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Barbara Isobe American Savings Bank - Fraud and Scams

Fraud & Scams

by Barbara Isobe, American Savings Bank

 

My name is Barbara Isobe, I am the Fraud Manager at American Savings Bank. I will be discussing fraud and scams, and how to know you might be involved in a fraud or a scam. 

What do fraudsters want? They want to take your money and they’ll do whatever it takes to trick you to get your money. 

What do our bank customers want? They want to be happy, secure, to be able to pay their bills on time, to have companionship, to help others, and a place to live. These are things that provide our customers, and most people, with comfort. So what the fraudster is going to try to do is trick people into feeling that the things that they want are being threatened. 

The first thing fraudsters will do is make friends with you. If I were to walk up to you on the street and say, “Hey, can you give me $1,000?”, you most likely will say no. But if I was your friend, you might consider giving or lending me that $1,000. 

Secondly, fraudsters may scare customers. They will say something like, “Hey, you’re in trouble. You didn’t pay your bill. You didn’t do something you were supposed to be doing.  Your bank card is blocked, we are not able to help you.” 

Fraudsters also try to act like service providers to our bank customers. They will say something like, “Hey, we’re following up on your account. Hey, we would like to give you a job where you can work from home.” They might also pose as another company, such as a utility provider.

Fraudsters will spend a lot of time cultivating a relationship. Most times, communication will be faceless: they’ll call you, they may use email, they may text you, and a lot of social media. Once they know they have the connections, they will ask you for things like, “Hey, can you give me money?” They will build up rapport until you are more willing to lend them money to help them in a bad situation. They may ask you for commitment, so some may establish being your boyfriend or girlfriend. They may even ask you to marry them. They may ask you for financial help: “Hey, I can’t get from Dubai to Honolulu. Do you think you can help me by sending some money to pay for me to get there? Or help me do the paperwork for me to get to Hawaii?” They may also ask you for secure information: “I am stuck working on a boat. I’m getting these checks, and I want to deposit them to my account so I can pay my bills. Is it possible for me to deposit them directly into your account? Will you please give me your online banking information so i can mobile deposit those checks?” These are some ways they cultivate a relationship. Fraudsters want to be your friend. They want to make you feel comfortable in being willing to give them money or information.

Fraudsters will try to scare you by saying things like, “Hey, we’re the government and you didn’t pay your taxes.” Or, “There’s something wrong with your taxes. We’re going to audit you or we will shut off your utilities, like your electricity or your water.” Sometimes it’s “We will block your debit card. We haven’t heard from you. We’re concerned, so the bank is going to block your account and your debit card.” “We’ll evict you. You didn’t pay for rent.” Or also things like, “We’ve overcharged you so we’re going to give you money back. Please give us your login information so we can credit your account.” The one I am unfortunately most familiar with is grandparent scams. They will call you and say, “I am your grandson, your niece, etc. I’m locked up in jail. i’m in trouble. Please send money right away.” And they will continue to keep calling you. They try to scare you into quick action.

When fraudsters pose as service providers, they will most likely solicit you over the phone, email, or text. They’re going to try to sell you something. They’re going to try to solicit you for a job that you did not apply for. They’re going to solicit you for a credit card or loan. They’ll tell you that you have won the lottery or the sweepstakes. Most of the time, they will say, “You’re going to get money, so we’re going to send you a check. Can you send us money back?” They may also tell you, “Can you please send us the funds up front, and then we will get you in this big lottery or sweepstake in exchange?” In return, they ask for things like money, secure information, and financial help. They’re going to tell you, “We’re going to deposit your winnings in your checking account, so give us your online banking information.” These things are not the normal types of things service providers will ask. Real service providers may work with you to try to get the money to your bank, but they won’t ask you for things like your login access, debit card information, or your PIN. Those things are not needed to get you any funds that you are deserving of. 

 

Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of fraud. 

Always be suspicious. Fraudsters try to create rapport with you so that you let your guard down. Ask yourself, “Do I really know this person? Do these stories that they’re telling me make sense?” Fraudsters will spend a long time creating a relationship with you. I have heard of relationships that have gone 1-2 years before they even ask for money, but that’s because fraudsters have the time to sit around and cultivate multiple relationships with people they don’t know through social media. 

Never give out your secure information, including and not limited to, your online login, debit card number, PIN, account number, and Social Security number. Customers can send payments to other people using only debit card information, so if they have those numbers, they can take money from your account. 

Never rush. The fraudsters want you to rush. They always want you to hurry up. “Grandma, hurry up and send me money!” or “I’m stuck in Dubai, and I am in deep trouble. Please send me money for my attorney. Can you send the cash in the mail?” That’s another big no-no. Sending cash through the mail is very dangerous because once it’s sent, that cash is gone.

Always check your accounts. Review your accounts regularly and check for suspicious transactions. If you have online banking access, you should take a look at it regularly. In addition, most companies that deal with credit cards and banks will have a setting on their online banking which allows you to have notifications sent to you. So if money is being taken out of your account, you will immediately know.

For additional information, you can visit our American Savings Bank website at www.asbhawaii.com. Our security and fraud section is located at www.asbhawaii.com/security-fraud-privacy. We can also be reached by phone at (808) 627-6900 or our toll-free number (800) 272-2566. If you have any questions, please give us a call.

Catherine Mitchell Alzheimer's Research in Hawaii

Current Alzheimer’s Research in Hawaii

by Catherine Mitchell, Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience

Aloha! My name is Catherine Mitchell, and I’m Dr. Pat Borman’s clinical research coordinator. We are at the Alzheimer’s Research Unit at the Memory Disorder Center and I am discussing our two clinical trials for Alzheimer’s disease. 

The first trial is the Agitation in Alzheimer’s Trial. The study medication is an oral pill called AVP-786. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate how AVP-786 works compared to placebo (or sugar pill) in the treatment of agitation in patients with Alzheimer’s. We all know that these are very trying times and there is help. So if you know any kupuna who are showing any agitation just due to the circumstances, please know that we are here to help. For those who are wondering how to volunteer for this trial: you must be at least 50 years old, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and have a memory score MMSE of 8 to 24. This is a 5-month study, and of course, you must have a reliable caregiver to assist you in the study.

The second trial is our Annovis Trial – Phase I/II. This study medication is called Posiphen, which was created by the National Institute of Health (NIH), and it is in its early stages of clinical trials. Posiphen lowers the levels of neurotoxic proteins such as amyloid beta, tau, alpha-synuclein. These proteins are known to play a role in Alzheimer’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. It is thought that by lowering these neurotoxic proteins, it will improve your cognitive and motor functions. This trial is being studied in both Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Parkinson’s Disease (PD). For this trial, you must be at least 45 years old, diagnosed with either AD or PD, and as with our other trial, you must have a study partner to assist you in the study. If you or anyone you know would like to participate in this trial, feel free to call our research hotline at (808) 564-6141 or please email us at info@hawaiineuroscience.com. Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience is located at the old St. Francis Hospital in Liliha on O’ahu.

Medicare Martha Event Cover (1)

Medicare Open Enrollment ENDS Mon, Dec. 7!

Join Russell Shimooka and “Medicare Martha” Khlopin for a Facebook live event on December 3rd @ 3-3:30pm. They will be answering all your questions about Medicare enrollment!

Facebook Live Event with Medicare Martha

Martha Khlopin is a talk radio show host for “A Medicare Moment with Martha”, which airs in Hawaii for Salem Media Group, America’s leading broadcaster in talk programming. Martha’s show airs on AM690 THE ANSWER and 94.3FM. She also produces and hosts a Medicare program on Olelo Community television.

Pat Borman Dementia Blog 2

Lewy Body Dementia

by Dr. Pat Borman
Director of Memory Disorders Center, Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) includes Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB) and Parkinson’s Disease Dementia (PDD). These diseases are associated with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and start with the abnormal accumulation of alpha synuclein in different parts of the brain. DLB precedes the diagnosis of PD, while PDD develops after the changes of PD have occurred. Currently 1.4 million people in the United States are coping with LBD. It is the third most common type of dementia after Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia.

LBD has many unusual features such as variable levels of awareness and consciousness. They display rapid shifts between orientation and confusion, being alert or drowsy, and being at attention or unfocused. Changes in the processing of visual information are prominent with visuospatial changes such as struggling with depth perception, location, and the interrelationship of objects. There can be mistakes in decoding positional information such as above or below, going left or right, and inside or outside.

Compared to other types of dementia, LBD displays a range of psychiatric symptoms that include simple or complex visual hallucinations. A simple visual hallucination might be seeing a kitten in the room. A complex visual hallucination could involve people, actions, and purpose. Sometimes hallucinations are pleasant, warm, or reassuring while others are confusing, frightening, or even terrifying.

People with LBD can develop delusions (fixed beliefs that do not reflect reality) such as jealousy delusions that a spouse is unfaithful or persecutory delusions of being threatened or maltreated and are very real to the person with LBD. This can trigger a huge outpouring of emotions or misunderstandings. Agitation and anxiety can be triggered in people living with LBD, their families, and caregivers.

These changes can simultaneously occur with the motor symptoms of PD such as slowness, tremors, and difficulties with posture and balance. There are also many non-motor symptoms of PD such as dizziness, fainting, and falling due to uncontrolled changes in blood pressure. People with LBD can have severe difficulties with constipation, excessive drooling and abnormal temperature regulation.

Medications to treat the symptoms of LBD may be less effective than with other types of dementia. Sometimes the medications have a paradoxical effect. Instead of helping to reduce hallucinations the medications could make the hallucinations worse. It will be important to work closely with your medical team to find the best treatments for you. Your team could include neurologists, geriatrics specialists, psychiatrists and physical  therapy experts with the goal to protect your comfort and safety. We diligently work to promote the highest quality of life possible for those living with LBD.

The Clinical Research Center at Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience is running new clinical trials in neurological conditions such as Dementia due to Alzheimer’s Disease, Parkinson’s Disease, and Traumatic Brain Injury. Our center runs Phase 1 to Phase 4 trials in global studies that are also running in top tier institutions such as Stanford, Mayo Clinic, and University of Amsterdam. Please email us at info@hawaiineuroscience.com or call our research hotline at (808) 564-6141 for more information.

Martha Khlopin Medicare Blog 5

Medicare Part A, Part B and Part D Prescription Drug Plans

by Martha Khlopin, Hawaii Helps: Health Enrollment Literacy Program & Services

In 1965 former President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare insurance bill into law. Medicare insurance included Part A which covers hospitalization, skilled nursing, home health care and hospice.  Part B covers physician visits, outpatient services, physical therapy, durable medical equipment, ambulances, labs, x-rays, etc. It is known as Original Medicare or Traditional Medicare. Medicare Part D was introduced on January 1, 2006 and provides some coverage for medications part of the plan’s drug formulary.  Original Medicare does not include coverage for hearing aids, dental care, eyeglasses and long term care insurance. Other Medicare options offered by private insurance companies may include benefits beyond original medicare like gym memberships, dental care, routine vision and eyeglasses.

Martha Khlopin

How Medicare Coordinates with Other Insurance

by Martha Khlopin, Hawaii Helps: Health Enrollment Literacy Program & Services

When you qualify and enroll in Medicare insurance the coverage will coordinate with any employer coverage you may have. If you work for a company with less than 20 employees, Medicare generally pays first for medically necessary, medicare approved benefits. The employer will pay after Medicare pays. If you have coverage from a company plan that employs 20 or more, the employer plan will generally pay claims first and Medicare will be the secondary payor.  It is important to show all current, active insurance cards when you seek services.

Martha Khlopin Medicare Blog 3

Medical Need & Daily Living Needs

by Martha Khlopin, Hawaii Helps: Health Enrollment Literacy Program & Services

Have you ever heard of a medical insurance claim being denied? It happens. Most people are unaware that for a claim to be paid under their medical insurance it must be medically necessary. If you have medicare insurance only medicare approved services will be covered. So it is important to read the benefit summary of covered services and make a note of what is not covered. If there is an additional benefit you are interested in you may need to pick up additional insurance like dental or eyewear coverage and pay any costs.

Martha Khlopin Blog 2

Medicare Health Care Costs

by Martha Khlopin, Hawaii Helps: Health Enrollment Literacy Program & Services

Those of us who are blessed to enjoy good health are often unprepared for a sudden or prolonged illness. When selecting a Medicare plan you should consider your health needs as you age. Pay close attention to the cost of medications in your plan and any deductibles. You may also want to look at the costs of durable medical equipment such as, crutches, walkers, wheelchairs. The costs of care when you have Medicare coverage could be quite different than costs under an employer plan. So carefully review and understand how your Medicare plan works to avoid surprises.

Martha Khlopin Blog 1

The Price Is Right!

by Martha Khlopin, Hawaii Helps: Health Enrollment Literacy Program & Services

When it is time to select your Medicare plan, choose carefully and make sure the plan will be affordable. Remember Medicare insurance is not free and most people pay a premium for Part B benefits. Depending on the medicare option selected, you could have additional plan premiums, deductibles, and copays for physician visits, hospitalizations, x-rays etc.

Medicare is a valuable benefit and many options are available to fit your needs and budget. So review your budget and choose the right plan at the right price.

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