Wisconsin Senior Medicare Patrol

Wisconsin Businesses Get Federal Dollars for Retirement Funds

2. September 2010

Uncle Sam will pony up millions to private businesses, state and county offices that need funds for retirement benefits. The Superior Telegram sums it up best in a recent story: Fifty-three public and private employers in Wisconsin are in line for federal money to help pay for early retirement benefits. The intent is to preserve [...]

New Scams in Clark County

1. September 2010

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Scammers are targeting Clark County residents with two popular scams, according to a new story in WQOW. One is the grandparent scam, where someone calls up a senior, pretending to be a grandchild in “desperate” need for cash. They get the unsuspecting senior to forward case via Western Union or other delivery service, then vanish. [...]

Consumer Complaints Down in Wisconsin

30. August 2010

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New numbers released from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection show that consumer complaints dropped 10 percent last year. WisconsinWatch.org posted a story about the drop on its website, which included this snippet: DATCP Division of Trade and Consumer Protection Administrator Janet Jenkins wrote in an e-mail that it’s impossible to suss [...]

New Rules for Credit Card Users Limit Penalties and Fees

27. August 2010

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This month, new federal rules will limit just how much a credit card company can charge for extra fees. The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act prohibits credit card issuers from charging astronomical fees for late payments or over-the-limit balances. What you need to know about the CARD Act: Credit card companies can’t [...]

Scammers Target Women Looking for Love

25. August 2010

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Crooks are tugging at heartstrings to get cash from women looking for love online. Scammers are pretending to be soldiers on popular dating sites. Once they hook a mark, they ask for cash. When they get the cash, they vanish. From the Wisconsin Better Business Bureau: According to the U.S. Army Criminal Investigative Command, these scammers [...]

Wisconsin Rep’s Senior Protection Bill Approved by House

23. August 2010

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Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives approved the The Senior Financial Empowerment Act (H.R. 3040), a bill that aims to stop crooks from scamming seniors. The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin of Madison. According to an editorial in The Cap Times: The Senior Financial Empowerment Act creates a centralized service for consumer education on [...]

Wisconsin Students Scammed by College

23. August 2010

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A 23-year old Wisconsinite is suing a Colorado college that she claims duped her out of thousands. Federal authorities are investigating Westwood College of Denver, which was illegally operating in Wisconsin. Recruiters told the girl her interior design degree would be approved by the state by the time she graduated – but that wasn’t the [...]

Scammers Target Associated Bank Customers

20. August 2010

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Scammers are targeting Wisconsinites who hold accounts with Associated Bank, the largest bank in the state. The fraudsters used text messages to tell customers that their accounts had been hacked. Luckily, customers got suspicious when the crooks asked for confidential information – like their debit card PIN numbers – and reported it to police. WISN.com [...]

Uncle Sam Tries to Get Back Millions in Medicare Fraud

18. August 2010

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The federal government is spending millions to get back billions from Medicare fraudsters. Government agencies got $300 million from the feds to investigate Medicare fraud, which costs Uncle Sam about $60 billion a year, according to a report at All247News.com. A third of all fraud originates in Florida, the story reports.

Mortgage Broker Gets 4 1/2 Years for Fraud

17. August 2010

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A mortgage broker from Sun Prairie will spend 51 months in prison for defrauding banks and lenders. From an FBI news release: (Brian K.) Bowling pled guilty to engaging in a mortgage fraud scheme using his mortgage brokerage company called Platinum Concepts. Bowling defrauded banks and other mortgage lenders by submitting false loan applications to [...]