Santa Cruz County District Attorney, Bob Lee, is warning residents to beware of work at home schemes.
The postcards to Santa Cruz job seekers sound promising:
•Urgent: it is important that you call me immediately
•How I….secretly made MILLIONS and retired before the age of 30, all in the “bad economy” of the last four years.
•Immediately respond to avoid disappointment
•Final Notice
A retired Santa Cruz schoolteacher received the green postcard which told him to call 800-725-4293 to find out the secrets of making millions. He was invited to listen to a recorded phone message. The salesperson at the company called LMI Direct told him that for only $9.95 for postage, he could have a trial period of the Secret Blueprint to make millions from home. He agreed to the $9.95 and provided his Visa number as requested.
The retiree took one look at the package they sent, realized it was an overpriced scam, and immediately returned it to LMI Direct. He thought that was the end of it. Next he received a charge of $299.75 on his bank account from the company, and weeks later another $299.75. There were an additional four charges over three months, all totaling $1,798.50, none of which he agreed to.
With the assistance of his credit union, he was able to get the fraudulent charges reversed, but it took five months to investigate his claims and to receive the credit to his account.
The Federal Trade Commission brought seventy actions against Deceptive Business Opportunity Schemes. The federal crackdown is called, Operation Lost Opportunity and targets scams that have taken millions of dollars from two million consumers.
The Santa Cruz District Attorney’s Consumer Affairs Division warns residents to be wary of business opportunities, especially those requiring money up front:
Companies that are looking to hire people to work at home never ask them to send money.
Don’t ever give your credit or debit card over the phone for a Business Opportunity or for a “prize” offer.
Beware of telemarketing calls, postcards, or emails that say “Final Notice” or create a sense of urgency
Mystery Shoppers Wanted ads are common internet scams. They are not real offers to work.
For more information, call the Consumer Affairs office at 454-2050.