The days are getting shorter, the temperatures are pleasant, and the fall foliage is beautiful. This is also the time of year when scammers are ramping up their tricks and tactics.
Source: Social Security Administration
October 31, 2024 • By William Bardin, Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Program Integrity
As we prepare to set our clocks back an hour this weekend, don’t “fall back” into bad habits and let your guard down.
Scammers are constantly tweaking old scams and designing new ones to trick you into giving them money or personal information. They target people of all ages through text, email, phone calls, and social media.
Falling for a scam could set you back more than just an hour. Our most recent datashows people ages 70 to 84 report the greatest losses – an average of nearly $12,000.
By recognizing the basic signs of a scam, you can protect yourself and avoid becoming a victim.
Many scammers work the same way. They:
- Pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain your trust.
- Claim there is a problem or prize.
- Pressure you to act immediately.
- Tell you to pay in a specific way.
Watch out for red flags
Keep an eye out for these red flags, and remember that our employees will never:
- Threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don’t agree to pay money immediately.
- Suspend your Social Security number or monthly payment.
- Claim to need personal information or payment to activate a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) or another benefit.
- Pressure you to take immediate action, including sharing personal information.
- Ask you to pay with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or cash.
- Threaten to seize your bank account.
- Offer to move your money to a “protected” bank account.
- Demand secrecy.
- Direct message you on social media.
Please stay alert and share this important information with friends and family. By remaining vigilant, recognizing common signs, and watching for red flags, you and your loved ones can avoid “falling” for scams. Visit ssa.gov/scams and watch our videos for more information about preventing and reporting fraud.
