SACRAMENTO — When coping with a disaster like flooding, wildfires, tornadoes and other weather events, victims find themselves at a loss for where to begin when rebuilding and replacing belongings. Replacing vital documents like birth certificates, drivers’ licenses, Social Security Cards, etc., is another task that can seem daunting. Better Business Bureau warns victims to beware of unsolicited offers of assistance in replacing these essential documents for an upfront fee. You could be dealing with a scammer.
How this scam works
Consumers have submitted reports to BBB Scam Tracker about “lookalike” websites that offer to help with everything from updating postal addresses to renewing or replacing ID cards and documents for an upfront fee. In many instances, they later discovered they could have accomplished their goal for little or no money… and have provided personal information to an unknown third party. Learn how to identify a fake website.
Scammers also continue to call and text people stating they need to replace Medicare, Medicaid or Social Security cards. Those agencies do not operate that way! Here’s how to spot a fake text.
BBB warns you to be mindful of any links you click on when searching for information, so you are not led to a site pretending to be the official agency.
How to avoid falling victim to a fake document replacement scam:
- Confirm the URL before entering personal and financial information. It can be easy to click on a…
