Last year’s top scams still linger

McHenry County Sheriff’s Lt. Andy Zinke got an interesting e-mail recently when he was trying to sell a car online.

The sender claimed to represent a buyer in another country and offered to send a check for twice Zinke’s asking price as long as he gave some of the money back.

“Are you kidding me?” Zinke remembered thinking.

He didn’t take the unknown sender up on the offer – and you probably shouldn’t either, if you get a similar e-mail. Often the check that the scammer sends is a counterfeit that the victims’ bank will not honor. But before the check is rejected, the victim already has sent the refund check and lost the money.

Variations of this check-sending scam, identity theft, and mortgage rescue fraud were among the most popular consumer scams in the area last year. Some said they likely would become more prevalent in light of the poor economy.

“It’s just going to keep getting worse,” Zinke said. “People have to have common sense. If the deal looks too good, it is.”

The sheriff’s office received a few reports this summer from elderly residents who received an international call from someone claiming to be a friend or relative needing money. 

The victims did, but tracking down the criminals, who likely were using false names, is virtually impossible, Zinke said.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s staff has been combating identity theft and fraudulent mortgage practices, spokeswoman Natalie Bauer said.

Madigan’s Consumer Protection Division staff has not compiled statistics for 2008, but identity theft complaints comprised about 20 percent of the 32,577 consumer complaints that they received in 2007. Some 900 complaints were mortgage-related, with most alleging either fraud at the time the loan documents were completed or sketchy mortgage rescue efforts.

In November, Madigan filed lawsuits against seven mortgage-rescue companies that allegedly promised to help homeowners who are behind on payments to reduce their payments and save their home. Generally, they accepted an up-front payment, which became illegal Jan. 1, 2007, but do no work on the customer’s behalf. Madigan has sued 22 such companies total since 2006.

“Consumers need to resist these offers of quote ‘rescue,’ ” Bauer said. “It’s important that consumers reach out to trusted organizations.”

Madigan offers hotlines for both troubled homeowners and people with identity theft concerns. A consumer advocate can help identity-theft victims figure out how to report the fraud to their creditors, review their credit report for problems and file a police report.

To prevent identity theft, Madigan suggests shredding bills and other papers with personal information when they are no longer needed, avoiding giving out your Social Security Number unless absolutely necessary and handling mail soon after it’s delivered rather than letting it gather.

Were you a scam victim?
• Get help with identity-theft issues through Illi­nois Attorney Gen­eral Lisa Madigan’s hotline at 866-999-5630.

• Madigan’s Homeowners’ Referral Helpline at 866-544-7151 provide reputable referrals for HUD-certified housing counselors.

• Consumer complaint forms are available online at www.illinois attorney general.gov/consumers.

• Complaints about Internet-related fraud can be made at www.ic3.gov/default.aspx.