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.
Here are three scams that are likely to be prevalent in September:
1. Back-to-School Phishing Scams
• How it Works: Scammers send fake emails or text messages pretending to be from schools, universities, or educational suppliers. These messages may offer discounts on school supplies, demand urgent tuition payments, or claim to update student records.
• Red Flags:
• Emails with urgent payment requests or unexpected login links.
• Misspellings or generic greetings like “Dear Student” instead of your name.
• Unfamiliar sender email addresses.
• How to Avoid: Always verify with the school directly and never click on suspicious links.
2. Hurricane or Disaster Relief Scams
• How it Works: September is peak hurricane season in the Atlantic, so scammers take advantage of disasters by setting up fake relief fund websites or posing as charities seeking donations.
• Red Flags:
• Unsolicited calls, emails, or social media messages asking for donations.
• Requests for donations via gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency.
• Fake charity names that sound similar to real ones.
• How to Avoid: Verify charities through Charity Navigator or the Better Business Bureau (BBB) before donating.
3. Labor Day Travel & Sales Scams
• How it Works: Scammers create fake airline ticket deals, hotel discounts, or Labor Day sales on social media and fake websites. Victims pay for a trip or product that doesn’t exist.
• Red Flags:
• Too-good-to-be-true travel deals.
• Being asked to pay via CashApp, Zelle, or Venmo instead of a credit card.
• Websites with poor design, misspellings, or missing contact details.
• How to Avoid: Book directly with well-known airlines, hotels, or retailers, and check for HTTPS in the website URL.
_________________________
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
