Avoiding Claim Scams

Be cautious if anyone guarantees a specific dollar amount before reviewing your records, asks for payment before doing any work, pressures you to sign immediately or refuses to give a physical office address and bar number. Unsolicited calls, texts or emails claiming you are owed money from an asbestos fund deserve extra caution, especially if they ask you to confirm personal details. Legitimate professionals will explain clearly how they are paid, give you time to think and talk with family, and put their agreement in writing for you to keep. If something feels wrong, it is fine to hang up.

Every licensed attorney can be looked up through the state bar in each state where they practice. Check that the lawyer's license is active and whether there is any public record of discipline. Ask who will actually work on your case, where they are located and whether your case would be referred to another firm. If a company describes itself as a claims service rather than a law firm, ask exactly what it does, how it is paid and whether a licensed attorney is involved. A trustworthy business will answer these questions openly and will not rush you.

Medical records, Social Security numbers and bank details are valuable to criminals. Share them only after you have confirmed who you are dealing with and why they need the information. Do not give account numbers over the phone to unexpected callers, even if they seem to know details about your illness. If you think you shared information with a scammer, contact your bank right away, consider placing a fraud alert or credit freeze, and report the incident to the appropriate authorities. Tell other family members too, since scammers sometimes contact relatives next.

1. 1

   Look up any attorney's license on the state bar website before signing anything.

2. 2

   Refuse any request for upfront fees for a mesothelioma trust or injury claim.

3. 3

   Ask for every agreement in writing and take time to read it at home.

4. 4

   Share Social Security and bank details only after verifying who is asking.