Category: Scams

  • Beware of Fake Websites Impersonating FinCEN for Beneficial Ownership Information Report Due

    Beware of Fake Websites Impersonating FinCEN for Beneficial Ownership Information Report Due

    The FinCEN Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report filing deadline is approaching fast. It’s important to be aware of scammers trying to take advantage of this by creating fake websites that look like the official FinCEN website.

    What is the BOI Report and What is the Deadline?

    The Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report is a government mandate aimed at enhancing transparency within business ownership to combat financial crimes. However, it presents challenges for businesses, particularly small ones. Faced with a $175 per report fee from my accountant, I decided to file it myself. This led me to encounter numerous scam websites, highlighting the risk of falling victim to fraudulent activities.

    While the actual government website (fincen.gov/boi) is relatively quick to complete, navigating through the process can be a significant distraction for small business owners already juggling numerous end-of-year tasks and facing potential confusion and misdirection.

    Scam website BOIR(dot com). Watch out for scams online when dealing with government website impersonators that can steal your identity..

    The BOI Report is a new requirement for certain businesses to report information about their beneficial owners. The deadline to file the first BOI Report is February 28, 2025. Failing to file by the deadline can result in penalties of up to $592 per day.

    We love searching on Google and using AI and other searches such as Facebook search, but as you can see, there are many scam artists ready to take your money on things such as hotel searches and masquerading as government websites.

    The actual .GOV website to file the BOI report.

    How to Avoid Scams

    • Never enter your credit card information on a BOI Report filing website. The FinCEN BOI Report is free to file.
    • Only use the official FinCEN website: The legitimate website address is fincen.gov/boi. Look out for typos or lookalike domains such as boir.com in the address bar.
    • Be cautious of unsolicited emails or calls about the BOI Report. FinCEN will not contact you directly to request your filing.
    • Don’t trust TikTok or Youtube videos on this subject

    How to File a BOI Report

    The BOI Report can be filed electronically through the FinCEN website. You will need to create an account and gather some information about your business and its beneficial owners.

    Here are the steps to file a BOI Report:

    1. Go to the FinCEN (make sure it says .GOV in the url at the top of the browser) website
    2. Click on “File a BOI Report”
    3. Create an account or sign in to your existing account
    4. Follow the instructions to complete the BOI Report

    By following these steps, you can ensure that you are filing your BOI Report correctly and avoiding any scams.

    The biggest take from this is that here we have a fraudulent business taking advantage of a government report set up to be more transparent about financial crimes. Someone tell us how this makes sense and why no one is being arrested over this?

  • Avoid Scams When Booking Travel Online (or by Phone)

    A friend of ours recently fell for an imposter booking site and now he wants his money back. Not only did they have an imposter site but they had a phone number that showed up in the search results that he called. We are no strangers to scams when it comes to credit via telemarketers or on social media but not everyone knows how bad it is when it comes to travel.

    He found it by Googling “Hilton Doubletree Dallas Market Center” Instead of taking him to the official hotel site, the search results led him to a third-party company called Reservationstays com similar to another imposter site Guestreservations com and Snaptravel. They also gave a phone number in the results starting with (844) which sounds legit.

    And that’s where all his problems began.

    It looked like the hotel website — it definitely wasn’t

    “When you click on this link, it appears to be the Doubletree Hilton website,” he says. “The photos and layout are the same.” He also went on to show me on his phone how it came up in Google search with a phone number and link. We called the phone number together on speaker phone.

    Warwick boutique hotel in Texas listed with 844 number and Reservationstays domain name that is not the actual hotel number or website.

    They answered quickly and we asked for the specific hotel. They told us it was sold out but said they could offer us a 6pm checkout. He asked them if they would offer breakfast and the rep said they would even throw in dinner. We were trying so hard not to laugh as I have Diamond with Hilton and Titanium with Marriott and have never checked out later than 4pm. A 6pm checkout or even dinner most likely wouldn’t be possible for Paris Hilton herself.

    He claims Reservationstays com charged him a deceptive $19 fee on top of a $138 room rate. In some cases the fees have been as high as $159. He can try to deny the charge on his credit card but he may end up having to pay the charge at the end of the day. After he tried to call the Reservationstays to speak to them about this charge they kept calling back from this 385-374-0300 number which also comes up as a telemarketer.

    Telemarketing hotel scam from a 385 number. Scams are everywhere especially in the credit and travel business.

    Don’t want to get fleeced by an imposter booking site? Careful where you click or who you call.

    This story is a cautionary tale for the rest of us to look carefully before booking. There are sites out there that look legit but may not be. But you can easily spot them. Also remember to never give your credit card number out over the phone to any of these advertisements you see. Make sure you call the hotel direct.

    How to avoid a scam travel booking site or phone hotline

    • Do your research. It’s worth Googling the name of the website to see if anything has been written about it online. Travelers should also always check the small print before processing their transactions.
    • Know your destination and book direct. Type the web address directly — and carefully. Bear in mind that some unscrupulous third party imposter booking sites have snatched up domain names with common misspellings of the companies they’re spoofing. And they’re waiting for you to make a mistake.

    Reservationstays and Guestreservations com didn’t respond to messages asking about his case. The site describes itself as an intermediary focused on “connecting travelers” to bargains. “As an independent travel network, we can get you the same deals you expect with a bigger travel agency or direct from the hotel.

    I tried to duplicate his reservation. The problem is when you search with Google or any other search engine that is paid for by advertisers the first thing you will see in the top spots is actual AD’s and not the true hotel website or phone number especially if it is a boutique hotel such as the Warwick or Sonesta chains. You will normally see ads based on what you have searched in the past and this will vary with everyone individually.

    And while it’s true that Reservationstays and Guestreservations’s site does not claim to be an official Holiday Inn, boutique or Hilton site, it also doesn’t specifically say it isn’t. (There are clues, though, including the bright red notice that says, “Jackpot! This is today’s low rate,” and an annoying countdown clock that only gives you 10 minutes to make up your mind about your reservation. Just like what you would find on some other non-direct hotel booking sites.)

    A spokeswoman for InterContinental Hotels Group, which owns Holiday Inn and Candlewood Suites, said it is not involved in transactions that customers make on third-party websites such as Guestreservations.

    “We encourage guests to book directly through our channels for greater control over their reservations, and to access exclusive loyalty rates,” she added.

    Signs You Might Be on a Scam Hotel Booking Site

    There are a lot of third-party websites that aren’t linked to the hotels they market at all. This is fine, since most well-known booking sites are built to show you most of the hotels in the area so you can find the deals.

    But some sites try to copy the overall look of a major chain’s site and will trick you into clicking on theirs instead of the real site.

    Before you book a room, look for warning signs, like:

    • A blurry or unofficial logo
    • Prices that seem a little too low, even for a great deal
    • Strange amenities such as a 6pm late check-out that no hotel would ever do with a third-party site
    • URLs that aren’t straightforward – such as not having a .com behind the name such as hilton.com, warwickhotels.com or IHG.com. An example of a bad actor would be warwickmelrose.reservationstays com. You would see it come up with Warwick as the name in the link but it’s not the actual hotel nor is it a booking site unless it is warwickhotels.com.
    • An HTTP URL instead of an HTTPS URL (the “S” shows that the link is secure), especially on the checkout page

    A warning from the Federal Trade Commission about Scam Phone Numbers and Sites

    The Federal Trade Commission issued a warning about imposter sites that seem to be posing as the real thing. The agency said it heard from customers who searched online and thought they were booking on a hotel website, only to find they’d unknowingly been doing business with someone else.

    “For those times you’re looking to book directly with a hotel,” the FTC warned, “make sure that’s what you’re doing.”

    Since then, the problem has gotten worse. It’s not the legitimate online travel agencies such as Expedia and Booking com perpetrating the scam, says Ari Lightman, professor of digital media and marketing at Carnegie Mellon University.

    “It’s the sites deliberately set up to dupe consumers,” he says. “They’re becoming more lucrative for hackers trying to obtain data on individuals.”

    You are always better off booking with something you know such as Hilton’s direct website or the Hotel Tonight app. You can tell that it is an ad as it will normally be marked slightly meaning you have to look very close to who you are booking or giving your credit card information.

    Look at the website you’re on very carefully before booking. Some travel sites look legit but aren’t. Not only did our friend book by calling a phone number from this site listed in Google he also gave them his credit card over the phone and security code. He was charged a fee on top of the hotel rate. The hotel rate was actually cheaper booking direct. It was also not the hotel he had originally set out to book that this booking representative told him was sold out. It was not.

    It’s not just Google: Event and convention sites are fooled by fake links or phone numbers they recommend

    One example is the The XL Center “the center of sports and entertainment for Hartford and the state of Connecticut.” A legit website that lists the same 844 phone number with the Candlewood Suites an IHG hotel. The exact same number my friend called who charged his credit card an additional fee.

    Google search for specific number linked to hotel scam.

    We did a google search for the phone number (844) 996-3737 and came up with this result . Notice the XL Center with Candlewood Suites Hartford below it. This is because Google scrapes snippets of sites to list in the results but XL Center was relying on their own search for the hotels phone number and not giving out the true phone number on their site. The event center did give out the legit link to the actual hotel. When you go to the XL Center website you will see the following:

    Candlewood Suites Hartford listed on XLCenter website with the wrong phone number to scam booking site.
    Candlewood Suites actual website on the IHG.com page (Candlewood Suites is owned by IHG properties that also owns Holiday Inn).

    As travel has become more frequent after coming out of a pandemic all of us are trying to find the best rates. Almost every search found several official-looking options. We came very close to using one of these sites by mistake several times when booking international trips. Airlines aren’t exempt from scammy booking sites that can lead to booking mistakes either.

    Third-party websites are sophisticated as they can look almost identical to legitimate airline or hotel websites. Always verify you are on a secure webpage to make reservations or book travel.

    Perhaps the best way to avoid these sites is to pay attention. If you’re booking an airline ticket, hotel room or getting a visa, read the website’s address. If you’re not on the official site, odds are you’re dealing with a third party. And that third party may try to rip you off.

  • How to Track Your Stimulus Payment Before It Arrives

    How to Track Your Stimulus Payment Before It Arrives

    Since the government announced in late March that millions of Americans would be receiving stimulus checks to combat the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, The Banklady has received a ton of questions about the forthcoming payments.

    Everyone is asking: “When will I get my money?” Though the answer to that question will vary from person to person, there are some things you can do to track your payment before it comes.

    How to Know When You Will Get Your Stimulus Money From the Government

    The first wave of payments hit taxpayers’ bank accounts on April 11, according to a tweet from the IRS.

    If you have yet to receive any money and are anxious to know when it might arrive, help may be on the way. The Treasury and IRS have said they will be launching a “Get My Payment” app at IRS.gov sometime this week. In order to track the status of your money, you will need to enter your:

    • Social Security Number
    • Date of birth
    • Mailing address

    If you want to take matters into your own hands, there are a couple of things you can do, depending on whether you expect to receive your money electronically or via a check in the mail.

    If You Expect to Receive Your Stimulus Money Electronically

    If you are eligible for stimulus money and you have your banking account information on file with the IRS, you can likely set up an alert with your bank that will let you know when the cash hits your account.

    To do this, log into your account on your banking institution’s website or app and look for an option to manage alerts. It may look something like this:

    Look specifically for “Deposit Alerts” or even “Direct Deposit Alerts” and elect to be notified via email, text message or push notification to your phone. The options may vary depending on the bank or credit union, but most should allow you to do something similar.

    By setting up an alert, you’ll be sure to know your stimulus money is available the moment it is deposited into your account.

    If You Expect to Receive Your Stimulus Money Via the Mail

    If you don’t have direct deposit set up with the IRS, you should be expecting your payment to be issued by mail.

    If you do have to wait for a paper check to arrive via the mail, you can be alerted before it’s delivered by signing up for USPS Informed Delivery.

    When you opt into Informed Delivery, you’ll receive daily emails in the morning with scans of all first-class mail that will be delivered to your address later that day. You can sign up for Informed Delivery here.

    Using Informed Delivery will let you know that your check was supposed to arrive even if you don’t find it in your mailbox — whether it was misdelivered or stolen. If you don’t get your check, you can follow up with the postal service or the IRS.

    For security reasons, the IRS also plans to mail a letter to your last known address within 15 days after the payment is sent. It will provide information on how the payment was made and how to file a report if you don’t get your payment.

    If you are unsure that you’re getting a legitimate letter, the IRS urges you to visit IRS.gov to protect yourself from scam artists. Scam artists have been sending out emails and making phone calls so beware and do not give out any information to someone that calls you randomly.

  • Hidden costs of food delivery apps

    How delivery apps are eating away at your money

    The fad of ordering food through apps has caught fire. However, some hidden fees on the most popular platforms may be eating away at your wallet.

    EatingNYC broke down the costs associated with Postmates, DoorDash and Uber Eats.

    Postmates was found to have the highest fees.

    Although Uber Eats does a good job of breaking down the costs involved, consumers could be paying up to 20 percent more when ordering food.

    UberEats hidden service fees can rack up.

    At first you’ll see the delivery cost and then there’s services and fees, which usually is about 15 percent of the food cost… but then they try to add in all these other fees.

    According to prices in four U.S. cities, Postmates proves to be the most expensive option since it has more food partners than other apps. You can read more about the rip off of Postmates hidden fees.

    Although Postmates is one of the higher apps in terms of “service fees” you could be facing fees close to $8 or $9 per delivery using the alternatives.

    If a consumer were to order one medium Big Mac meal from Postmates once a week, fees could add up to $1,000 per year. That equates to a domestic first-class flight or a nine-day trip to Disney World.

    DoorDash hidden service fees can add up but can be cheaper than the other apps.

    DoorDash may not be as explicit in explaining what the extra fees pay for but they are one of our favorites in lesser fees than the competitors.

    Fees may be high with all of the delivery apps but there’s still a big demand for fast delivery and consumers are willing to pay the extra cost. You just have to compare each time you make a delivery until you get it down which restaurants better partners with what app.

    The reason why these apps are so expensive because you’re paying for convenience. There are so many parties involved including the app who has to get paid and the courier too. There are just so many more transactions involved that really boost those fees.

  • Postmates App is misleading customers with a hidden fee (3 fees total)

    Postmates App is misleading customers with a hidden fee (3 fees total)

    Postmates may get the shady company of the year award on this one.  It what seems many are frustrated with the apps lack of transparency when it comes to hidden service fees. Postmates seemed like a great idea at first. The app allows customers to easily order any item from any restaurant or store including Starbucks and have it delivered to their doorstep in less than an hour.

    Postmates will give customers $100 in free deliveries to start out or let you sign-up for their unlimited delivery with no fees attached but both still include hidden service fees. While these fees are not new to the Postmates app they have been steadily increasing from pennies to over $7 in some cases on top of the delivery fees. The on-demand delivery service charges a total of three fees including “delivery”, “service”, and a “small plate fee” if the order is less than $14.

    Users on Reddit and other community forums are complaining over the rise of the service fee saying that its a “Scam”. Let us repeat again that the service fee is not considered the delivery fee that the on-demand app charges. People are starting to notice that the service fees went from 9% to 12.99% to now an unknown variable rate which averages at technically 22% because they charge the fee of the subtotal plus the tax. Yes, your taxes are included in both the tip that you provide in the app and the service fee.

    How does Postmates determine the Delivery Fee?
    According to Postmates the fees help pay for your Postmate’s time and keep the whole operation running smoothly, so you can get whatever you need quickly and conveniently. They add that the Postmates Delivery Fee is a flat rate of $5.99, however we can currently bring you orders from our Partners at an even lower rate: $3.99! Additionally, a variable percentage based service fee is applied to the purchase price of your items. During peak times, delivery prices may surge* (or Blitz). Surge pricing creates a strong financial incentive for Postmates to make themselves available when you need them most.

    The Estimated Total Doesn’t Always Show


    They claim that you will always be notified of your Delivery Fee on the checkout screen before requesting a Postmate. That opens up another can or worms because no charges are listed if you wish to make a customized order such as adding a plate to a listed restaurant that has no price until completed or adding a restaurant not listed in the app. Of course on this delivery you do not get a warning of a service fee nor do you get a warning of a small plate fee (order under $14).

    What is the Service Fee?
    The Postmates service fee is a variable percentage based fee applied to the purchase price of your items. You will be able to verify the service fee for your order on the checkout screen ONLY on orders that are not custom orders such as when you add a restaurant not listed in the app or a plate that is not listed.  To find the fee it is normally under the Subtotal and you have to click on an information icon (i) on the order summary screen to find it. It used to be listed under Taxes and Fees not just Fee so it was even more misleading.

    All of this should alarm consumer advocates and consumers to look more closely at these types of hidden fees. Postmates could face legal problems and settlements if this continues. One consumer frustrated with being blasted with these fees:

    I have been a big customer of Postmates and have referred many of my friends to the app so when I figured out that I have been cheated on 80% of my orders in the past year with hidden fees I am shocked and feel deceived. I have also participated in many promos where they have a “free” delivery then I look back after the fact and notice a “service fee”. That is not a free delivery. These service fees have added up to over $400 extra. This was misleading because most of my orders did not state the price as it was a customized order and I had no idea about the service fees. I did know about the small plate fee a few times after the fact but the service fee on top of a delivery fee, and a small plate fee is unacceptable. They also hide the fee under taxes with a (i) that you must click on in the app to see the “service fee”. This fee hides as the tax. I have been wondering why the taxes for my orders have been so much and after investigating this issue it has been concluded that the “service fee” is the reason for this. – Postmates User

    One example of this service fee on top of a $5.99 delivery fee is of $3.46 for a plate of tacos that would only cost $17.27 in person. Here is the receipt below of the cost without using the on-demand app:

    As you can see the taxes are included in this receipt and the Postmates app deception of including a Taxes and Fee area (before they moved to just Fee) was particularly questionable.

    Restaurant Servers Do Not Get Tipped (Mostly)
    Keep in mind these service fees do not go towards tips for the bartender or service industry working hard to make sure the order is ready to be picked up. Customers place orders through the Postmates app, which includes a delivery charge and a varying fee based on distance for everyone else) and a flat 9 percent “service charge.” The delivery fee is split 80/20 between the driver and Postmates, respectively. Most people would logically assume that the 9 percent service fee goes to the hardworking people slathering mayonnaise on your sandwich. Sadly, they would be wrong. According to Postmates spokesperson April Conyers, that fee goes to “the company and is applied toward operations.”

    To sum it all up we expect answers from the Postmates On-Demand delivery app and hope they respond to this issue. They can do this by possibly refunding customers they have mislead and make the app more transparent when charging for fees instead of having different groups of fees. When you order a delivery you should have a delivery fee and a tip.

  • Don’t Believe Anything Equifax Says in the Breach of 1/2 the U.S. Population

    Don’t Believe Anything Equifax Says in the Breach of 1/2 the U.S. Population

    First, Let’s start with the Banklady’s take on the Reasons why the Equifax data breach is a total disaster:

    1. Security breach on their end.
    2. They knew a month ago and waited this long to give the details to the people impacted (that’s us).
    3. It looks like some of their shady executives were dumping stock in the meantime.
    4. Their website to “help” looks like it was designed by the slowest kid in fourth grade. People are questioning whether to even trust that site.
    5. Once you enter your information on the makeshift site they made to check to see if you have been on of the people affected it doesn’t even tell you if were impacted for sure.
    6. The site won’t let you enroll for any help and they won’t send a reminder when that’s ready.

    Equifax as we have told you about in the past is one of the nation’s three main credit reporting agencies. They announced a “cybersecurity incident” that could potentially impact roughly 143 million U.S. consumers. They knew about it for weeks before they revealed it to the general population. The news also comes just months after a breach occurred at an Equifax subsidiary earlier this year, exposing W-2 and payroll data to criminals.

    Equifax data breach exposes personal info of millions of Americans

    According to Equifax, hackers exploited a security vulnerability in a U.S.-based application to gain access to consumers’ personal files. After discovering the breach on July 29 of this year, the company says it “acted immediately to stop the intrusion” and “promptly engaged a leading, independent cybersecurity firm that has been conducting a comprehensive forensic review to determine the scope of the intrusion, including the specific data impacted.” (more…)

  • Facebook, Instagram & Social Media Money Scams To Avoid

    facebooklottoscamWe have all at some point at least learned once not to just click on any email when it says it’s from Yahoo or a password reset to a site. At least we hope you check every link carefully that comes in your email as such. Now that most of our time has turned to Social media so have the hackers and scams from deep within the dark world wide web.

    Cyber criminals can get to you easy on social media especially on Facebook. With more than a billion users, Facebook has become an easy way for scammers to rip off as many people as possible at once in a variety of different ways. These hackers and scammers are getting smarter and more innovative posing as the people running contests or freebie sites to find a way for you to reveal your personal information or send them money.

    You need to know how to spot some big scams that are making the rounds and how to protect yourself. Here’s a few Facebook and social media scams to watch out for:

    If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. That same rule of thumb applies to Facebook and every other social media site, email chain etc. Any promise of a outrageous return on a small investment is probably a scam! If someone is messaging you on Facebook or Instagram claiming to be the owner of a contest or freebie site then contact the page you follow and see if that is the actual person. Most likely it’s a fraud. Just recently a friend who owns a freebie site told me about how a friend of theirs was messaged from a person on Instagram using the logo of the site on their page making it believable. They had claimed they were Paula Abdul trying to get that person to send in information and money. They would not give their phone number at first and when they did it was a Google Voice number that could not be traced easily. People actually fall for this and think they can send money to this person online who seems trustable then they never get anything back in return. (more…)

  • Beware of this ATM Scam Device

    ATM Card Skimmer Scam DeviceCan you tell which side is the normal slot for an ATM Card?  The left side is the normal slot for an ATM card, the protruding one on the right is called a “skimming device.” It’s so hard to tell and who would think it was this easy to have your card information and data stolen?

    Crooks can slide these into almost any ATM then wait for a customer to use it.  The attached card skimmer then stores their information and the identity theft process has begun.  Share this with your friends and warn them about using these ATM Machines.  Clearly you want to check for any signs of manipulation of your ATM machine and call 911 and report it immediately if something is different.

  • Financial Freedom should be your goal this season.

    • Bad Credit Basics: Why is credit score so important? How is it calculated? If your score is low, what can you do about it?
    • Bad Credit Cards: For individuals with poor credit, there are several trustable credit card issuers who can give you a line of credit and help improve your score.
    • Personal Loans: Help you build your financial future while providing money for your family.
    • How to Get Out of Debt? Follow these three simple steps to managing your money and become debt free.
    • Is Refinancing Right For You? This article will help you consider all the angles when making your decision.
    • Home Loans From Start To Finish: Buying a home is the biggest purchase you’ll ever make in your life. It’s important that you know what to expect from the moment you apply for your loan through settlement.
    • Beware of these credit scams: Tell everybody in your family and all of your co-workers if you get scammed online or from a lender in person. Before this happens to you read our take on the scams to avoid.
    • The Banklady Credit Library
    • NEW! Find out how to avoid high Checking fees by using some of our suggested alternatives.

  • American Express Account Notification Fraudulent Email

    I almost fell for this scam today while opening up one of my emails from who I thought was American Express Credit Cards. The email looked real with the traditional American Express logo and blue and white colors. The email then went on to say that the bank had new safeguards to protect my online security while on their site and that they require me to confirm my login details. I thought that was strange they used the word “confirm” but thought at first it was some additional security add on such as my pet’s name or grandfathers middle name type thing. It turns out while I looked over the viewable link by mousing over the link to log on to my account it did not goto an https: version of the site nor did it go to American Express. The scammer tried to take me to a site with the url starting with ecommsultor.com.br while they tried to fool me with “americanexpress-amexupdate-logonpage.asap.com/update/account/index.html” in the same link. Notice the .com and the .br in the site name and American Express would never send anyone to a Brazilian owned domain name unless you lived in Brazil. Do not fall for this scam. (more…)