Donna J. Jodhan is a world renowned advocate, author, blogger, sight loss coach, dinner mystery writer and producer, entrepreneur, law graduate, and podcast commentator.
Donna has been in the business since 2000 and her many roles have allowed her to recognize that there is a growing need for consumers and clients to be made aware of some of the most dangerous and popular scams.
Donna herself has been unwittingly scammed over the years a few times and now she is using her skills, experience, knowledge, and expertise to help others avoid pitfalls and heartache.
And as a vision impaired professional and person she is ready to help you stay ahead!
Donna knows only too well how much we all need to work overtime to protect the most vulnerable from those unscrupulous scammers!
Please read her latest suite of scams and she would love to hear from you with your own feedback.
The three most prominent scams in October often reflect seasonal patterns, current events, and shifting tactics used by scammers. Based on historical trends and evolving fraud reports, here are three scams that tend to spike during October:
1. Online Shopping & Halloween Scams
October = Halloween. Scammers take advantage of the holiday rush by setting up fake websites selling costumes, decorations, or candy at discounted prices. These sites either:
•
Never deliver the product
•
Deliver counterfeit or low-quality goods
•
Steal your payment info
Red flags:
•
Unusually low prices
•
New websites with poor reviews
•
No secure payment options (HTTPS missing)
2. Student Loan Forgiveness Scams
With student loan payments often resuming around the fall (especially post-pandemic), scammers pose as “student loan relief agents” offering:
•
Loan forgiveness
•
Consolidation assistance
•
Lower payments—if you pay a fee upfront
Red flags:
•
They ask for personal info or money up front
•
Claim they’re from the “Department of Student Loan Relief” (not real)
•
Use pressure tactics (“Act now or lose your eligibility”)
3. Medicare & Open Enrollment Scams
Medicare open enrollment runs from October 15 – December 7. Scammers pretend to be from Medicare or a health insurance company to:
•
Steal your Medicare number
•
Sell bogus plans
•
Charge fees for services that are free
Red flags:
•
Unexpected calls asking for Medicare/SSN
•
Promises of better benefits for a fee
•
Fake websites posing as official Medicare portals
_________________________
Contact info:
Visit our websites at www.sterlingcreations.ca
www.donnajodhan.com
www.sterlingcreations.com
Email us at donnajodhan@sterlingcreations.ca
Or call us at 416 491-7711
