

I called AARP’s Fraud hotline (877) 908-3360 (also AARP.org).

They were wonderful! A real person answered. I explained my concern and she transferred me to the proper department where I spoke to another real person. She explained that PCH NEVER calls or writes before appearing at a person’s door to announce the win.

Thank you for publishing this information!

Relieved in Hagerstown, MD

Dear Relieved:

Thank you to the AARP, for providing this invaluable service.

Trending payment scam

Bank of America recently contacted customers warning them about a trending payment scam involving mobile payment applications, specifically Zelle.

Here are the details of the “pay yourself” scam

You receive a text message that looks like a fraud alert from your bank about unusual activity. The text may look something like “Did you make a purchase of $100.00 at ABC merchant?”
If you respond to the text, you have now engaged the scammer and will receive a call from a number that appears to be from a bank.
They’ll appear to be a representative from a bank and will offer to help stop the alleged fraud by asking you to send money to yourself with Zelle®.
The scammer will ask you for a one-time code you just received from a bank.
If you give them the code, they will use it to enroll their bank account with Zelle® using your email or phone number.
The scammer now has the ability to receive your money into their account.

What you can do to help stay protected

Don’t trust caller ID — it’s not always who it says it is.
Don’t share codes based on a call you receive.
Don’t be pressured to act immediately.