Thursday is Slam the Scam Day, organized by the Social Security Administration to alert seniors about imposter scams.
This is the fourth yr the administration’s inspector normal has targeted on warning the general public about fraudsters who stress victims into making money or present card funds to repair alleged Social Security quantity issues or to keep away from arrest.
For a number of years, Social Security impersonation scams have been one of the vital frequent authorities imposter scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission. Social Security has made concerted efforts to handle the problem, by intensive outreach and investigative initiatives. These efforts have made a major impression, lowering cash reported misplaced to Social Security scams by 30% from 2021 to 2022.
“I am proud of the work we have done to combat Social Security imposter scams and raise public awareness,” mentioned Kilolo Kijakazi, appearing commissioner of Social Security. “We will continue to use every tool at our disposal to protect the public and their critical benefits. We urge Americans to remain vigilant, do not give out personal information or money, and report any scam attempts.”
Scammers use refined ways to trick potential victims into disclosing private and monetary info.
Typically, they use these P’s: Pretend, Prize or Problem, Pressure and Payment.
For instance, scammers faux they’re from Social Security in cellphone calls or emails and declare there’s a drawback with the individual’s Social Security quantity.
The scammer’s caller ID could also be spoofed to seem like a reliable authorities quantity. Scammers can also ship pretend paperwork to stress individuals into complying with calls for for info or cash. Other frequent ways embrace citing “badge numbers” and utilizing fraudulent Social Security letterhead to focus on people for cost or private info.
The Social Security Administration mentioned it’s going to by no means say your Social Security quantity is suspended; contact you to demand a direct cost; threaten you with arrest; ask to your credit score or debit card numbers over the cellphone; request present playing cards or money; or promise a Social Security profit approval or enhance in trade for info or cash.
Social Security staff do contact the general public by phone for enterprise functions. Ordinarily, the company calls individuals who have lately utilized for a Social Security profit, are already receiving funds and require an replace to their file, or have requested a cellphone name from the company. If there’s a drawback with an individual’s Social Security quantity or file, Social Security will usually mail a letter.
“Working with our law enforcement and private sector partners to inform consumers about scammers and their deceptive practices remains a priority for my office. We will continue promoting National Slam the Scam Day to help protect consumers from these predators. Slamming the scam begins with consumers quickly taking a step to hang up the phone, or delete suspicious texts and emails, without responding to the scammers,” mentioned Gail S. Ennis, inspector normal for the Social Security Administration. “That remains the easiest and most effective method to avoid falling prey to these vicious scams.”
At 1 p.m. on Thursday the FTC’s National Consumer Protection Week Twitter chat in Spanish for recommendation on avoiding frequent scams with @laFTC. Follow the dialog by utilizing the hashtag #NCPW2023.
It is adopted at 3 p.m. by an English chat for recommendation on avoiding frequent scams with @FTC. Follow the dialog by utilizing the hashtag #NCPW2023.
To report a rip-off try, go to oig.ssa.gov. For extra info, go to www.ssa.gov/rip-off and www.ssa.gov/fraud.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”