Contact 6: ATM skimming can lead to identity theft
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in America.
Contact 6: Property closing cost scam
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6's Contact 6 is warning of a scam targeting those paying closing costs on a property."People aren`t very trustworthy these days, and there are a lot of scammers out there today," fraud victim "Betty" said.Betty knows from experience.
FOX6's Contact 6 warning of scams after Boston tragedy
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- In the wake of the bombings on Monday, April 15th at the Boston Marathon, people out there want to take advantage of your giving nature.
Contact 6: Identity thief dies while serving sentence in federal prison
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6's Contact 6 is sharing the story of identity theft that ended when the identity thief died.A connection between the desire for a perfect body and identity theft might seem far-fetched, but it began when the ID thief stole someone's mail."She stole the victim`s info which had been in the mail and she went ahead and contracted various creditors," U.S. Postal Inspector Ivan Ramirez said.The con artist went on a typical shopping spree, buying furniture, new clothes and other items -- but then made one very large unusual purchase."She actually went to a doctor, a medical facility, where she actually charged over $9,000 worth of cosmetic surgery," Ramirez said.The woman's desire for beauty didn't stop there.
Contact 6: Puerto Rican tax scheme
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Tax time is here, and FOX6's Contact 6 says scam artists are at work!"They asked me if I had seen or noticed anything unusual in my neighborhood," Bob, a fraud victim said.Bob said he had noticed suspicious activity in his neighborhood, linked to a multi-billion dollar scam.
Contact 6: Man scammed when renting out his home
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- When big events come to town, like Summerfest or the Harley-Davidson anniversary celebration, some choose to rent out their homes.
Contact 6: Woman loses life savings to financial planner
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6's Contact 6 says when investing your hard-earned dollars, you need to be extra careful about who you trust -- and shares the story of one financial planner who took his clients for millions."All my life savings were gone.
Contact 6: Con men busted for charitable fraud scam
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- In the wake of tragedies like Hurricane Sandy and the shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, relief organizations collect money to help.
Contact 6: Protecting against identity theft
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Identity thieves take your cash and sometimes you don't know for months!
Contact 6: Online makeup site accused of scamming customers
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The internet is the Wild West of buying and selling.
Contact 6: Renters were victims in identity theft case
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Those looking to rent an apartment or home are required to fill out a lot of forms, and FOX6's Contact 6 has a warning about what information is put on those forms.The victims in a recent identity theft case were renters, who had filled out a rental application with personal information."Somebody who worked for the apartment management complex was able to obtain copies of their drivers licenses and their applications and they were given to the defendant," U.S. Postal Inspector Blanca Alvaraz said.The identity thief then went online, and with those dates of birth and social security numbers applied for student loans."They ranged from $25,000 and up," Alvarez said.Postal inspectors got involved because the checks were being sent to vacant addresses."The checks would be picked up the defendant who was stealing the mail," Alvarez said.The next step in this fraud was hiring people who, with fake IDs, would go into banks and cash the student loan checks."The total potential loss in this case was over a half million dollars.
Contact 6: Con men played off older man's loneliness
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6's Contact 6 says those who feel immune from falling prey to con artists should understand that even the brightest and most careful can easily be lured by the promise of big money.Lawrence Hawkins uses these words to describe the con artists at the heart of a scam that cost his father more than $60,000: arrogant, demanding and lying."A few days after my mother died, my father got some sort of letter in the mail, saying she won some multi-million dollars," Hawkins said.To collect the jackpot, Hawkins' father was instructed he first had to pay taxes on the winnings, and the con men kept asking for more."He was paying out like the green grocer - every week," Hawkins said.A telemarketing firm now had Hawkins' information and started soliciting him over the phone as well."It`s really insidious.
Contact 6: Con men stealing identities from mailboxes
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6's Contact 6 says you could be making yourself a target simply by paying bills and placing them in the mailbox!"First you can`t believe it.
Contact 6: Funeral scam hits families during heartbreak
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Most people would rather not think about funerals, whether it be their own or that of a loved one, but FOX6's Contact 6 is warning about a new funeral scam that can hit families in the midst of heartbreak.Clarence Corter thought he put his funeral worries to rest after buying a casket from a company called "Celestial Burials." The 30-year-old veteran found the ad for the casket in a VFW magazine."We ordered a casket with an Air Force insignia on it, and then we ordered one for me too because they were less expensive," Corter said.Several years later, Clarence passed away, so Betty called Celestial Burials."We called the funeral home to let them know the casket would be shipped to them in 24 hours," Betty Corter said.However, that didn't happen.
Contact 6: Tips to protect yourself against identity theft
FOX6′s Contact 6 has tips that could help keep information safe, and keep you from losing thousands to an identity thief!
Contact 6: Identity theft victim shares tips to protect oneself
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6's Contact 6 has tips that could help keep information safe, and keep you from losing thousands to an identity thief!Surveillance photos helped postal inspectors link Andrew Myers -- a former financial advisor to more than 57 cases of identity theft."He stole clients' information and identity profiles from both his customers and his fellow co-workers and then performed changes of addresses and opened various bank accounts in his name," U.S. Postal Inspectors Douglas Biel said.Myers worked for Northwestern Mutual, selling both investments and insurance, but his own quest for money led to his downfall."He was trying to live the high life.
Contact 6: Ponzi scheme investment promises high returns
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6's Contact 6 says it is a scam that comes with a warning that can't be emphasized enough -- whenever an investment promises unusually high returns, run in the other direction!"They said they had this investment opportunity - and it looked like a really good deal," Dennis Sindrey said.Sindrey was one of many victims of an elaborate investment scheme."(The con man) was previously an attorney in Houston, owes over$30 million in back taxes.
Contact 6: Scam targets small business owners
FOX6′s Contact 6 has a warning for small business owners: your client may not be who you think.This scam began with an email order for fliers and business cards — sent to a minuteman press store.
Contact 6: Scam targets small business owners
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6's Contact 6 has a warning for small business owners: your client may not be who you think.This scam began with an email order for fliers and business cards -- sent to a minuteman press store."Everything appeared to be legitimate," Ken Schaeffer said.Then, the payment arrived."We received a postal money order and it was for more than what it should have been," Schaeffer said.Part of the payment was for the printing expenses, owner Steve Schaeffer was told.
Contact 6: Big beauty product sale could have resulted in loss of thousands
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A big beauty product sale made a salesperson suspicious, and it's a good thing instinct took over!