Scams

SALT LAKE CITY -- A man who owned a loan modification business in Lehi and St. George is being accused of defrauding homeowners to pay for personal expenses including entertainment and his wife's plastic surgery.

SALT LAKE CITY -- Utah state officials are warning of scams after getting reports of unlicensed contractors trying to capitalize on damage from last week's windstorm.

Utah Department of Commerce Chief Francine Giani said the contractors have been canvassing neighborhoods and businesses in the wake of the Thursday storms, searching for properties that need repairs.

Family members, even children, swindling elderly relatives occurs too often in Utah, according to Deputy Davis County Attorney Rick Westmoreland.

SOUTH SALT LAKE -- The South Salt Lake Police Department is warning residents about a spike in money fraud scams over the past week that usually involves phone calls from distant area codes.

OGDEN -- A new twist on a phishing scam has Wells Fargo officials concerned for their customers.

The scam is nothing new, said Mark Chapman, spokesman for Utah Wells Fargo, but it is the first time scammers have attempted to use text messaging to gain account information.

WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Small Business Administration is urging disaster victims seeking federal aid to be alert to scam artists posing as federal officials and to be cautious about any solicitations for fees to perform services that are available from federal agency staff for free.

In the wake of widespread flooding, wildfires and tornados in many areas across the country over the past few months, the SBA is particularly concerned about flyers that have appeared in tornado-damaged areas asking for non-refundable fees of up to $450 to help disaster victims fill out their loan applications and as much as $1,000 to verify losses and file loan applications.

The Utah Department of Commerce is warning residents about a new scam involving Walmart gift cards.

Officials said residents have reported receiving phone calls from operators claiming the recipient is a random winner of a $400 gift card.