Scams

A viewer wanted to take the opportunity to buy a truck that he saw advertised on the Offer Up platform. He made the buy but in the end he ended up with no money and no car.

People are staying home and eating more during the pandemic. Randy Mac reported on NBC4 News on Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2020.

Emails claiming to offer COVID-19 vaccines to volunteers have been circulating but the NBC4 I-Team helps you distinguish these scam emails.  Randy Mac reports for NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Nov. 27, 2020.

Two people touring neighborhoods in Covina and other communities in Los Angeles County are pretending to be high school football players to ask people for money.

QR codes are more popular than ever with businesses, as they offer a convenient and touchless way to share information. But bad actors can replace QR codes in public with their own, granting them access to your phone.

A San Diego man says a scammer used his information to collect unemployment checks — but the thing is: He never lost his job, and now he says the unemployment office isn’t helping.

A woman shares her mailbox full of unemployment benefits letters addressed to different people. Hetty Chang reported on NBC4 News on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2020.

Consumer Investigator Randy Mac reports for NBC LA at 6 p.m. Thursday Sept. 3, 2020.

A former Beverly Hills stockbroker who worked with a fugitive hedge fund manager was sentenced Monday to six years in prison for his role in a stock manipulation scheme that fleeced investors out of more than $200 million. Todd Ficeto, 53, was also ordered to serve five years on supervised release after getting out of prison and pay restitution of…

A Baldwin Park woman who claimed she worked for the court system pleaded no contest Tuesday to stealing about $360,000 from more than three dozen customers who thought she was assisting them with immigration and real estate services. Eblin Balver, 53, was sentenced to seven years in jail and six years mandatory supervision — the latter for which she will…

Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer has released a consumer alert video warning of what he called an emerging scam connected to COVID-19 contact tracing. “While thousands of Californians are working legitimately as contact tracers to stop the spread of the virus, scammers are faking it trying to steal money and personal information under the guise of wanting to help,”…

While stuck at home, some feel it’s the perfect time to add a furry friend to the family, but scammers are lurking. Consumer investigator Randy Mac reports for the NBC4 News at 6 p.m. Thursday May 28, 2020.

An elaborate and updated version of a classic check scam has found renewed life on freelancing platforms.

We’re hearing a lot about ‘contact tracing’ lately, as part of efforts to contain coronavirus. Con artists are aiming to take advantage of it, too.

Many people are relying on Amazon deliveries during the coronavirus pandemic and fraudsters are taking advantage of that. Now, a new scam targeting Amazon customers is duping people out of a lot of money. Sheyla Maldonado got a text, which appeared to be from Amazon, telling her to review her shipment details. “I’m an Amazon Prime member,” said Maldonado....

Fraudsters are pretending to be Amazon to trick consumers into turning over their credit card number. Consumer investigator Randy Mac reports for the NBC4 News at 5 p.m. Friday May 22, 2020.

Scammers pretending to be coronavirus contact tracers are sending text messages to warn people they’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19 and need to click a link to learn more.

Randy Mac reports for the NBC4 I-Team on Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

Many Californians want to know how to help families struggling to get by as the coronavirus crisis continues — but there are crooks looking to take advantage of that generosity.

Califronia has turned into ground zero for coronavirus scams. Randy Mac reported on NBC4 News at 5 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2020.