Today, March 7, is the fourth annual Slam the Scam Day, a part of National Consumer Protection Week. The public awareness campaign seeks to warn residents about Social Security scams and other government imposter scams.
To protect yourself, it is important to know the tell-tale signs of a scam call, text, or email. These scams almost always include four features:
- Pretend to be from an agency or organization you know.
- Say there is a problem or promise a prize.
- Pressure you to act immediately.
- Tell you to pay in a specific way, often by gift card, cryptocurrency, mailing cash, or other hard-to-trace methods.
Scammers might claim they are from the Social Security Administration, Department of Job and Family Services or another agency and tell you your benefits will end unless you pay immediately. Scammers claim that a warrant has been issued for your arrest for missing jury duty and you must now pay a fine. Other scams might claim a close relative is in jail and needs bailed out. Each situation is presented as urgent and resolved by paying the scammer as soon as possible.
“Scammers purposefully prey on our emotions and fears. It can be very easy to get flustered, make a split-second decision, and pay the scammers out of fear,” said County Executive Ilene Shapiro. “But the best thing you can do is to pause and hang up the phone.”
Executive Shapiro urges residents to remember:
- Government agencies will not call, email, or text you for money or personal information.
- Law enforcement agencies will not call you if there is a warrant out for your arrest.
- Never make payments with gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or by mailing cash.
If you receive a suspicious call, report Social Security Scams to OIG.SSA.GOV and all other scams to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
