Law for Real People - John Gear Law Office & Salem Consumer Law 503-569-7777

Oregon Consumer Justice grants available for groups helping tenants access or apply for rent assistance

9/1/2021

Oregon Consumer Justice (OCJ) is making money available to community-based organizations working to support tenants in accessing rent assistance payments or making applications for rent assistance.

There's more information and a link to the application here: https://lnkd.in/gu7JBAzz

Many organizations, community leaders, and individuals are hard at work trying to help prevent evictions, which are traumatic and have far-reaching impact on people's well-being.

Spread the word about this resource which might help reach community members who don't know there's help available or don't have the ability to access that help.

If you have questions, please direct them to either Janet Byrd at jbyrd@oregonconsumerjustice.org or
Joseluis Maldonado at jlmaldonado@oregonconsumerjustice.org

Good review: Six Common Scams That Target Elders

8/12/2021

Good review of some of the most common (most effective) scams that target elders. Always remember these safety rules:
     1) Never give any personal/private information to someone who called YOU out of the blue.
     2) Never buy anything from someone who found you and pitched you on it.
     3) You can just hang up! It's not rude to hang up on scammers.

Here are the six common scams in the article -- which is a short good read (just click on the picture).

     1) Sweepstakes/lottery ("You have won! You just need to give us your banking info . . . ")
     2) "Tech Support" ("We have detected a virus on your system, you need to give us access to your system so we can remove it . . . "
     3) "Grandchild in Need" (Grandma, I've been arrested, send money . . . !")
     4) Romance ("Send money and I'll visit you . . . ")
      5) Social Security ("Give us your bank info . . . .")
      6) Natural Disasters/Contractors ("We'll take care of everything, just give us your credit card number and we'll get started. ")

Corporate Pro-Forced-Arbitration Lobbyist Tries Selling Chicken S--t as Chicken Salad

8/10/2021

The US Chamber of Commerce and other corporate power groups are terrified of the 7th Amendment to the Bill of Rights (right to jury trial) and the "FAIR" act, which would prevent them from forcing consumer and employee disputes into the lawless land of private arbitration controlled by and very favorable to, you guessed it, those same corporate power groups.

The American Prospect has a great story about an effort by these folks to disguise a corporate lobbyist-written editorial as an one written by a real consumer -- and an offer to pay a consumer attorney a $2,000 bribe if he would help find a consumer to put his name on the already-written editorial.

https://prospect.org/power/corporate-lobbyists-seek-grassroots-support-forced-arbitration/

Are you behind on your rent or utilities? Website directory shows the rent and utility assistance programs you may be eligible for where you live.

8/4/2021

The federal Consumer Protection Financial Bureau (CFPB) has a website where you can see if there is rental assistance money available that you can access in order to help you avoid eviction for failure to pay rent.

Check it out if you are behind in your rent or utility payments.

https://www.consumerfinance.gov/coronavirus/mortgage-and-housing-assistance/renter-protections/find-help-with-rent-and-utilities/

Cool: Apple offers year-round 10% off Apple products for Vets/Active-Duty + immediate family members

7/16/2021

Good Warning -- Why NOT to use debit cards

7/13/2021

Why You Should Never Use Your Debit Card

Scammers are everywhere, and debit cards leave your business exposed. . . .

Skimmers are a popular way for thieves to steal card numbers from gas pumps, ATMs and other machines that accept credit and debit cards. The skimmer is slipped into the card reader slot and once connected, it can not only steal the card number but also PINs and zip codes as they're entered. They're pretty tough to detect, and once a number and PIN is stolen it can be used to create counterfeit cards, make purchases over the phone and carry out other forms of identity theft, like setting up other accounts or loans in your name. . . .

The reason why Abagnale and most IT experts I know avoid debit cards deals with cash flow. If a fraudster can compromise a debit card, that person can access your cash. He or she can drain you and your company's bank account. And then you're stuck chasing. If a criminal makes unauthorized use of your credit card, your cash is still in your account.

In either case, according to the Federal Trade Commission, your liability would be no more than $500 — and more than likely considerably less — depending on when you report the theft. . . .

Read the full article from Entrepreneur magazine here: https://apple.news/Am9EeoNQVTteiFykHKUvs9g

Pretty Good Overview of How to Stay Safe Financially as You Age

6/29/2021

Some elder advocate organizations have put together a pretty good online resource for helping you know how to keep your money safe as you age. (Elders are the main target of scammers.)

https://thinkingaheadroadmap.org/money-path/intro

Even if you think you have everything all set, it's worth looking these pages over.

The Thinking Ahead Roadmap is for everyone, not just people with significant assets. It includes information specifically geared towards "solo agers" (who don't have an immediate family member or partner to step in) and people with complex personal situations.

This new tool was designed by Dr. Marti DeLiema of the University of Minnesota and by Naomi Karp and Steve Vernon, research scholars at the Stanford Center on Longevity, with support from AARP and the Society of Actuaries. It's based on extensive research through interviews with experts from multiple disciplines (including elder law attorneys on this list - thanks for your help!), focus groups and an online community forum of over 100 older adults.

In addition to the website itself, the roadmap is available in PDF form to download, as are additional helpful documents. In the future, it will be available for ordering in print.

Please help spread the word about the Thinking Ahead Roadmap to your colleagues, clients, families and communities.

Timeshares are the worst -- except for timeshare resale scams, that is ...

6/17/2021

Based on the number of people who call me seeking help with timeshares they are unhappy with, I can safely say that, other than herpes, timeshares are just about the worst possible thing you can acquire on a vacation.

Maybe the only thing worse than getting involved in a timeshare in the first place is then getting ripped off again while trying to get out of one. The "timeshare exit" field is full of pirate scammers who are only too happy to have another shot at separating you from even more of your money and preying on your desperation to unload what has turned out to be a horrible idea.

The FTC has some good guidance you should check out (click the link or download the document below the graphic) if you are even thinking of getting within 100 miles of a timeshare sales pitch, or if you have already been snared and are thinking of trying to unload your timeshare.

Check and See -- Does Oregon Have Your Unclaimed Property?

6/14/2021

Oregon has an unclaimed property registry, currently in the Department of State Lands but moving to the State Treasury Office on July 1.

You should check it once in a while - it's quick and easy.

Just click https://unclaimed.unclaimed.oregon.gov/oregon.gov/ and enter your name.

Beware - Social Media is Perfect Vector for Ponzi Schemes

6/9/2021

Death Row gifting club scam prevalent in Oregon

Salem – The pyramid scheme has a new look and the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation is warning consumers to steer clear. Gifting clubs, such as Death Row, are illegal pyramid schemes that are scamming several Oregonians.

The Death Row gifting club, not associated with Death Row Records, was operating in Oregon last year. It advertised on social media and in online forums as a community wealth share group. More than 20 Oregonians lost their initial $1,400 investments.

The Death Row gifting scheme promised financial returns of at least $9,000. The division was alerted to the scheme when an Oregonian reported not receiving anything in return for their $1,400 investment. The investment was not registered with the division and no one was licensed to sell investments in Death Row. Victims invested their money using a cloud-based payment platform and communicated with others about the investment during online forums for the Death Row program.

The division is still investigating the Death Row gift club. Anyone who has information about the scheme or was a victim of it are asked to contact the Division of Financial Regulation Advocacy team at 888-877-4894 (toll-free).

“If someone invites you to join a gifting club, just say no to their high-pressure tactics and stories of high earnings,” said TK Keen, Division of Financial Regulation administrator. “The simple reality is that only a few people profit from these schemes at the expense of everyone else who ultimately lose their investments.”

Gifting club schemes are similar to pyramid schemes because no new money is created. Members of the scheme encourage friends, family, and co-workers to give gifts of cash to higher ranking members. The only way for a person to recover the initial investment is to bring new members into the scheme.

The division has three tips to spot an illegal gifting scheme:

     Promises of cash, gifts, or electronic payments via mail, email, or social media
     The primary focus is to recruit new investors – no goods or services are being sold
     No written agreements and the promoters boast about high earnings of a few people

Contact the Division of Financial Regulation’s consumer advocacy team if you spot a gifting scheme or believe you are a victim of one. Advocates can be reached at 888-877-4894 (toll-free), email dfr.financialserviceshelp@oregon.gov, or by visiting dfr.oregon.gov.

Do not become a victim of an illegal gifting scheme. Be skeptical about investment opportunities, avoid giving your personal information to strangers, and remember – if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.
For more information about investments and protecting yourself from investment fraud, visit the division’s avoid investment fraud page.

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About DCBS: The Department of Consumer and Business Services is Oregon's largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. For more information, visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov.

About Oregon DFR: The Division of Financial Regulation is part of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, Oregon’s largest business regulatory and consumer protection agency. Visit www.dcbs.oregon.gov and http://dfr.oregon.gov/Pages/index.aspx.

LAWYERLY FINE PRINT:

John Gear Law Office LLC and Salem Consumer Law. John Gear Law Office is in Suite 208B of the Security Building in downtown Salem at 161 High St. SE, across from the Elsinore Theater, a half-block south of Marion County Courthouse, just south of State Street. There is abundant, free 3-hour on-street parking throughout downtown Salem, and three multi-story parking ramps that offer free customer parking in downtown Salem too.

Our attorneys are only licensed to practice law in Oregon. This site may be considered advertising under Oregon State Bar rules. There is no legal advice on this site so you should not interpret anything you read here as intended for your particular situation. Besides, we are not representing you and we are not your attorneys unless you have hired us by entering into a representation agreement with me. While we do want you to consider us when you seek an attorney, you should not hire any attorney based on brochures, websites, advertising, or other promotional materials. All original content on this site is Copyright John Gear, 2010-2020.

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