Bronson Urges Citizens To Avoid Oil Spill Scams
For Information, Contact:
Terence McElroy
(850) 488-3022
July 2, 2010
TALLAHASSEE – Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today advised consumers to be on the lookout for any scams arising out of the British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
While Bronson’s Consumer Services Division has yet to receive any complaints or uncover any fraud involving the oil spill, analysts and investigators with the agency are working closely with the Federal Trade Commission and other states to thwart any problems that may occur.
Still, based on previous experiences in dealing with major events like the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Gulf War and major hurricanes, Bronson said it is likely that scam artists are now or soon will be at work to profit from the oil spill.
“Unfortunately, while the public’s attention is focused on an event like this and citizens pull together to do what they can to help, it is almost inevitable that con artists will emerge to exploit the situation in an effort to enrich themselves,” Bronson said.
Toward that end, the Commissioner stressed that it is important to avoid providing any personal financial information to unsolicited requests for assistance or offers for help from organizations or entities with which you are not familiar. Also, check out any organizations that you are considering making a contribution to or from which you are seeking assistance, Bronson said.
Among scams to be on the lookout for:
- BOGUS CHARITIES – Unsolicited e-mails or phone calls asking for contributions, coupled with high-pressure pitches for contributions, are often warning signs of a charity scam. Legitimate charities rarely engage in such tactics. Before giving to any charity with which you are unfamiliar, call the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1 800 HELP FLA (435-7352) or check the Division of Consumer Services’ website at www.800helpfla.com to determine if an organization is registered with the department and to check its complaint history.
- FRAUDULENT EMPLOYMENT OFFERS – Many employees have been impacted or displaced by the oil spill, and both BP itself and other organizations involved in the massive cleanup may be hiring temporary workers. But beware of any organization or business that sends unsolicited e-mails offering jobs, especially ones that request personal financial information such as a social security number, bank account or credit cards. With that information, a scam artist can clean out your bank account or open a line of credit in your name.
- UNSOLICITED LOAN OFFERS OR OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE WITH CLAIM FORMS – BP has pledged to pay all cleanup costs associated with the oil spill and all legitimate claims for employees or businesses that are able to document financial losses as a result of the environmental disaster. Other citizens who are ineligible for reimbursement may be forced to seek loans from banks or other financial institutions if they have been negatively impacted by the oil spill. But what consumers should be on the lookout for and avoid are unsolicited offers for loans or assistance in filling out reimbursement claim forms. Again, any unsolicited offer that asks consumers for personal financial information is a red flag for a potential fraud, which could enable con artists to clear out your bank account or open a line of credit in your name.
Bronson believes that it is commendable that Floridians want to do all they can to restore the Gulf Coast to its pre-spill condition by donating money to worthy causes, volunteering their time and even working in paid positions involved in the cleanup. And it is inevitable that some citizens whose livelihoods have been negatively impacted by the incident need significant assistance.
“But it is critical that citizens who want to help deal with legitimate organizations and that those who need assistance deal with businesses and financial institutions that will help, not hurt them,” Bronson said.
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