(COLUMBUS, Ohio) — Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray today warned Ohioans about a phone scam targeting Ohio veterans in an attempt to obtain veterans' credit card account information.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), veterans throughout the nation have been receiving calls in which callers claim that they represent Patient Care Group. The caller claims that the VA has recently changed procedures for dispensing prescriptions and asks for the veteran's credit card number. The VA stresses that procedures have not changed and credit card numbers should not be given out over the phone for prescriptions.
Attorney General Cordray reminds all Ohioans to be wary of any call soliciting personal information such as credit card or social security numbers.
"I strongly recommend never giving out personal information over the phone when someone calls you," said Cordray. "Scammers thrive on their ability to catch us off-guard. The best defense in these situations is to play offense. Take control of the conversation and ask the caller if you can call them back. Take the time to research the legitimacy of the call."
Cordray offers the following tips to avoid phone scams:
- Guard your credit card number. Unless you are certain that you are dealing with a reputable organization and you initiated the call yourself, do not give your credit card number over the phone.
- Take your time. If someone tells you to "act now" or to keep the transaction a secret, be skeptical. Don't be pressured into making a rash decision. Talk to trusted family members and friends for advice.
- Get information in writing. Demand that callers send you written information before you send any money. If they refuse, don't trust them. Under Ohio's Telephone Solicitation Sales Act, a purchase is not valid until the telemarketer receives written confirmation from the consumer. Once you get written information, review it carefully and make sure the company has a physical address—not just a P.O. Box. Verify that the address is real.
- Do your research. Check a company's reputation by contacting the Ohio Attorney General's Office and the Better Business Bureau before doing business with them. Before doing business with any company, verify that the company is registered with the Secretary of State to do business in Ohio. Go to www.sos.state.oh.us/SOS/BusinessServices.aspx
- Don't pay to play. No purchase is required to enter or win a contest, except for those involving the state lottery or licensed nonprofit charities.
- Be wary of requests for money orders or wire transfers. If you receive a request to wire transfer money to another country, be careful. Many victims of foreign lottery scams and advance-fee loan scams are instructed to send money via wire transfer, because wire transferring is fast and transfer agents are available in most communities.
- Watch out for phony insurance plans. Some of the worst scams involve the sale of identity theft insurance, telemarketing fraud prevention plans and phony medical plans. Before you sign up, contact the Ohio Department of Insurance to make sure a company is licensed to sell insurance in Ohio.
- When in doubt, hang up the phone. If something seems fishy, it probably is.
- Report suspicious calls. If you suspect fraud, report it to the Ohio Attorney General's office at www.SpeakOutOhio.gov or by calling (800) 282-0515.
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