National Consumer Protection Week

Local Law enforcement and the Dept. of Corporations ask consumers to always be vigilant to consumer fraud and to be wary of high tech convenience.

No doubt March brings with it not only the first sprout of spring, with all that green and new beginnings, people are eager to spend money, especially their tax refunds.

The California Dept. of Corporations dedicated the first week of March as National Consumer Protection Week. “National Consumer Protection Week is really an annual reminder to consumers to make time to assess their finances and take precautions to defend their family from fraud,” said Jan Lynn Owen, Commissioner of the Department of Corporations. “The Department offers a variety of resources to assist Californians in protecting their personal financial health,” she said as she released a statement to the press asking consumers to commemorate this awareness-week promotion. The Consumer Protection Week was honored this past March 3rd to March 9th.

Financial education events are listed for this week and throughout the year at the Department’s Outreach Events Calendar. “These occasions a great opportunity to help the public to be aware of consumer fraud. Yet really, every week should be a ‘consumer protection week,’ said Leyes when he talked with this reporter by phone from the Dept. of Corporations office in Sacramento.

As Director of Communications for the Department, Leyes gets the latest deails of all sorts of scams and schemes aimed at bilking everyday people of their earnings and savings. Leyes wanted to reach the local press, such as The Peninsula Progress to remind people that consumer fraud is on-going.

“It can simmer down for a while, but with each new technology or trend, schemers and scams emerge,” said Sergeant Bruce McPhillips of the South San Francisco Police Dept. In his work as Community Relations Coordinator for SSFPD, McPhillips knows all too well the tricks and foibles of those out to steal from and swindle people.

Locally, as you may recall, this past fall, “we caught and apprehended a ring of credit card thieves at a motel near SFO airport.” “That was a sophisticated operation that used the latest technology to not only steal credit cards but they were making credit cards, placing information on magnetic strips,” he said.

As technology advances so does the criminal attempts to hack into or use that technology to steal from people. McPhillips noted, “the banks and credit card companies might not like to hear this but transponder technology for all its convenience such as the ‘tap and go’ purchase feature on some credit cards, is vulnerable to hackers.”

Anything that has electronically stored information on it such as a USB or ‘Flash-Drive’ is subject to being tampered with by clever thieves who know how to access it, mentioned McPhillips. While technology is a marvel and can make things easier, it is not completely foolproof.

“Often times people lean too much on the conveniences that modern technology provides not realizing that such conveniences can make people more vulnerable,” McPhillips said.

Leyes agreed with McPhillips as he said, yes, this is true and Officer McPhillips has some good advice.” “As much as it is human nature to want more conveniences, Leyes said, people need to be smart and more aware about the downside and how such conveniences can make consumers more vulnerable.”

One such convenience that people use is payday loan or check cashing outlets. “There are several of these outlets along Grand Ave here in South San Francisco and while Grand Ave is safe and well patrolled by our units, we are still reminding people to be aware,” said McPhillips.

“With tax season now upon us many people will be getting tax refunds and often workers and those who don’t use banks much will go to a check cashing or pay-day loan outlet to cash their refund checks,” said McPhillips. “Be vary wary of the surroundings. Thieves often prey on people cashing checks and as they walk out with cash in hand they are robbed. “Some check cashing places do not have as much security and surveillance as banks do. And, this makes it easier for thieves to be on the prowl for unsuspecting consumers eager to get their tax refunds,” said McPhillips.

Leyes also pointed out that if using a check cashing or payday loan outlet, “be wary of the ‘one-stop-shop’ or ‘all-in-one’ type of service, because in over-selling to customers these places can tack on fees and charges for each transaction. “It is always best for consumers to do as much for themselves as possible, having a third or fourth party step into a simple transaction such as paying a utility bill for example is providing an invitation for customers to be over-charged,” Leyes said.

McPhillips also noted that many times those who do not use banks as much are laborers and migrant workers who do not speak English. “This portion of the population is very vulnerable to schemes and theft to rob them of their hard-earned money,” he said.

Whether it is cashing a check or being cheated from a winning lotto ticket, those who do not speak English and are not acquainted with banks can easily be mislead by seemingly friendly but yet shrewd and unscrupulous thieves. They often prey on the non-English speaking communities. “Many times non-English-speaking people are afraid or embarrassed to step forward to report a swindle or theft,” said McPhillips. SSFPD provides an outreach to the non-English speaking communities to let them know they can turn to the police for help and provide crime prevention information workshops.

The California Department of Corporations has developed several programs and publications to help protect families in their financial dealings. These resources are available at the Department of Corporations web site (www.corp.ca.gov).

South San Francisco Police are always vigilant to protect the community and urge citizens to report any suspicious activities involving consumer fraud or identity theft.  As McPhillips pointed out, “high tech capabilities are great and convenience can be a comfort. But no convenience is worth the risk of being vulnerable to schemes, fraud and theft,” he said. To report consumer fraud in our local area contact the Investigations unit of the SSFDP at: 650-877-8910.