Page 14 - Senior Times South Central Michigan May 2023 - 30-05

Page 14
Updates on Your
SOCIAL SECURITY
Hillary Hatch, Special to Senior Times
SLAM THE SCAM WITH SOCIAL SECURITY
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Social Security scams – where fraud- sters pressure victims into making cash or gift card payments to fix alleged Social Security number problems or to avoid arrest – are an ongoing govern- ment imposter fraud scheme.
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Ordinarily, we call people who recently applied for benefits, are already receiv- ing payments and require updates to their record or requested a phone call from us. If there is a problem with a per- son’s Social Security number or record, we will mail a letter.
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The Social Security Administration and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) continued to raise public aware- ness about Social Security imposter scams.
“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 promot- ing National Slam the Scam Day to help protect consumers from these predators. Slamming the scam begins with con- sumers quickly taking a step to hang
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Benefits Counseling
(517) 629-3842 - Albion (800) 803-7174 - Battle Creek (269) 781-0846 - Marshall
Community Care Options
(269) 441-0948
Dental Services
(269) 781-0952
Handy Helper Services & Bed Bug Remediation (866) 200-8877
Hearing & Vision Services
(269) 441-0964
Home Heating Assistance
(269) 965-7766
Legal Assistance
(800) 688-3951
Meal Delivered / Meal Sites
(866) 200-8877
Minor Home Repair
(877) 422-2726
Money Management
(269) 788-1678
Personal Emergency Response
(269) 441-0930
Prescription Assistance
(269) 781-0952
Ramps for Accessibility
(866) 200-8877
Senior Fitness & Fun
(269) 441-0948
Senior Transportation
(269) 565-4144
We will never:
• Tell you that your Social Security
Scammers continue to evolve and find new ways to steal your money
and personal information. Please stay vigilant and help raise awareness about Social Security-related scams and other government imposter scams.
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Scammers also pose as Social Security or other government employees and claim there’s a problem with your Social Security number (SSN) or your benefits. They may even claim your SSN is linked to a crime.
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Calhoun County Senior Millage
• Never give personal information or money.
All services are funded by the citizens of Calhoun County through support of the Senior Millage. Services are available to any County resident, age 60 and over. Some programs may have additional eligibility requirements.
315 West Green St. Marshall, MI 49068
269-781-0846
269.963.8222
www.calhouncountymi.gov
For several years, Social Security impersonation scams have been one of the most common government imposter scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission. We’ve made concerted efforts to address this issue, through extensive outreach and investigative initiatives. These efforts have made
a significant impact, reducing money reported lost to Social Security scams by 30 percent from 2021 to 2022.
up the phone, or delete suspicious texts and emails, without responding to the scammers,” said Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for the Social Security Administration. “That remains the eas- iest and most effective method to avoid falling prey to these vicious scams.”
“I am proud of the work we have done to combat Social Security imposter scams and raise public awareness,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, acting 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.”
Knowing how to identify potential scammers will help safeguard your per- sonal information.
Scammers use sophisticated tactics to trick potential victims into disclos- ing personal and financial informa- tion. Typically, they use the five P’s
– Pretend, Prize or Problem, Pressure, and Payment. For example, scammers pretend they are from Social Security in phone calls or emails and claim there is a problem with the person’s Social Security number. The scammer’s caller ID may be spoofed to look like a legit- imate government number. Scammers may also send fake documents to pressure people into complying with demands for information or money. Other common tactics include citing “badge numbers” and using fraudulent Social Security letterhead to target indi- viduals for payment or personal infor- mation.
When you identify a potential scammer:
number is suspended.
• Contact you to demand an immediate
Tell your friends and family about government imposter scams. Let them know they don’t have to be embarrassed to report if they shared personal finan- cial information or suffered a financial loss. The important thing is to report the scam right away.
payment.
• Threaten you with arrest.
• Ask for your credit or debit card num-
bers over the phone.
• Request gift cards or cash.
• Promise a Social Security benefit
Together, we can “Slam the Scam!”
approval or increase in exchange for information or money.
To report a scam attempt, go to oig. ssa.gov. For more information, please visit www.ssa.gov/scam and www.ssa.gov/antifraudfacts.
Our employees do contact the pub- lic by telephone for business purposes.
There are common elements to many of these scams. Scammers often exploit fears and threaten you with arrest or legal action.
• Hang up right away or ignore the message.
• Report the scam immediately to our Office of the Inspector General.
If you owe money to Social Security, we’ll mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. We only accept payments electronically through Pay.gov, Online Bill Pay, or physically by check or money order through our offices.
Stacey Lott
Attorney at Law
Estate Planning & Elder Law
130 East Columbia Avenue Battle Creek, MI 49015
www.staceylottlaw.com