Every week in our community’s small newspaper there are 4-5 quick stories about normal (educated) people who have been scammed out of there money or their private/personal information which will be used to scam them at a later time. It can happen to anyone!
In this BLOGPOST I describe the latest scam involving Social Security checks and then make a prediction of an even bigger scam to begin as early as next week which will set its sight on Americans of all ages.
As of Tuesday, March 17, 2020, Social Security have closed their local offices to the public due to COVID-19 concerns. However, Social Security employees continue to work.
Gail S. Ennis, the Inspector General of Social Security, is warning the public about fraudulent letters threatening suspension of Social Security benefits due to COVID-19 or coronavirus-related office closures. The Social Security Administration (SSA) emphasized that it will not suspend or discontinue benefits because their offices are closed.
The SSA has received a number of reports that Social Security recipients have received letters through the USPS mail stating their payments will be suspended or discontinued unless they call a phone number referenced in the letter.
The agency said recent scammers are attempting to mislead S.S. beneficiaries into providing personal information or payment via wire transfers, retail gift cards, cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, or by mailing cash, in order to maintain regular benefit payments during this period of COVID-19 office closures.
The agency clarified that Social Security will not suspend or decrease Social Security benefit payments or Supplemental Security Income payments due to the current COVID-19 pandemic.
The SSA agency wrote:
Any communication you receive that says SSA will do so (suspend benefits doe to COVAD-19) is an absolute scam and 100% false, whether you receive it by letter, text, email, or phone call.
The Social Security Administration will never (whether scammers are using the Coronavirus or any other
excuse):
- threaten you with benefit suspension, arrest, or other legal action unless you pay a fine or fee;
- promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment;
- require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card;
- demand secrecy from you in handling a Social Security-related problem;
- send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.
If you do receive any call, letter, text or email that you believe to be suspicious, about an alleged problem with your Social Security number, account, or monthly payments, just hang up or do not respond. Never reveal any personal information. We encourage you to report Social Security scams using our dedicated online form, at https://oig.ssa.gov. Please share this information with your friends and family, to help spread awareness about Social Security scams.
My PREDICTION
The new scam that will likely begin next week will revolve around the just passed $2 TRILLION law to help keep our country out of a deep recession caused by COVID-19. It will mostly affect working-class people and small business owners (SBA loan scams).
There will be all types of twists, but they will be based on “quick ways” to get your $1,200 emergency check (or get much more than that) and “little-known” provisions to eliminate all credit card/ student loan debt and how small businesses can get more grants and forgivable loans, etc.
Some of these scams will be just trying to get your SS number, DOB, etc. to use later, while others will be twists of scams that have proven to work – just with a new headline or fear/greed factor.
Please help protect those you care about from these unscrupulous crooks.
al the very best… Mark