to These Financ i a l Scams Financial scams often go unreported and can be difficult to prosecute, so they’re considered a “low-risk” crime. However, they can still be devastating, leaving you in a vulnerable position with little time to recoup your losses. Here are some common scams and what you can do to avoid them. Medicare and Health Insurance Scams In these types of scams, perpetrators may pose as Medicare representatives in order to obtain personal information. Sometimes they will go so far as to provide bogus services at makeshift mobile clinics, then use your personal information to bill Medicare and pocket the money. To avoid this scam, know that a legitimate Medicare employee would never ask for your personal information over the phone or via email, since they already have it on file. If you suspect that Medicare is being charged for a service you didn’t request, call the federal government’s official Medicare hotline at 1-800-MEDICARE. Counterfeit Prescription Drugs Most commonly, counterfeit drug scams operate on the internet. Those who fall victim to this scam find themselves paying money for a drug that does not help their medical condition, and some run the risk of unknowingly purchasing unsafe substances. This scam can be hard on the wallet and the body. Telemarketing and Phone Scams Fake telemarketing calls are one of the most common types of scams. With no face-to-face interaction and no paper trail, they are incredibly hard to trace and identify. Also, once a deal has been made, the buyer’s name is then shared with similar scammers looking for targets. Examples of telemarketing fraud include ... The pigeon drop: A con artist tells the victim that they have found a large sum of money and are willing to split it if the person makes a “good faith” payment. Fake identity ploy: The con artist gets the victim to wire or send money on the pretext that the victim’s relative is in the hospital and needs money. Charity scams: The con artist solicits the victim for money for fake charities. This often occurs after natural disasters. If you have fallen victim to a scam, notify the police, the Better Business Bureau (bbb.org/consumer-complaints), and the Federal Trade Commission (1-877-438-4338). Further, obtain the contact information for the Adult Protective Services organization in your area by calling the Eldercare Locator national hotline at 1-800-677- 1116 or visiting eldercare.gov and filing a complaint. You are not alone; there are people who can help. DON’T FALL VICTIM
INVESTMENT STRATEGY GAME CHANGER WORKSHOP E V E N T H I G H L I G H T TM
In October , Shepherd Wealth and Retirement hosted The Investment Strategy Game Changer™ Workshop at The Mountain Oyster Club. Our workshop was the focus of the evening, but the setting could have easily stolen the show. Have you ever been to The Mountain Oyster Club? This members-only club boasts a fabulous collection of Western art and a history of preserving Western tradition. Being inside is like stepping into a time machine. Oh, and there’s delicious food to complement the wonderful aesthetics. As attendees arrived, we welcomed them to the card room, which feels very much like a modern version of the card scene in “Tombstone.” Bacon-wrapped water chestnuts and, of course, real mountain oysters accompanied beverages. We got started with some jokes and an introduction from David. During the delicious dinner that followed, attendees were invited to ask any financial questions they had, which were answered by David and Dave. Our guests posed many thoughtful questions, and we were able to tap into our combined expertise to answer them. Later on, while guests enjoyed the club's homemade ice cream and coffee, Dave began the presentation. He covered topics that had been presented with our invitation, and afterward, attendees were able to get answers to any additional questions. Anyone who wanted to stick around was given a private tour of the rest of the club to enjoy the artwork. It was a fantastic evening of sharing our knowledge and adding to the conversation about investment. Thank you to everyone who attended for being an enjoyable audience. We look forward to presenting The Game Changer again soon!
2 • WWW.SHEPHERDWEALTH.COM
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs