The Haines Agency

Tips For Avoiding Fraud During The Holidays
Perhaps no one loves the holidays more than fraudsters. Each year, scammers and identity thieves steal billions of dollars from unsuspecting consumers using various communication methods to trick you out of your money.

To help keep your guard up this holiday season, here are three common scams to watch out for and actions you can take to protect your personal information and funds:

1. Imposter Scams: Fraudsters pretend to be someone you know, like a family member, friend, or a representative from the Credit Union, IRS, Social Security Administration, or a tech support person from a company whose software you use. Imposters try to make you trust them to steal your personal information or ask you to buy a gift card, send digital currency, or transfer money. They may share some of your personal information, like your birthdate or the last four digits of your social security number, to gain your trust.

Play it safe: Your Financial Institutions and government agencies will not ask for money or your personal and financial information. If you’re unsure whether the caller is who they say they are, hang up. If they send you a text, do not open it or click on any links.

2. Online Shopping Scams: Fraudsters have many tactics for scamming you when you shop online, from not sending you products despite your payment to creating fake websites and apps mimicking popular retailers’ sites. They use these fake websites to take your money and payment information. They also create counterfeit apps containing malware (malicious software) that can lock up your files, steal your passwords, or spy on your digital activity.

Play it safe: Read refund and return policies before making an online purchase. If your order doesn’t arrive or your refund request is denied, dispute the charges. Using a credit card for online purchases can make the dispute process much easier. Watch out for bogus websites and suspicious apps, and only use official retailer websites and apps, which may offer stronger security. Study the website’s address bar and URL. If there are any misspellings in the web address, it’s a red flag that the website is not legitimate. Also, monitor your credit and debit card transactions regularly to increase the chance of spotting unauthorized purchases or withdrawals in the early stage of this fraud.

3. Fake Check Scams: Despite many variations, phony check scams involve two main components: 1) Scammers send cashier’s checks or money orders to you, and 2) they ask you to send part of the cashed money back to them in gift cards, money orders, or cryptocurrency. If you deposit the checks and they are found to be fraudulent, you will likely be required to pay the deposited funds back to your credit union or bank.

Play it safe: Cashier’s checks are not cash, and it can take weeks to validate legitimacy. If the amount on the check is more than what it should be, void it and ask the sender to resend another check for the correct amount. Do not wire or send gift cards, money orders, or cryptocurrency. Your money is not protected in these transactions.

Hey DFW!! We got hail!! Remember just because you had hail does not mean you have a hail claim! Make sure there is enough damage to justify your claim! And watch out for all the unethical roofing companies! Call me for a trustworthy referral!!

Hey there, all you wonderful people in Texas! In case you are unaware, cold weather is coming to Texas this week, and there's going to be a HARD FREEZE! So here are some things you should do to make sure your house is protected and your pipes don't burst!

1. Disconnect and cover your outside pipes. There are simple covers you can buy to put on your outside faucets that will keep the heat from escaping and protect the pipe.

2. I know this sounds strange, but empty your refrigerator's ice bucket. Sometimes the water line that leads to your refrigerator is in the attic. Dumping the ice will cause the machine to continue to make ice and keep that water flowing in that pipe enough to keep it from freezing.

3. During the coldest part of of the night, open your kitchen/bathroom sink cabinets to allow more of the warmth of your house to warm them, and keep your faucet dripping to allow water to keep moving through the system. This will help prevent cold spots from freezing.

4. Make sure you have a water key and KNOW where your water main cut off is. In case a pipe bursts in your house, turning off the water as fast as possible will help prevent damage.

These simple steps can help protect your home! Take a few minutes to go over them and be prepared.

On the claims side, if you do have a broken pipe, before you call your insurance company, find out how much it will cost to repair. You have a deductible on your home. There are times there won't be enough damage to make a claim be worth your while. So get an estimate BEFORE you call the claims department. If you have questions, call us at the office and we can help!

Need to save some money in time for the holidays? Give us a call at the office for a quote. We can help with your auto, home, trailers, boats, motorcycles, and more! Let our family help yours.

The insurance Market is very volatile right now. Rates are rising and companies are making changes to policies to control claim loss. Before your switch your coverage for a cheaper price make sure you understand everything the policy is offering you. If you are not an expert in coverage, call us and we will help you understand. We have been finding better coverage at a better price for 20 years now. Let us help you!

Cheating on my diet whole celebrating Pride and supporting a awesome local business! Pride cookie made by the Hive Bakery

Hello, Friends! We have a winter storm about to go through DFW here is some tips for preparing your house and pipes. Remember if the power goes out, do not use your stove/oven to keep warm or run your car in the garage. Doing so can pose a risk for carbon monoxide poisoning. Bundle up and stay safe out there. And if anything happens reach out to your friendly neighborhood insurance agency. Let our family help yours.

Winter storms: Tips for preparing your house and pipes How to protect your home and property in freezing weather.

Got a visit from Ryan Kelly with Proco Roofing today! Seems Rebecca and I won their trivia contest! Even though they give us candy we already refer them as expert roofers!

As we move into Memorial Day Weekend, let us remember those who gave everything for us to enjoy our Country and our Freedoms. Be Safe this weekend!