Recently, posts have gone viral on social networks that account for several scams that target Social Security beneficiaries, and we must discuss it to help you recognize what these scams are, so that you are not the next victim.
Scammers use sophisticated tactics to trick people by posing as well-known entities such as the Social Security Administration, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and even local energy or water utilities. Its objective is to generate fear and pressure in the victim, making him believe that he is facing an urgent problem that requires an immediate payment.
The Most Common Social Security Scams Happening Right Now
One of the common strategies is to threaten serious consequences, such as arrest, if the person does not comply with their demands. This is combined with the request for payments in cash, gift cards, prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrencies or bank transfers, methods that make it difficult to trace the money and recover it once sent.
Fear is the main ally of scammers in these situations. By generating a sense of urgency and fear in the victim, they get him to act quickly and make the requested payments without questioning the authenticity of the situation.
Always keep this in mind: Legitimate government agencies and companies rarely require urgent payments and will never request unusual payment methods such as gift cards or cryptocurrencies.
How Do Scams Usually Start and Why Do They Target Retirees?
Scams usually start with emails, text messages, or phone calls, and scammers often target seniors as they consider them more vulnerable. These messages, for example, ensure that you or a member of your family has received an “overpayment” and that an immediate refund is required, under the threat of possible legal consequences such as an arrest or a reduction in the next Social Security payment.
Scammers operate quickly and put pressure on people to make hasty decisions, which is a red flag. It is essential to remain calm in these situations and avoid interacting with the caller, the sender of the email or the text message. In addition, it is recommended not to click on any links provided in those messages, as they could lead to malicious web pages designed to steal personal or financial information.
One of the common methods used by scammers is the identity theft scam, where they pose as employees of legitimate government entities such as the Social Security Administration (SSA) or the Office of the Inspector General (OIG). This allows them to give an appearance of authenticity to the call, but it is important to remember that no legitimate government agency will request urgent payments in cash, gift cards, bank transfers, prepaid debit cards or cryptocurrencies.
If you are contacted by an unscrupulous individual trying to scam you, do not give them any personal or private data, whatever the way they contact you. If you have any questions, contact the OIG or the SSA, or the agency whose name is being used in the scam, to verify if the call is fake or legitimate.