For several days, we kept getting a phone call from somebody in Washington, D.C. It was an automated call saying it was the Social Security office. They wanted to inform me that there was some kind of breach and my social security number had been stolen.
I was to press #1 to speak to someone. I almost did. Then I thought I'd look online first and this is what I found.
There was a message from the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration.
There was also this message from the Federal Trade Commission.
So yup! It was another scam. I guess we picked up the call because it appeared to be from Washington, D.C. and I thought it could be my son.
Ah well...
Be careful, everybody.
And to all of you in the U.S. I'd like to wish you a very Happy Independence Day.
POSTSCRIPT:
We've now gotten several calls saying they're from Apple Support with a recording telling us our iCloud account has been breached. We are instructed to press #1 to speak to someone.
Sigh...
So many scams out there!!!
I was to press #1 to speak to someone. I almost did. Then I thought I'd look online first and this is what I found.
There was a message from the Office of the Inspector General of the Social Security Administration.
"The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, is warning citizens about a caller-ID “spoofing” scheme misusing the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) Fraud Hotline phone number. The OIG has received recent reports of phone calls displaying the Fraud Hotline number on a caller-ID screen. This is a scam; OIG employees do not place outgoing calls from the Fraud Hotline 800 number. Citizens should not engage with these calls or provide personal information."
So yup! It was another scam. I guess we picked up the call because it appeared to be from Washington, D.C. and I thought it could be my son.
Ah well...
Be careful, everybody.
And to all of you in the U.S. I'd like to wish you a very Happy Independence Day.
POSTSCRIPT:
We've now gotten several calls saying they're from Apple Support with a recording telling us our iCloud account has been breached. We are instructed to press #1 to speak to someone.
Sigh...
So many scams out there!!!
You are so right! I get several scam phone calls every day. If the number is not familiar to be, I ignore it. If it's important and legitimate, they will go to voice mail and leave me a message.
ReplyDeleteit's certainly frustrating with all the scam calls. I hardly ever answer my phone anymore...but just check messages to see if it's a real person...ah america the land of the free! Happy birthday!
ReplyDeleteI get scam calls everyday so I ignored them, and one of those was about my SS.
ReplyDeleteHappy fourth of July!!
I ignore them too. Like Lin, we hardly ever answer our phones. we always wait to see who is calling. :)
ReplyDeleteDon't press anything! Don't click on any link! Just ignore, ignore, ignore. They are hoping to wear you down and get you. And when they do, they get you in a very bad way.
ReplyDeleteThose scam calls never ring long enough to go to voice mail. Obviously robo made calls. As others said above I let it go to voicemail. If its important there will be a message.
ReplyDeleteAnybody legitimate knows how to reach us through email, or text. We have a landline, but never answer it. Go straight to record. That includes our mobile phones too I guess. Most friends will text. Official agencies will email and or use US mail. Good warning K 👍
ReplyDeleteThese days, I am also getting spam voicemail. It's crazy how many scams there are out there right now. They must be working, to keep going like that. What a sad state of affairs. :-(
ReplyDeleteI "DO" answer calls from unknown numbers because I have close loved ones out and about daily. One in particular, misplaces his phone a lot and used other people's phones. So, I answer ALL CALLS. Once I answer and realize it is not from a loved one, I hang up.
ReplyDeleteI also learned (the hard way) not to click on anything from (supposed) service providers unless I have contacted them first.
This is good advice, Kay. Thank you.
Happy 4th of July (night) to you!
They're always out there.
ReplyDeleteScary stuff! Thanks for letting us know.
ReplyDeleteHi there I’m from Australia . We have the same sort of scams - all the callers sound Indian or are automated voices. They claim to be from banks, internet companies, tax office etc. I can’t believe that people are still falling from these scams.
ReplyDeleteGood job Kay! I don't know what I'd do without voice mail. So many crud/spammy calls. The current one in our area claims your "social security number has been suspended," really? And that if you don't respond "a warrant will be made for your arrest." Jerks.
ReplyDelete