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Earlier this month, an elderly couple pennsylvania More than $1.3 million was lost in one detailed plan It was carried out by a thief posing as a Social Security Administration employee.
Heartbreaking story highlights the importance of consumers of all ages knowing how to recognize social Security scam and understanding what is real Administration The employee will and will not.
Taking a team approach to spot scams can give older consumers the help they need to protect their finances. retirementsaid Ricardo Amper, CEO of identity verification firm Encode Technologies.
“Family members can help by having open, ongoing conversations about common scam tactics and setting a simple rule: Always verify before taking action,” Amper wrote in an email. Independent. “Helping loved ones secure online accounts with strong passwords and multi-factor authentication can reduce the impact if information is exposed.
The first step in fighting Social Security scams? Knowing what a legitimate representative of a federal department would never do.
No threats or scare tactics
John Hammond, principal security researcher at cybersecurity firm Huntress, said real Social Security Administration employees will never adopt a threatening tone or try to intimidate you over the phone.
“They will not suggest suspension of benefits or any legal action over the phone, and they will certainly never ask for immediate payment,” Hammond said. Independent In an email. “If you are ever asked for your Social Security number or bank details in an unsolicited call or text message, you are not talking to a legitimate SSA representative.”
Earlier this summer, the Social Security Administration caution Consumers of phone-based scams in which the crooks were pretending to be from the administration or other federal departments.
“Whenever you receive an unexpected or unwanted call, be skeptical and consider it a scam,” the administration said.
Beware of urgency and catchphrases
A growing type of scam, not limited to Social Security Administration tricks, is one in which a scammer calls the victim and creates a sense of urgency. For example, a Pennsylvania couple was told that one of their Social Security numbers had been stolen and they needed to take quick action.
“Some red flags of scams that consumers should be aware of are common fear tactics – urgency, unrealistic expectations, requests for unusual payment methods,” Hammond said.
Another red flag to watch for? The person calling you uses certain scripted phrases like “compromised” when talking about your Social Security account, said Eric O’Neill, a former FBI operative and owner of The Georgetown Group, an investigative and security consulting company.
“Red flags include … claims that your account has been ‘compromised’, and instructions not to tell family members or advisors,” O’Neill wrote in an email. Independent,
The Social Security Administration pushed to simplify it The four Ps scammers use: Show, Problem, Pressure and Payment. They pretend to be someone they are not, then they resort to a fake problem to pressure you to resolve the situation through payment.
What to do if you get a call
If you believe the Social Security Administration is calling you, many experts suggest the same thing, no matter what the voice on the other line says.
“Stop and verify,” said Brian Long, CEO of cybersecurity firm Adaptive Security. “If someone claims to be SSA, hang up and call SSA back using the number you are looking for yourself (not the number they gave you).”
The best weapon you have against criminals is to never trust anyone who claims to work for the government, Long said. Independent In an email.
“Normalize skepticism,” he said. “The biggest security gap is not in our systems; it’s in our people, and scammers target trust.”