National Slam The Scam Day

Rebecca Rose, the press officer for the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General, offers tips on how to avoid being scammed on “Slam the Scam Day” during National Consumer Protection Week.

Chances are someone you know has received a call or message from someone pretending to be a government employee. These calls often allege that your information has been compromised or they demand immediate payment. Ignore it. This is just one of the tips that Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG) is sharing to warn consumers about these scams through our National Slam the Scam Day initiative on March 10, 2022.

Slam the Scam Day is an initiative to raise public awareness of the pervasive scams that continue to plague the nation and is part of the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) National Consumer Protection Week, happening March 6-12, 2022. The initiative, which began in 2020 to combat Social Security-related scams, is now expanding to include other government imposter scams. In a government imposter scam, someone claims to be an SSA, or another government employee, and may ask for personal information, demand payment, or make threats. These scams primarily use the telephone, but scammers may also use email, text messages, social media, or U.S. mail.

You can read the rest of the piece via the below link:

National Slam the Scam Day Approaching on March 10Social Security Matters (ssa.gov) 

FBI Warns Of Phone Scam That Uses Threats, Spoofed FBI Phone Numbers

The FBI's Philadelphia Division offers the below warning:

The FBI’s Philadelphia Division is again warning the public to be on alert for a phone scam that spoofs, or fakes, the FBI’s name and actual telephone number on the recipient’s caller ID.

We have seen our main number (215-418-4000) spoofed in this manner, as well as the phone numbers of the division’s resident agencies:

Allentown - 610-433-6488

Fort Washington - 215-641-8910

Harrisburg - 717-232-8686

Newtown Square - 610-353-4500

Scranton - 570-344-2404

South Jersey - 856-795-9556

State College - 814-234-0341

Williamsport - 570-323-3791

Scammers have targeted residents around the region, claiming to be with the FBI; the intended victim may be told there’s a federal warrant for their arrest, which will be thrown out in exchange for immediate payment.

FBI field offices across the country have received reports of similar calls, showing local FBI phone numbers. The caller says they are an FBI agent and demands money – for school loans, back taxes, even unpaid parking tickets. The caller often knows the name, background, and personal cell phone number of the intended victim.

International students attending U.S. colleges and universities have also been targeted. The caller insists there are problems with the visitor’s financial aid, and/or student visa, and threatens deportation if payment is not made.

Please note that the FBI does not call or e-mail people to demand money or threaten arrest.

To avoid becoming the victim of a scam:

Always be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls

Never give money or personal information to someone with whom you don’t have ties and did not initiate contact

Trust your instincts: if an unknown caller makes you uncomfortable or says things that don’t sound right, hang up

Victims of phone or online scams can file a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.IC3.gov.

My On Crime & Security Column: 11 Ways To Avoid A Carjacking

 

The national business web site AllBusiness.com published my latest On Crime & Security column today.

My column offers tips to aviod being carjacked. Carjacking is a violent crime perpetrated by today's most violent criminals.

You can read the rest of my piece via the below link:

http://www.allbusiness.com/allbusiness-crime-prevention-tips/16698514-1.html