Lately, fraud and scams are popping up more and more, and can be devastating. Scams are constantly changing and knowing the common types of frauds and scams can help protect you.
ECI was notified by the Administration of Community Living (ACL) of increases in scam calls from imposters claiming to be from Eldercare Locator, Social Security, and even Medicaid.
Remember:
- The government will never contact you and ask for a Social Security number.
- The government will never ask for payment by gift card or wire transfer.
- Social Security numbers cannot be suspended.
Here are some general tips that ACL provided that can help everyone protect themselves:
- If you are ever suspicious about a call, hang up immediately. Find the organization’s contact information on your own (don’t use caller ID), and call or email them directly to discuss the situation.
- Never give out your Social Security number, banking information, or Medicare number to anyone who contacts you through unsolicited calls, texts, or emails.
- Never pay someone you do not know well via gift card or wire transfer.
- Never click on an email link or attachment, unless you fully trust the sender.
- Sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry at https://www.donotcall.gov.
The goal of scams is to commit fraud and steal your money and potentially your identity. The common payment methods used by scammers are wire transfers, gift cards, and person-to-person payment services and mobile payment apps, such as Cash app, Venmo, or Paypal.
The Consumer Financial Protect Bureau has detailed information about understanding the most common types of scams and how to take action if you are a victim of a scam. Visit their website at https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/fraud/.
