Drug Trafficking Scam Targets Senior Citizens

In February the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging and the Department of Homeland Security released a joint statement concerning a scam targeting America’s senior citizens, following a hearing on the disturbing trend.

The Scam

Global drug traffickers are preying on senior citizens by convincing them to travel abroad —often times by covering travel expenses — and then tricking them into smuggling drugs across international borders.

There are at least 145 victims who have fallen for the scam and a majority of them are senior citizens. These men and women were arrested by foreign governments for carrying a total of 272 kilograms of narcotics. The drugs ranged from methamphetamine, heroin and ecstasy. At least 44 Americans are serving time overseas because of the scam.

“The criminals who set this chain of events into motion are cruel, but also very, very clever,” said Sen. Susan M. Collins, committee chairman. “I cannot emphasize enough how important it is that seniors and their families become aware of these criminals’ techniques and take action to protect themselves and their loved ones from these heartless criminals.”

Below is video testimony from Daniel Seibert, a senior from Arizona who was almost a victim to this crime:

To help combat this troubling epidemic Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is partnering with Customs and Border Patrol to create a joint operation known as “Operation Cocoon.” Since the operations inception foreign authorities have arrested 15 individuals connected with criminal organizations. Additionally, ICE has prevented 16 seniors from becoming victims.

If you or someone you know has fallen victim to a scam, please call 1-855-303-9470 or CLICK HERE to visit the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging Fraud Hotline.

March Scams Roundup

The following are some of the scams reported to Better Business Bureau Northwest during the month of March. In most instances names and locations have been omitted to protect the victims’ privacy.

ALASKA

Lottery/Sweepstakes Scam

An Alaska woman reported she received a phone call from a man identifying himself as “Michael Anderson” from a phone with a Jamaican area code. He told her he had a UPS package in Anchorage confirming she had won $5.5 million and a brand new Mercedes. Anderson gave the woman a story that he would bring the check to her and would be accompanied by two FBI agents and a lawyer. He proceeded to ask her questions about her marital status and employment. Anderson never met up with the woman, but did continue to call her. She ignored his phone calls until he stopped.

Tax Scam

An Alaska man reported he received a letter from The State of California Franchise Tax Board stating he owed back taxes from 2008. The man states he has been an Alaska resident since 2006. The letter listed a number that requested his social security number or they would seize his property.

OREGON

Garage Door Repair Scam

A Portland woman reports she hired a repair man from A Day & Night Garage Doors Repair to fix her garage door. After two days the man never finished the repair, but required she pay $650. The repairmen claimed he fixed the door, however the woman states she had to hire another repairman from a separate business in order to get her door fixed.

IDAHO

Government Grant Scam

An Idaho woman reported she lost $750 to a government grant scam. She said she was contacted by someone claiming she was chosen to receive a grant for $9,000. She was instructed to send $250 via Western Union, after she did that she was told she needed to send $500 in order for the Internal Revenue Service to release the money. After she deposited the additional money they again asked for $100.  The victim then asked for her money to be returned, but the caller refused.

Craigslist Scam

A Boise man reported he lost $3,500 to a Craigslist Scam. The man reports he responded to a posting on Craigslist of a 2006 Toyota Tacoma that was for sell through eBay Motors. The man was informed by the seller that he needed to make a $2,000 down payment using “One Vanilla” cards. He would then be required to pay an additional $1,500 to finalize the transaction. The Boise man purchased $3,500 worth of the cards and sent it to the man. When the seller requested more money, the victim ceased conducting business with him.

WASHINGTON

Sweepstakes Scam

An Everett woman reported she was notified she had won $150,000, but was told she had to pay a $1,500 custom fee to receive her winnings. She ended up losing $635 to the scheme when she tried to pay the fees to get the winnings.

Instagram Scam

A Lakewood man reported he lost $323.75 after he ordered a pair of shoes and belt from an Instagram user. He spoke to the seller over the phone and was told he’d be receiving a tracking number from USPS. The victim never received the tracking number or the order.

Government Grant Scam

A Seattle area woman reported she lost a little more than $3,400 to a government grant scam. She reports she was contacted multiple times the week of March 22 by someone claiming to be from the U.S. Department of Government Grants. The man, who identified himself as” Gary Watson,” claimed she would be receiving a grant check. In order for her to get the money she was pressured into making multiple deposits to the agency via Western Union.

February Scams Roundup

The following are some of the scams reported to Better Business Bureau Northwest during the month of February. In most instances names and locations have been omitted to protect the victims’ privacy.

ALASKA

Employment Scam

A Wasilla resident contacted BBB Northwest Feb. 1 after he was emailed about being a travel coordinator for a travel company. The company sent him an application for the job and advised him to wait for a check. He was then told to cash the check and keep five percent for himself and send the money to a manager overseas. The resident did this twice with checks totaling $1,353 each. Afterward, his bank called him and informed him the checks were fake and that he had to pay $4,700 to the bank. The Alaska resident says he is still receiving checks from the fraudulent company.

Grandparent Scam

A resident out of Wasilla, contacted BBB Northwest Feb. 23 stating her parents had fallen victim to the “Grandparent Scheme.” This occurs when a scammer contacts an elderly consumer convincing them they are their grandchild and is in desperate need of money. In this instance, the Wasilla resident sent $80,000 to someone they thought was their grandchild. They used SWIFT payment and transferred the money to a bank in Mexico.

OREGON

Ebay Scam

One Oregon resident saw the eBay guarantee and was hooked. Unfortunately, that’s just what the scammer had in mind. BBB Northwest was contacted Feb. 1 when the Oregon resident lost $2,000 as they tried to buy a motorhome off of a Craigslist ad. The victim said the ad had an official looking eBay money back guarantee promise, which misled them.

Personal Information Scam

An unknown individual was at Umpqua Community College promoting a “signature gathering job” that paid $15 an hour. An Oregon resident gave the individual her W2 information and allowed them to take her picture. The scammer promised to follow-up with them for training. Unfortunately that never happened. Now the scammer has the victim’s social security number and photo identification.

WASHINGTON

USB Scam

A Washington resident is out $2,500 after trying to purchase hundreds of USB sticks. The consumer reported to BBB Northwest Feb. 3 that they ordered them from Madinchinausb.com and received fake sticks that were unusable.

Employment Scam

A Washington resident lost $3,500 when she went to work for a fake company. The complainant states they were hired as a project manager for a transportation company. The company told the victim to purchase four laptops. Afterwards she was told to send them to Ukraine, which tipped her off that the business was a scam.

Spot a business or offer that sounds like an illegal scheme or fraud? Help us investigate and warn others by reporting what you know at BBB Scam Tracker.

Adopt a Pet, Not a Scam

Written by Michelle Tabler, Alaska Regional Manager

A Pennsylvania consumer reported on BBB’s Scam Tracker: “I paid $700 for a kitten that does not exist. My kid is devastated because she was waiting for a kitten to be delivered to our house today.” Another consumer wrote: “All we wanted was a puppy to help us get over the deaths of our beloved pets.”

According to the American Humane Association, the holidays are a popular time to bring a new pet into people’s homes. Puppies and kittens often top the holiday gift list for many children. But consumers should be careful when searching for their new furry family member online which has become the new marketplace for adopting pets.

Online ads usually show photos of adorable puppies or kittens to be rehomed, sold at a low price, or offered for free if the potential owner pays “transportation charges.”  Scammers will even go so far as to send a questionnaire to the buyer asking for personal information as part of the application process. They reel you in with attractively low prices for popular breeds and promise to deliver the pet to your doorstep. The scammer may also require that “shipping” fees be paid in advance by wiring money or using a prepaid debit card. Scammers may even use the name of a legitimate transportation company but give fraudulent contact information.

Once the money is received, the seller claims the pet is on the way but requests additional funds for charges such as taxes, insurance, vaccinations, new kennels – all sorts of concocted fees to extort more money. Some emails even promise that the fees will be “refunded” once the pet has arrived.

Not only do these puppies and kittens not arrive at their destination, but they typically don’t even exist. Consumers all over the country have been scammed out of hundreds and, sometimes, thousands of dollars on each of these scams.

Potential pet owners can look for red flags that an online sale may not be legitimate. Is the seller requesting that the payment be wired or put on a prepaid card? It’s never a good idea to wire money to someone you don’t know – it’s the same as sending cash. The money cannot be traced or recovered.

Do the ad and emails contain poor grammar and misspellings? Many fraudulent schemes originate overseas, so scammers may not have a good grasp of the English language. And be wary if the seller only wants to communicate by email or text, but not by phone.

If the seller is pressuring you to make a decision right away, that may also signal a possible scam. A sense of immediacy can cause victims to act without doing proper research. One fraudulent email stated: “We urge you to make the deposit within the next 30-45 minutes before departure time at 10 am today.”

Is the price too good to be true? Be wary of any ads offering rare breeds for lower than market prices or offering the pet for free (if shipping is paid). Scammers often weave sad tales: “I’m just looking for someone to provide my kittens with care and love because my daughter, who was their companion, died a month ago and now they are lonely.” Then, be suspicious if the seller requests upfront shipping costs for a third-party transport company.

Before responding to an ad, you can do an online search by pasting the wording into a search engine. You may find information or complaints from others about the seller.

Be cautious when shopping online for a pet and look out for red flags that may indicate a scam. A good piece of advice – consider adopting locally.

Getting Paid to Drive? It’s Too Good to Be True

Image courtesy of Pexels.com

When you’re in between jobs or in need of some supplemental income, it’s hard to say no to the prospect of earning fast, easy money. But honest income generally doesn’t come without putting in some effort, so be cautious of any money-making opportunity that offers a high return for little to no work on your part. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

When Sue, a consumer from Lakewood, Wash., received the below email, she was excited at the idea of making money just by putting a company logo on her car. The email said she would be “paid to drive” $800 a week—more than a lot of people earn with a full-time job—just by wrapping her car with an advertisement.

From: Michael
To: Sue
Subject: Toms Job Position
Date: Tue, 12 May 2015 00:31:04 +0200
Greetings,
We are currently seeking to employ individual’s in the USA.
How would you like to make money by simply driving your car advertising for Hennessy, JOHNNIE WALKER, Pepsi, Coke, Apple Product or TOMS shoes.
How it works
Here’s the basic premise of the “paid to drive”
Concept: AUTO WRAP seeks people — regular citizens, professional drivers to go about their normal routine as they usually do, only with an advert for “AUTO WRAP” plastered on your car. The ads are typically vinyl decals, also known as “AUTO WRAP” that’s almost seem to be painted on the vehicle and which will cover any portion of your car’s exterior surface.
What does the company get out of this type of ad strategy? Lots of exposure and awareness. The AUTO WRAP tend to be colorful, eye-catching and attract lots of attention when you are stuck in traffic and people can’t avoid seeing the advert on your car alongside them. This program will last for 6 months and the minimum you can participate is 3 months.
We are offering $1,600 every 2 weeks and also an advance payment of $500, the logo will be placed on both doors or the hood of your car if you are interested.
No fee is required from you, “AUTO WRAP” will provide experts who will be responsible for placing and removal of the logo when your contract expires.
Kindly send me the required information’s below.
Please respond only if interested.
Michael
Promotional Manager
TOMS

When Sue responded to the email, she was asked for her personal information, including full name and address. She was then told a check would be mailed to her for an up-front payment and to cover the car-wrapping costs.

Fortunately at that point, Sue grew suspicious and reached out to BBB for guidance.

While there may be a handful of legitimate companies that pay you a bit of money to stick their logo on your personal vehicle, the unsolicited email Sue received is not how they go about hiring people.

What generally happens in this all-too-common scam is the victim will be sent a check for more money than was promised. He will be instructed to deposit the check in his account, wire a portion of it to someone else, and keep the rest. Little does he know the check is fake, and he becomes responsible for the bank’s losses after he’s wired real money to a fraudster. Scammers ask for money to be wired to them because it’s virtually untraceable, like handing someone a wad of cash.

Here are the warning signs of a car-wrapping scam:

• You’re told all you have to do is sign up, and you’ll be selected. The truth is that the odds are against you. A legitimate company told Bankrate.com they have more than one million drivers in their database—and they’ve hired only 6,000 of them in the last six years.
• You’re offered the job on the spot. A real company will want to talk to a candidate before hiring him; they won’t offer a job to someone without going through an interview first.
• The company wants you to send them money. You should never pay up-front fees to receive employment. And no legitimate job would ever overpay an employee and ask him to wire the money elsewhere.
• The company promises a free car. There is no such thing as a company that will give you a free car.
• There are typos and bad grammar. If a job offer is truly coming from a well known brand such as TOMS or Pepsi, the email or letter won’t be riddled with mistakes and poor writing.

Shopping for a Used Car? Beware of Flood Damage

Image courtesy of ponsulak | freedigitalphotos.net

With the recent floods in Texas, Oklahoma and other states, consumers looking to purchase a used car—even in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska—should be wary. Scammers and unscrupulous car dealers often ship these damaged vehicles to other states to sell to unsuspecting buyers after natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) estimates up to 10,000 insured vehicles in Texas had water damage from the May 2015 floods.

Flood-damaged vehicles that have been declared a total loss by an insurance company will have “salvage” stamped on the title. Most of these vehicles are then sold to parts companies who will sell the useable parts.

But scammers get around that by title washing: transferring ownership and retitling the autos in several states where they often “lose” the salvage stamp in the process. Other flooded vehicles may not have gone through the insurance claim process. They were purchased at bargain prices and taken to another state by unscrupulous sellers, so a title search will not indicate the car may have water damage.

These cars will show up on used car lots, in the classifieds ads in newspapers, on street corners with “For Sale” signs and online at sites such as Craigslist. Because these natural disasters happened in another part of the country, it may not be on a local car buyer’s radar to look for water damage. Flooded vehicles can be cleaned up to disguise the water damage while they are actually rotting on the inside. The car’s electrical, mechanical and computer systems can be corroded and rusting, and the lubricants may be contaminated.

“Approach a used vehicle thinking it has been flooded and look for signs to prove it,” says Frank Scafidi, Director of Public Affairs for the NICB. “If you don’t find water damage, great. If you do, don’t walk, but run from buying it.”

You can protect yourself from buying a flood-damaged vehicle by doing your research first. Remember: if the deal sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Do a title search through a national tracking company such as Carfax. Review the title and ownership papers for damage labels. Check the date and place of the vehicle transfer to see if it came from a flood-damaged area. And always have a trusted mechanic inspect a used car before you buy it, and ask to have the vehicle searched for flood damage that would not be visible.

Test drive the vehicle but also look for other telltale signs of possible water damage:

• Is there a musty odor?
• Check the wires under the dashboard. Are they flexible or are they brittle or cracked? This is a sign the car may have been submerged in water.
• Are there any signs of rust?
• Check all carpeting, including in the trunk. Check the condition under the carpet for signs of sand or dirt. Has the carpeting been changed? Is it too loose or not the same color as the interior of the car?
• Check the glove compartment and beneath the seats.
• Test everything in the car. Turn on the ignition to see if all lights and gauges come on (including the air bag lights); test the windshield wipers, turn signals, radio, air-conditioner and heater.
• Remove a door panel and look for water marks. Check the door speakers, as they will often show damage from flooding.
• Check under the hood for mud, grass, leaves or rust in the engine.

Better Business Bureau urges consumers to be cautious when purchasing a used vehicle. Do your research at bbb.org and make the investment to have the car inspected by a trusted mechanic.

Oregon AG’s Office Puts Magazine Subscription Scam Out of Business

Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon State Attorney General

We received big news this week from the Oregon Attorney General’s Office when Ellen Rosenblum announced a $3 million settlement with Publisher’s Payment Processing.

According to the AG’s office, the White City company had operated a nationwide scam through a newspaper and magazine subscription ruse.

The numbers are staggering.

Better Business Bureau has received more than 800 complaints against the company within the last 3 years. These include sales and delivery issues as well as problems with service. The most common complaint was billing and collection issues. The volume of complaints, as well as the company’s failure to respond to many of them, have contributed to an F rating for the business.

Consumers told BBB they received bills from the company for magazines they already have subscriptions for, implying it was time for renewal. However, those consumers told us the subscriptions had not expired and they did not originally order from Publisher’s Payment Processing. What’s more, some consumers said the company claimed to have the lowest renewal fee, but they found they could get a better price if they ordered through their magazine’s publisher directly. Many told BBB that Publisher’s Payment Processing would charge a $20 processing fee just to cancel renewals.

The AG’s office says the settlement is not an admission of guilt, but Publisher’s Payment Processing will have to pay up to $500,000 in restitution to Oregon consumers who overpaid or did not receive their magazines. Service fees will also be refunded to Oregonians who have previously received refunds.

“This was a sophisticated operation that generated millions of dollars each year from consumers across the country who thought they were doing business with a reputable magazine or newspaper publisher, but were instead working with a company that made its money by scamming them,” Rosenblum said. “It’s a particular embarrassment to the legitimate Oregon business community when national companies based here don’t play by the rules. The only option was to shut them down—and we have.”

Read the complete Assurance of Voluntary Compliance here.

For Safe Travels, Take Precautions to Avoid Scams

Image courtesy of fito | freerangestock.com

‘Tis the season for summer vacations! Whether traveling in your home state, throughout the U.S. or to a foreign country, taking precautions and knowing about potential scams could save you from a ruined vacation.

Book Online Securely

When booking travel arrangements and hotels online, it is safer to go to a company’s official website or call them directly. Do not click on online ads or links from emails. If using travel search engines, be wary of sites that offer prices significantly lower than other sites. If you choose to book through a third-party booking company, follow up directly with the hotel, airline or rental car company. You don’t want to find out after you arrive at a destination that the reservations were never made!

URL security

Make sure you have a secure connection before entering your personal or financial information; the web address or URL should start with “https” and show a lock icon.

Always pay with a credit card when booking vacations, and make sure you receive confirmation in writing. In the event that something goes awry with your vacation, you may be able to file a chargeback with your credit card company. If you are asked to wire money for a rental, that’s a big red flag that the deal is probably not legitimate. Never wire money to someone you do not personally know and trust.

Do Your Research

BBB has seen numerous reports of vacationers arriving at their destination only to find that the rental doesn’t exist or does not resemble the photos online. Use trusted websites, ask friends for referrals or use a travel agent to ensure you’re going to get what you pay for.

Be skeptical about vacation packages that are offered online, by email or on the phone. If a cruise or resort price sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Victims are often saddled with hundreds or even thousands of dollars in additional “fees,” or the accommodations may be totally inadequate.

Also watch out for promises of “free” airline tickets—there’s always a catch. Victims are often lured with promises of free plane tickets to attend a seminar, which usually involves spending thousands of dollars to buy into a vacation club. Those tickets turn out to be only vouchers with fees that often cost more than a regularly priced plane ticket. And the vacation club? If you did buy in, you might find there are many barriers to actually booking a vacation unless you upgrade your membership or pay additional fees.

Travel Safely

Remember to notify your credit card companies before you leave, especially if you are traveling to foreign countries. There aren’t many things more frustrating and inconvenient than having your credit card declined while traveling because the company thinks it’s being used fraudulently.

During travel and once you arrive at your destination, surf cautiously on public Wi-Fi networks (e.g. hotels, airports, coffee shops, libraries). Avoid file sharing and financial transactions, and disconnect when not in use. Be wary of hotel lobby computers available for guests. Identity thieves have been known to add keyloggers onto public computers that track passwords. Believe it or not, your smartphone’s 3G or 4G may be more secure.

While staying in a hotel, carefully scrutinize any menus that are slipped under your door. Fraudsters sometimes use phony menus to trick a guest into calling them to order food, and the consumer ends up giving his credit card information to identity thieves. And of course, no food will be delivered.

Beware of fake front desk phone calls, especially late at night. A scammer pretending to be hotel staff will claim there was a problem with your credit card, and ask you to confirm your card details over the phone. Don’t do it! Personally check with the front desk in the morning to correct any billing issues.

At the end of your hotel stay, check your final bill. Watch for fees that you didn’t incur, such as minibar purchases or TV on-demand movie rentals.

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Be vigilant and careful when planning your vacation, and then go and have a wonderful time!

Watch Out for IRS Scams

Image courtesy of Adamophoto | freerangestock.com

During the final two weeks of the tax filing season, scammers are increasing their efforts to impersonate the Internal Revenue Service in attempts to steal money or personal information from consumers.

Taxpayers should be alert for these two common IRS scams.

1. The Phone Scam

You receive a phone call from someone claiming to be an IRS agent. They demand immediate payment via prepaid card or wire transfer, and they threaten you with jail time, deportation or driver’s license suspension. They may even know the last four digits of your Social Security number or other personal information.

The truth: The IRS will never call about taxes owed without first having mailed you a bill or giving you the opportunity to appeal the amount they claim you owe. They will not ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone, nor will they require you use a specific payment method. They will not threaten you.

How to spot the scam:

• You have received nothing in the mail from the IRS.
• They demand payment immediately.
• They threaten to get the local police or an immigration agency involved.

What to do:

• If you know or suspect you do owe taxes, call the IRS at 800-829-1040. They can help you with a payment issue.
• If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) at 800-366-4484 or report it online at the IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting Page.
• File a report through the Federal Trade Commission’s FTC Complaint Assistant. Include the words “IRS Telephone Scam” in the notes.

2. The Email Scam

You receive an email that claims to be from the IRS, telling you that you’re eligible to receive a tax refund for a given amount. It instructs you to click on a link in the email to access a form for the tax refund. The form requires the entry of personal and financial information.

The truth: Taxpayers do not have to complete a special form to obtain a refund; refunds are based on the tax return they submit to the IRS. The IRS does not initiate taxpayer contact via unsolicited email or ask for personal identifying or financial information via email.

How to spot the scam:

• The email requests detailed personal and financial information.
• It dangles bait to get you to respond to the email and threatens a consequence for not responding.
• It gets the Internal Revenue Service or other federal agency names wrong.
• It uses incorrect grammar or odd phrasing.
• It links to a site that’s not the actual IRS website (www.irs.gov).

What to do:

• Do not open any attachments or click on any links in the email.
• Contact the IRS at 800-829-1040 to determine if the IRS is truly trying to contact you.
• Forward the suspicious email to the IRS at phishing@irs.gov, then delete the email from your inbox.

National Consumer Protection Week

Your ‪BBB‬ is partnering with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office to celebrate National Consumer Protection Week from March 1-7. Below, we’ve compiled warning signs and tips on 6 of the most common scams we’ve seen affect local consumers.

Be an informed consumer; avoid scams and fraud!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/zak/

1. Phishing emails ask for personal info and may contain links to malware. Antivirus software can help, but the best protection is a good sense of judgment. Legitimate companies and government agencies never ask you to confirm personal info via email.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/rreyes-2010/

2. Don’t fall victim to an advance-fee loan scam. Check out the company at bbb.org/search. Be skeptical of any offer where you have to pay money up front. Walk away if you’re asked for money immediately, especially if it’s supposedly for “insurance,” “processing,” or “paperwork.”

https://www.flickr.com/photos/armydre2008/

3. With overpayment scams, a buyer “accidentally” sends you a check for more than the amount they owe. They ask you to deposit it and wire them the difference. The original check turns out to be a fake, leaving you on the hook to pay the bank for any money withdrawn. Always wait for a deposit to clear before writing checks against the funds—it can take weeks to uncover a fake check.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/filterforge/

4. Identity theft scams come in all shapes and sizes—grandchildren “stranded” in a foreign country, the hotel front desk “verifying” your credit card in the middle of the night, “charity” solicitations from groups you’ve never supported in the past. Never give your Social Security, bank account or credit card numbers to someone who has contacted you to ask for them.

5. In a lottery/sweepstakes scam, you get an unsolicited phone call, email or letter stating you’ve won a prize, but in order to collect the winnings, you have to wire a small sum of money to pay for “processing fees” or “taxes.” You never get your “winnings,” and the scammer has your money. You never have to pay to receive legitimate winnings.

Wixphoto.com | FreeRangeStock.com

6. Itinerant contractors move around, keeping a step ahead of the law… and angry consumers. They knock on your door with a story or a deal: a roofer spots missing shingles on your roof, a paver has leftover asphalt and can give you a deal on driveway resealing. Then you can’t track them down after they’ve left you with a shoddy or incomplete job. Never agree to do business with someone you haven’t researched first. Start at bbb.org/search.

Go to ncpw.gov to find more consumer tips and free materials from government and private organizations.