Health/Safety Alert: SCDCA Warns That Cosmetic Contact Lenses May Not Be A Safe Costume Accessory

With Halloween just around the corner, the South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs is warning parents and children about the sale of decorative/cosmetic contact lenses without a prescription. The final touches on many costumes this season often include colored or decorative contact lenses, one of the fastest growing segments in the US contact lens industry.

 Currently, over three million Americans wear cosmetic contact lenses. These accessories, however, pose serious health risks if not properly prescribed and fitted by a health professional – risks that range from swelling and infection to blindness and possible eye loss.

The Law:

In South Carolina, it is illegal to sell or dispense contact lenses without a valid, unexpired contact lens prescription from a licensed optometrist or ophthalmologist.

The Department of Consumer Affairs can issue fines of up to $5,000.00 to persons and businesses that violate this law.

The Department has recently fined a business for the illegal sale of cosmetic contact lenses and is currently investigating a number of other businesses.

What You Should Know:

Consumers should know that serious health complications are also associated with contact lenses not being fitted by a licensed eye care professional and lenses that are not properly maintained. Decorative contact lenses do not provide corrective vision. Smokers are eight times more likely to develop corneal ulcers. HIV remains a potential concern because the virus has been isolated from contact lenses, corneal tissue and tears of patients with AIDS. Antihistamines, birth control pills, alcohol and air travel, all conditions that tend to cause dryness in the eyes, may also increase the risk of infection from contact lenses.

What You Should Do:

Before getting decorative contact lenses, consumers should follow all precautions.

• Get an eye exam from a licensed professional.
• Obtain a prescription that includes the size, shape, power and brand of the lens. Many problems occur from decorative contact lenses that are too small and constrict the eyeball.
• Follow instructions provided by the health care professional for cleaning and wearing the lenses.
• Schedule a follow-up appointment with your eye care professional.

Consumers can find out more information about decorative or colored contact lenses by viewing the Department’s publication:  Fast Facts for Teens: Decorative Contact Lenses  or by contacting the Public Information Division at (803) 734-4190, or 1-800-922-1594 or online at www.scconsumer.gov and click on Live Chat.

SHRED DAY – OCTOBER 30, 2008

WHAT: 

A free public service for consumers, sponsored by the S C Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA), Shred 360, and Carolina Records & Information Management (CRIM)

WHERE:

S C Department of Consumer Affairs – 3600 Forest Drive – Columbia, S C

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church – 6952 St. Andrews Road – Columbia, S C

TIME:

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

AND

2:00 PM – 6:00 PM

*******LIMIT: 2 boxes****Consumers will be served first! *********

SCDCA Warns Consumers That Scammers May Be Using Phony YouTube Links To Break Into Computers

The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs, along with the S C State Library, are examples of state agencies with modest budgets that have learned to use some alternative, but economic, approaches to disseminate information and education.

One such way is YouTube, a social media site that allows users to upload video content for others to view.

SCDCA currently has several videos that enjoy a large audience not just in this state, but nationally and with viewers in some 20 foreign countries. The accepted link to these spots is found on the Department’s website (www.scconsumer.gov), and that’s where it will stay because scammers have found yet another way to compromise consumers by using something familiar and in the news.

Online security experts are alerting net users to be wary of messages urging them to watch the latest viral video on YouTube. They say it may be part of a scam that is sending out tainted links in order to ultimately break into computers and steal your personal information. The present scam is founded on the habit of net users to casually click links forwarded to them by online acquaintances, not realizing that the original message has been spoofed and the link is phony.

The scam begins with an e-mail containing links to “new” videos on YouTube that are described as “must-see.” Users clicking on the link are taken to a fake website closely resembling YouTube. The imitation is so good most users were not able to discern that is was a fake. Users then get a message saying they must download and update in order to view the latest video.

If users choose to go ahead with the download, they are unwittingly downloading malicious programming onto their computer. The malware is programmed to snoop on online computers, record keystrokes, and recover online passwords or any other confidential information stored offline by users. The victims are usually unaware of what has happened, as the message begins playing a video from the real YouTube site.

SCDCA officials encourage internet consumers to avoid clicking on links forwarded in emails – even if they look legitimate. ” If you want to see what’s on YouTube, go directly to YouTube, ” said Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston, SCDCA Administrator.  ” A simple search will take you to the video you want to see.” Consumers who want to view SCDCA videos may go to YouTube and type in SC Department of Consumer Affairs, or visit the Department’s website: www.scconsumer.gov for SCDCA TV and lots of other helpful information.

For more information, contact the Public Informaiton Division at (803) 734-4190, 1-800-922-1594 (toll-free in SC), or online at www.scconsumer.gov & click on Live Chat.

Telephone Scammers Pretending To Be From Medicare Making Calls In S.C.

SCDCA has received several calls from the Upstate in the past week from consumers who were told their Medicare account numbers had been changed. Although the caller knew the persons’ names and addresses (generally easy for scammers to obtain), the alert consumers became suspicious for sensitive information such as Social Security and bank account numbers.

Consumers should be aware that no government agency will ever contact you by telephone and ask for sensitive and identifying information.

Seniors and caregivers of seniors are being targeted with this scam and others. Medicare fraud can take the form of many health-related scams.

Senior citizens are frequent targets of Medicare schemes, especially by medical equipment manufacturers who offer seniors free medical products in exchange for their Medicare numbers.

Because a physician has to sign a form certifying that equipment or testing is needed before Medicare pays for it, con artists fake signatures or bribe corrupt doctors to sign the forms. Once a signature is in place, the maufacturers bill Medicare for merchandise or service that was not needed or was not ordered.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation confirms that threats to seniors is growing – and changing.

Baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are now the largest segment of our population. That means that the number of senior citizens is rising. Many younger boomers also have considerable computer skills, so criminals are modifying their targeting techniques using not only traditional telephone calls and mass mailings, but also online scams like phising and e-mail spamming.

Some Tips to Avoid Health-Related Fraud:

• Never sign blank insurance claim forms.
• Never give blanket authorization toa medical provider to bill for services rendered.
• Ask your medical providers what they will charge and what you will be expected to pay out-of-pocket.
• Carefully review your insurer’s explanation of the benefits statement. Call your insurer and provider if you have questions.
• Do not do business with door-to-door or telephone salespeople who tell you that services of medical equipment are free.
• Give you insurance/Medicare identification only to those who have provided you with medical services.
• Keep accurate records of all health care appointments.
•  Confirm with your doctor’s office that your physician ordered equipment for you.

Identity Theft Bill Provides More Protection For Consumers

South Carolina consumers can do more to protect their identity now that the General Assembly passed and Governor Mark Sanford signed the “Financial Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Protection Act” on April 12, 2008. The Act provides much needed protection for consumers and is one of the most consumer-friendly and comprehensive bills of its kind in the nation.

A primary provision in the bill allows consumers to freeze and thaw their credit report at no charge. Any consumer may place a freeze on their report., including those wanting to take proactive measures to protect themselves against identity theives, or not wanting to receive more credit than they can financially handle.

Businesses, however, have no need to worry about consumers not being able to make purchases as they choose. Thawing your credit only takes one phone call and 15 minutes.

South Carolina is one of only two states in the country that provides this service to consumers free of charge.

The Act also provides requirements in the area of credit report disputes that are similar to those in the Federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Under the Financial Identity Fraud and Identity Theft Protection Act, credit reporting agencies must follow certain procedures when a consumer notifies it of an inaccurate or untimely item on their credit report. The consumer is also given the right to sue a credit reporting agency if it does not comply with the Act. This portion of the act will be effective December 31, 2008.

In addition to giving consumers more control with their credit, the bill also addresses identity theft concerns. According to the Act, organizations and businesses who maintain consumers’ personal information must now alert consumers when their personal information may have been compromised. Notice of the security breach must also be given to the Department if 1,000 or more South Carolina consumers were affected. The Department has been given the responsibility of ensuring consumers are being informed when their identity has been compromised internally or externally. This portion of the bill will be effective July 1, 2009.

The bill also requires all organizations and businesses collecting personal information to have measures for the safe disposal of material “in a manner that makes it unreadable or undecipherable.” The Department has been tasked to ensure this requirement is satisfied. This portion of the bill will also be effective July 1, 2009.

Other provisions of the Act include making identity theft a crime, prohibiting dumpster diving, putting restrictions on the use of social security numbers, and limiting the information on credit card receipts.

For more information, contact the Public Informaiton Division at (803) 734-4190, 1-800-922-1594 (toll-free in SC), or online at www.scconsumer.gov & click on Live Chat.