How To Avoid Traffic Ticket Scams

A police officer sits in her cruiser flipping through papers with a pen in her hand

Traffic ticket scams are on the rise, and they go something like this: you get a ticket in the mail that includes a picture of your license plate running a red light. But you don't remember being at the intersection named in the ticket. Dozens of victims have reported receiving traffic tickets in the mail that appear legitimate but are actually part of a scam. Our network of attorneys through our Legal Protection Plans for Individuals & Families can answer your questions and give you advice for your specific situation. In the meantime, if you receive a traffic ticket in the mail, here are six ways to tell if it is real:

Carefully Read The Whole Ticket

A careful read of the entire ticket and anything else that comes with it may give you clues as to the legitimacy of the ticket. One woman noticed that the supposed date of the traffic infraction was on February 30th, for instance. Some clues aren't as blatant as that obvious lie, though, so try to remember where you were on the date in question, whether you were near the location named on the ticket, or if you even drove that day. Taking a few minutes to really read through what you've been sent can reveal the scam right away.

Contact The Authorities

Don't call the number listed on the ticket you received, but call the local law enforcement where the infraction supposedly occurred. Do a quick web search to get the proper contact information and compare it to the numbers you received. When you call, make sure to ask if the number printed on the ticket you were mailed is an actual number for the law enforcement agency in question. The police will be able to tell you whether the ticket is valid and take a report for your false ticket, as well, if the ticket is not legitimate.

Don't Click Any Links

If the ticket came to you via email, it is almost certainly a scam and visiting any link sent to you is taking a risk of the scammers stealing your personal information or installing malware on your machine without you knowing. Clicking on links can also lead to identity theft or scamming you out of money.

Don't Reveal Personal Information

Make sure to investigate by calling the law enforcement agency supposedly responsible for your ticket to verify its veracity before filling out any forms with your personal information, such as credit card information, Social Security numbers, your address, or any other sensitive information. Legitimate law enforcement will not ask for this kind of information (outside of your name) or your credit card  or other payment information over the telephone.

Make Sure All Web Sites Are Official

Only pay tickets online through official web sites that begin with "https." The "s" tells you that web site is secure.

Get Legal Advice

Criminals are always looking for new ways to steal honest people's money and information, so it is critical that you protect yours and your family's privacy, rights, and personal information. Getting legal advice in cases such as this is easy with our Legal Protection Subscription Plans; asking questions doesn't cost you anything more than your monthly subscription fee.

Scams aren't always easy to spot, and even vigilant people are sometimes taken in. With ticket scams like these on the rise, having a lawyer in your pocket is a real benefit. Get legal support, consultation, answers, and advice from our network of dedicated, experienced lawyers for just $29.95 per month. Learn more about all the benefits of our plans or sign up today!

Avoiding Pitfalls of Online Sports Betting

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As sports seasons come and go, millions of fans obsess over brackets, picks, and put down real money on the outcome of games and matches. It is now legal in many states to engage in online sports betting, and the industry is growing exponentially. Americans wagered nearly $53 billion last year and the online sports betting industry doubled in size. As when any market grows, legal questions come with it. You can always talk to your attorney through our Legal Protection Plans about any legal questions you may have regarding online gambling (or any other legal questions), but in the meantime, here are four things to remember about online sports betting.

Laws Governing Online Gambling Will Vary From State to State

Nearly half of states have legalized online gambling, but the rules vary depending on where you are; in some states, it's still illegal entirely. The first thing to know is if online gambling is legal where you live. Next, look up the laws in your state, even if it is legal, because the laws, rules, and regulations over online gambling are changing all the time. If you have questions about online sports betting laws in your state, you can consult with your lawyer.

Make Sure The Sports Book You're Using Is Reputable

Don't commit to the first sports book you find, particularly if you're new to online betting. Reputable sports books are more reputable and reliable, and they are more secure. Research any site you're considering, read reviews, and check with the BBB and other review sites to make sure they're legitimate before committing to anything.

Know Your Withdrawal Options

Some sites will require a deposit before allowing you to place bets, and they make withdrawing your winnings difficult. When this happens, it's usually one of two reasons: either withdrawals are not allowed in your state or the site may be a scam or fraud scheme. Because of this, really understanding how gambling sites are allowed to operate in your state - if at all - is extremely important (see above).

Protecting Your Personal Information

It's always important to protect your identity online, and, in a newer industry like online sports betting, there can be scammers in places you might not think of, eager not only to steal your money, but your data and identity, as well. Make sure to keep your passwords long and complicated (this makes them hard to hack), change all your passwords every couple of months, and research any company where you make an account to make sure that use security and encryption and have statements on how your data will be used. We also offer an Identity Theft Protection Service that many be of interest if you plan on participating in online gambling.

If you ever have questions about the legal aspects of life online, you can contact your attorney 24/7 with your questions and get answers, information about your rights, and get legal advice about online gambling, identity theft protection, and many more topics, all for one low, monthly fee of $29.95 for families and individuals. Learn more about our Legal Protection Subscription Plans or Sign Up Now!

Legal Implications of the Metaverse

A woman stands in a corner facing the camera with colorful computer code projected on her face

The term "metaverse" is suddenly everywhere, but what does it really mean? While tech gurus are calling it the "future of the Internet," in more concrete terms, the metaverse is made up of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) technologies, creating worlds where users can work, hang out, go to concerts, play games, engage in ecommerce, and more. People are represented in the metaverse by their avatars, which is a custom picture or animation that represents each person in the virtual world. Some current examples of the metaverse are the holograms in Microsoft Mesh and the upcoming releases of various features of the Facebook (now Meta) metaverse. The metaverse will bring in its own set of unique legal challenges. Read on for a little information on some of them:

Crime In The Metaverse

Creating a virtual world where people can do almost everything they can do in the real world, one element that, without some kind of legal safeguards, could cause problems, is crime, such as scams, cyberbullying, fraud, and more. There is currently no legal framework for this kind of crime.

Security & Privacy

The incoming wave of computer generated content will be massive, and will include such things as avatars, virtual goods, and more new forms of data and user information. Because the concept of the metaverse as a reality in our changing world is so new, there are a lot of unanswered questions surrounding security and consumer privacy when it comes to those troves of data.

Intellectual Property

The metaverse will both create opportunities and cause problems when it comes to the realm of copyrights, patents, trademarks, branding, and other forms of intellectual property. Changes to intellectual property laws will be inevitable as the metaverse grows.

E-Commerce

Online transactions in the metaverse will most likely take place using cryptocurrencies and NFTs (non-fungible tokens), and, right now, a large percentage of the population doesn't really know about or understand either of these concepts. While educating people about how these kinds of currencies work will be a monumental task, there are legal questions that go along with this kind of trading system, such as how laws will differ when purchasing or selling virtual goods. Since virtual real estate is already an NFT, will real estate laws in their present form apply in the metaverse? What about real world trespassing laws if an avatar uses your virtual real estate without permission? Will you be able to mortgage a virtual home? While these issues may make people laugh today, in the very near future - estimates say within the next 5 to 10 years - they may be a very real problem.

Ultimately, the metaverse is too new and too little is known about it to know much about how it will impact everyday people from a legal standpoint, but we do have an opportunity as a society to think about how we want this virtual world to operate in the legal realm. In the end, the most important thing to keep in mind is your rights, as the metaverse will impact everyone's lives in significant ways in the near future. If you have questions about your rights online or in the metaverse, you can speak with your network attorney through our subscription based Legal Protection Plans any time about these questions or any other legal matter, all for one low, monthly fee. Learn more about our plans for Individuals and Families and for Small Businesses today or sign up now!

Protecting Yourself From Spam Calls & Texts

A man in white room wearing a brown jacket yells into a rotary landline phone.

Apple urged iPhone users recently to update their iOS with a patch for a critical security flaw that allowed hackers to launch spyware that monitors users' keystrokes; the malware is launched through text messages. This is just one of the latest examples of the dangers associated with a growing problem in the US and Canada: spam text messages. Spam messages and calls are annoying, and can be costly, but they are also a gateway for bad actors to do much more damage. If you need help recovering from a security breach or identity theft, our legal subscription plans and identity theft packages are great, low cost solutions. In the meantime, here are a few tips for handling spam texts and calls.

It's Against The Law

Text message marketing without the end users' consent is against the law in both Canada and the United States. But anyone who has dealt with a spam attack knows that the perpetrators are often hard to track down and prosecute. They change phones, numbers, and locations frequently, and often use technology that shields them from being discovered. Providers of cell phone services are working to provide services that block spam, but spammers and hackers are working just as hard to circumvent those measures.

A Few Tips For Dealing With Spam Texts

• Do not engage with a spammer by replying to messages

• Never click links in texts! Clicking links can lead to malware and viruses and, in worst case scenarios, losing money or having your identity stolen

• Do an Internet search for numbers you don't recognize and see if they are in spam reporting databases

• Do not visit web sites sent to you in texts, even if they're not a link.

• Never respond to free offers unless it's from a sender you recognize

• Cell phone consumers in the US and Canada can report spam texts by forwarding them to your cell phone provider at 7726 (SPAM)

• You can also ask your provider to block texts that come from the Internet, and while it won't block spam sent from a cell phone, it can eliminate some unwanted spam messages

Phone Scams

Scammers continue to use the telephone to steal millions of dollars from people every year. One popular tactic is to impersonate the IRS and harass victims until they make payments or reveal personal identifying information. This scam has targeted nearly half a million people in the United States, and the IRS has even created a dedicated web site to report these calls. Remember: the IRS will NEVER contact you by phone, text, or email. The IRS will ALWAYS contact you via the USPS mail.

Thieves use similar tactics to steal credit card information, using robo-calls to "warn" you that your credit or debit card has been locked. The automated calls prompt you to then enter your credit or debit card information to "unlock your card." These scams, called "vishing" (short for voicemail phishing), urge you to reveal private information that will be used to attempt to steal from you, steal your identity, or other fraudulent uses. Like other types of scam calls, these calls usually rely on too-good-to-be-true offers or dire threats. The rule of thumb is to never give out personal information - especially your credit card or Social Security numbers - over the phone unless you made the call.

Some calls are legal, such as calls from political candidates, charities, or reminders from businesses where you are a customer, such as your bank or insurance company. But be wary of calls received from businesses where you haven't consented to receive such communications.

Be wary of any call that asks for your personal information to activate a perk or retain access to your bank accounts or credit cards. Your best bet is hang up and call the business back to verify the veracity of the claims.

Advice For Phone Scams

• Never trust caller ID - scammers have the ability and technology to mask their real numbers or to spoof someone else's number without their knowledge

• Never share personal information over the phone unless you called them. Businesses you interact with likely already have your information

• Don't overreact if the caller threatens you with lawsuits, arrests, or losing access to your bank account or cards.

• Never press a number or stay on the line for a live person. Doing so can let spammers know that they have a "live" number

• Never call back the number that called you or visit any web sites mentioned in the call. Instead, call the company's customer service line listed on their official web site

• Contact your service provider to see about the possibility of blocking the number that called you. Keep in mind that the number you saw on your caller ID may be spoofed from a completely innocent person

• If the scam involved someone pretending to represent the IRS, make sure to report the call at the IRS reporting web site. For all other calls, report them to FTC.

The basic thing to remember if you're contacted by a suspected scammer is to NEVER give out ANY personal information. If you want to learn more about how to protect yourself from scammers and identity theft, check out our Identity Theft Protection Services for individuals and families, and if you have legal concerns from a previous encounter with a scammer, learn how our network of attorneys can help you resolve the situation faster and easier than you can on your own, and for a lot less than you might imagine. Sign up today!

Cyber Monday Scams: How To Protect Yourself

A miniature shopping cart with a US $20 bill in it sits next to a laptop.

Most people think that Black Friday is the biggest shopping day, but increased online sales around the holidays have pushed Cyber Monday to the number one shopping day of the year. With increased online shopping comes more online scams, though, and it is important to protect your finances from holiday scammers. Members of our legal subscription plans can speak with an experienced consumer finance attorney any time about  concerns with online scams and hundreds of other personal legal matters at no additional fee. In the meantime, here are a few tips to protect yourself while online shopping this holiday season:

Beware of Too-Good-To-Be-True Pricing

When you come across items that have been greatly discounted, make sure to check the reviews on the site you're shopping to make sure you're not buying damaged or discounted products. Scammers often set up dummy web sites, auction listings, and advertisements on social media that look like amazing deals on brand name products, and then never deliver items sold. These kinds of scams kick into high gear around the holiday shopping season.

Make Sure To Read The Retailer's Return Policy

Disputes most often happen around return or refund policies, so making sure to read through and understand the store's policies and procedures for returns and refunds will likely save you a headache later on if you need to avail yourself of those services. Some companies have high restocking fees, and some discontinued items, or items on sale or clearance may not be eligible for returns or refunds. Customers are sometimes also responsible for return shipping fees. A reputable company will spell these terms out to you somewhere on their site.

Keep Tabs On Your Bank Account

Busy holiday shopping season is prime time for hackers who hack into retailer web sites and steal customer data, so it's important that you check your bank account frequently and be on the lookout for fraudulent charges, especially this time of the year. When spending increases around the holidays, it is easy to overlook charges, so saving receipts and checking them with your bank register can give you peace of mind. If you notice any irregularities, contact your bank or credit card issuer immediately.

Stick To Trusted Retailers

Double check domain names in your browser to make sure that you are on the correct web site. Emails or online advertising that appears to come from legitimate, trusted retailers can be scams that direct you to sites meant to steal your data or credit card information. The domain name at the top of your browser window should have an https:// at the beginning of the domain name; the "s" tells you that you are on a secure site. Make sure to use unique passwords for online retailers.

Check Out Seller Ratings

Negative feedback from previous customers can often tell you a lot about a seller. Marketplace and auction web sites that allow individual sellers to market their products to a wide audience often have features where customers can rate and review sellers, and these are a good source of information when making a decision to purchase from a seller you aren't familiar with. Be cautious before making a purchase from a seller with poor ratings or bad reviews; read the reviews and decide if you're willing to risk it.

Secure Your Payment Information

Scams abound online, and a common one is to get buyers to pay for items with wire transfers, money orders, gift cards, or cash. Never make payments online via any of these methods as none of them offer any tracking or protection if the transaction turns out to be a scam. Insist on more secure payment options, and consider protecting your credit or debit card information by using a third-party payment service that doesn't reveal your payment information to the seller. Almost all payment processing services offer some kind of buyer protection.

Shopping online any time should be a fun, safe experience, and, with a little forethought, always can be. When scams increase around the holidays, it's important to look out for yourself a little harder to make sure you don't become the victim of a scam or identity theft scheme. Members of our legal subscription plans can talk to experienced, dedicated, consumer finance and identity theft attorneys at any time, and it is included in your monthly fee. Learn more about this essential benefit, or sign up for legal protection today!