Scams - Money Related (Financial Health)
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Additional resource:
Seniors Vs Crime http://www.seniorsvscrime.com/ Since 1989, Seniors vs. Crime has been a unique and effective group of advocates for Florida’s seniors. The Seniors vs. Crime project, sponsored by the Office of the Attorney General, allows consumer-conscious seniors to be actively involved in protecting their communities and their fellow seniors from becoming victims of consumer fraud. Take a look at the Web site. |
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'SECO Electric Company' Offering Services
A popular scam going around now are people inferring they work with SECO Electric Company for window film, radiant heat panels, solar panels and other similar products. They are not authorized agents of SECO and have no affiliation or recommendation from them. Solution - Call Sr. Vs. Crime before you hire any contractors or buy any major home products/services….there are a lot of fly by night companies out there scamming residents. Source: Welcome Wednesday Apr. 19, 2017 Summary by Joan Testa Tax Scam
Beware of this tax-season scam. For years, unsuspecting taxpayers have lost millions of dollars to scammers who pose as IRS agents to steal their hard-earned money. The scheme goes like this: The IRS imposter calls claiming you owe taxes and demands your immediate payment by prepaid debit card or wire transfer. Refuse and you're threatened with arrest. Here's what you need to know. The IRS does not: • Call to demand immediate payment for taxes owed • Ask for debit or credit card numbers over the phone • Threaten to send local police or other law enforcement to arrest you for nonpayment Source: AARP 3-29-2017 newsletter Email contact: email@email.aarp.org Additional resource: IRS Article: "Taxpayers across the nation face a deluge of these aggressive phone scams. Don't be fooled by callers pretending to be from the IRS in an attempt to steal your money," said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “We continue to say if you are surprised to be hearing from us, then you're not hearing from us.” |
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Tree Trimming Scams
Memo sent out by Commissioner Kussard from Lady Lake but the information has great value to all of us:
Scam 1:
Hurricane season is right around the corner (June-November) and we are now seeing roving trucks stopping at residents houses telling them that their trees are rotten inside, dying or diseased and could fall on their houses if not cut down. They are willing to do the job for either a fairly sufficient amount of money or really cheap. DO NOT fall for this scam. These are unlicensed people soliciting business and most likely are from out-of-state. Do you want someone without the proper insurance and permits working on your tree(s)? What happens if someone falls out of the tree or a limb falls and hits a person or the house and damages the roof or siding? Don't think this can't happen as it has happened.
Scam 2:
Per the Town of Lady Lake police report and Sr. vs Crime report on a firm that is promising to cut down and remove trees from resident’s property….they even write down their name for you to look official but when you give them a check (made out to their personal names, not a business name) they do just a portion of the work and then disappear (with your money, of course). At least two residents of the historic side have paid hundreds of dollars and are left with a huge mess and a partially completed job.
Proper Procedures for Cutting Down Trees
There are procedures that need to be taken when cutting down trees including palm trees. As Villages residents:
- You must submit an application first to the Architectural Review Committee (ARC). That application is located in the Villages Telephone
Book on pages 10-11.
- When that application is approved you must then get a permit from the Community Development Department located in the Lady
Lake Municipal Complex located at 409 Fennell Boulevard.
- Regardless of whether you live in the Villages or outside of the Villages in Lady Lake you must get a permit in order to cut down
a tree. Under most instances the cost is $25 per tree.
Per the Town of Lady Lake police report and Sr. vs Crime report on a firm that is promising to cut down and remove trees from resident’s property….they even write down their name for you to look official but when you give them a check (made out to their personal names, not a business name) they do just a portion of the work and then disappear (with your money, of course). At least two residents of the historic side have paid hundreds of dollars and are left with a huge mess and a partially completed job.
Proper Procedures for Cutting Down Trees
There are procedures that need to be taken when cutting down trees including palm trees. As Villages residents:
- You must submit an application first to the Architectural Review Committee (ARC). That application is located in the Villages Telephone
Book on pages 10-11.
- When that application is approved you must then get a permit from the Community Development Department located in the Lady
Lake Municipal Complex located at 409 Fennell Boulevard.
- Regardless of whether you live in the Villages or outside of the Villages in Lady Lake you must get a permit in order to cut down
a tree. Under most instances the cost is $25 per tree.
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Warning:
Always use reputable/approved tree companies…. I suggest you use the ones that are approved by the City of Lady Lake since their credentials have been verified. The Town of Lady Lake's list of approved tree trimmers and tree removal companies follows:
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Warning: Landscapers, Lawn Services & Tree Trimmers SCAMS: Information provided by Seniors vs Crime (a special project of the Florida Attorney General). (Update Per Welcome Wednesday Apr. 4, 2018) Remember:
- Contractors are not required to have a state license…there is none for these types of businesses in Florida
- The term “licenses and insured” may only mean they have license tags and insurance on their pick-up truck - ask to see proof!
- Ask for a certificate of insurance that shows they have both general liability and workers’ compensation insurance that is current and in force - if one of them gets hurt on your property, you may be liable
- Ask for a copy of their “license”: it probably is just a general business license which anyone can get, not a license to perform certain trades or skills (pest or weed control treatment providers must be licensed by the FL Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services)
- Check with Seniors vs Crime (800-203-3099) or the Better Business Bureau and check references before hiring
- Get as much as possible in writing (details of work to be done, price, guarantee)
- Avoid paying in advance and make payment check out to a company name, not an individual’s name
- Get receipts for all payments
Source: Welcome Wednesday Mar. 1, 2017 Summary by Joan Testa