You Wired Money To A Scammer
In a typical wire fraud scam, a criminal breaks into the email of someone who you know, usually professionally — an attorney, realtor or business associate. He or she squats on the email until he or she knows how you interact with this person, and then strikes, sending you a message — usually an urgent one — convincing you to wire money to an unfamiliar bank account, in order to facilitate a legal matter, home transaction or vendor payment.
Usually, the bank account is offshore. Because the transaction involves email fraud, your bank won’t reimburse you. It’s a more involved type of cybercrime and for a good reason — because criminals get money wired directly to their accounts, and often very large sums.
Drop everything and call your bank. If you have fallen victim to this type of crime, drop everything you’re doing and contact your bank’s wire department to attempt to halt the wire. If you are successful, this can save you enormous headaches later. If you know the real identity of the receiving bank, you can attempt to contact its wire department as well, although the fraudster’s bank is usually overseas and may be more difficult to reach.
Protect Yourself From Identity Theft
Read OIG’s Protecting Personal Information for their 10 Tips to Protect Personal Information and several actions to take if you suspect identity theft.
If someone uses your SSN to obtain credit, loans, telephone accounts, or other goods and services, contact the Federal Trade Commission . The FTC collects complaints about identity theft from those whose identities have been stolen. You may reach the FTCs identity theft hotline toll free at 1-877-IDTHEFT or visit their website at www.ftc.gov/idtheft.
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What To Keep In Mind If You Get A Spam Call Thats Allegedly From The Ssa
The Federal Trade Commission put forward a few key points in response to the social security scam threat. Its important not to press any numbers on your keypad even if the robot tells you to, and to hang up as soon as you can. The FTC also wants you to stay assured that:
- Your Social Security number will not be suspended
- The real Social Security Administration will never threaten your benefits, especially not over an automated phone message
- You will never receive instructions from the real Social Security Administration to wire money, send cash, or put money on a gift card
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If An Organization Asks For A Sin And It Is Not Legally Required
If you believe your SIN isnt required, ask why it is being requested, how it will be used and with whom it will be shared.
If your SIN is not required by law, explain that you prefer not to provide it. Offer different proof of identity.
If the organization refuses to provide the product or service unless you provide your SIN, ask to speak to the person in charge. Many organizations dont know about the appropriate uses of the SIN. Once they understand, they may willingly change their practices.
If you are not satisfied with the organizations response, you may formally complain to the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada or 1-800-282-1376. There is no fee for making a complaint to the Privacy Commissioner.
You can also contact the organizations industry association, ombudsman or complaint office. For example, the Canadian Marketing Association and the Canadian Banking Ombudsman handle customer complaints about their member companies.
For more information on laws about your privacy and the Government of Canada, visit the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Hang Up On Spoofed Ssa Calls
If you get a call that looks like its from the Social Security Administration , think twice. Scammers are spoofing SSAs 1-800 customer service number to try to get your personal information. Spoofing means that scammers can call from…
A caller says that hes from the government and your Social Security number has been suspended. He sounds very professional. So you should do exactly what he says to fix thingsright?
Wrong.
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How To Protect Yourself From Social Security Fraud
As with all scams, the best way to avoid becoming a victim is to stay vigilant. If you receive a phone call asking for your Social Security number or other personal information, its best to hang up immediately. You may also want to consider adding the callers phone number to a blocked-call list to help prevent repeated nuisance calls.
Be aware, however, that spoofing allows scammers to use a succession of misleading numbers. So, unfortunately, blocking the first number that called you doesn’t stop further calls from different phone numbers.
Be sure that your information, including your Social Security card, is stored securely. Shred any documents with sensitive information rather than just putting them in the trash. If you access Social Security information online, keep your password to yourself and change it regularly to minimize the likelihood of your account being hacked.
It’s also worth checking your credit reports on a regular basis to make sure no one has compromised your financial information. A paid might also be helpful. Finally, try to keep up to date with the latest Social Security scams. The SSAs Office of the Inspector General monitors these and issues warnings as new schemes arise.
Prepaid Cards Bitcoin E
The Government of Canada will not demand immediate payment by Interac e-transfer, bitcoin, prepaid credit cards or gift cards.
If you are sure you owe the Government of Canada money, there are accepted methods of payment. For example, the Canada Revenue Agency has a Payment options for individuals and businesses page that lists accepted payment methods.
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Report Scams To The Federal Government
You can report scams to the federal government. Your report may keep others from experiencing a scam. Government agencies use reports of scams to track scam patterns. They may even take legal action against a company or industry based on the reports. However, agencies usually dont follow up after you report, and cant recover lost money.
Do not use the agency contact information included in scam messages. Use contact information in the federal agency directory to report other government imposters.
Report Disaster and Emergency Scams
Report coronavirus scams and other scams about disasters and emergencies.
Use the National Center for Disaster Frauds web complaint form or call .
Find more information on identifying and reporting coronavirus scams.
Report Most Common Scams
The Federal Trade Commission is the main agency that collects scam reports. Report the scam to the FTC online, or by phone at . The FTC accepts complaints about most scams, including these popular ones:
- Phone calls
- Demands for you to send money
- Student loan or scholarship scams
- Prize, grants, and sweepstakes offers
The FTC also collects reports of identity theft. Report identity theft online at IdentityTheft.gov or by phone at .
Report Online and International Scams
Report IRS or Social Security Imposter Scams
Scammers often pretend to work for the Social Security Administration or Internal Revenue Service . Common signs include:
How Service Canada Protects Your Sin
Service Canada stores personal information requested to apply for a SIN in the Social Insurance Register. This information includes your name, date of birth, place of birth and your parents’ names. Dates of death are also recorded in the Register.
Service Canada protects your SIN in the following ways:
- we store your personal information carefully on our premises and in computer systems that are only accessible to authorized employees who have a “need to know”
- we provide guidance about how to protect your SIN and your personal information
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When You Don’t Have To Provide Your Sin
Some private-sector organizations may ask for your SIN. This practice is strongly discouraged, but it is not illegal.
Here are examples of when you don’t have to give your SIN:
- proving your identity
- completing a job application before you get the job
- completing an application to rent a property
- negotiating a lease with a landlord
- completing a credit card application
- cashing a cheque
- applying to a university or college
Service Canada Scam Calls: How They Work
Many Service Canada scam calls are targeting consumers across the country these days. Most of them are automated messages from criminals claiming to be from the Government. These phone scams inform you that your Social Insurance Number is suspended or your name has been reported. Lets take a look at the fraud dynamics and see how these Service Canada scam calls sound like. Here is a scenario:
The phone rings. You pick up. An automated audio system goes like this:
Hello, this call is from Service Canada. We have an order to suspend your Social Insurance Number immediately as your social has been found suspicious for illegal and criminal activity. This is a time-sensitive matter. It is urgent to hear back from you before we proceed with the suspension of your Social Insurance Number. Press 1 to speak with our Service Canada officer now.
Please listen to the audio document below to hear a criminal who called our Scam Detector number:
Criminals change the phone numbers they are using almost every day. It happens as soon as they are exposed. If you have experienced any of these Service Canada scam calls feel free to post the phone number in the comment section
So, how does the Service Canada scam works? Lets take an in-depth look.
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Measures You Can Take To Prevent Identity Theft
- Do not routinely carry your SSN.
- Never say your SSN aloud in public.
- Beware of phishing scams to trick you into revealing personal information.
- Create a personal account to help you keep track of your records and identify any suspicious activity.
- Consider adding these blocks to your account with us:
- The eServices block It prevents anyone, including you, from seeing or changing your personal information on the internet. Once we add the block, you or your representative will need to contact your local office to request removal of the block.
- The Direct Deposit Fraud Prevention block This prevents anyone, including you, from enrolling in direct deposit or changing your address or direct deposit information through or a financial institution . Once we add the block, you or your representative will need to contact your local office to request removal of the block or make any future changes to direct deposit or contact information.
Scam Robocalls: A Growing Scourge
The Social Security scam is only the latest example of a problem that has been confounding government regulatorsand aggravating consumersfor years.
By law, phone companies can proactively block only certain calls, such as those that are likely to be fraudulent because they come from a phone number known to be suspect. However, the phone providers still are not legally allowed to block calls when the caller ID shows a real phone number, as a spoofed call does.
As the number of robocalls increases4.4 billion were placed in September alone, according to YouMail, a provider of voicemail and call-blocking servicesso, too, is the pressure to do something.
Robocalls are the No. 1 consumer complaint to the Federal Trade Commission. According to the FTC, the agency received 4.5 million robocall complaints in 2017, up from 3.4 million the previous year.
Earlier this month, 35 state attorneys general called on the Federal Communications Commission, which also regulates the telecom industry, to further strengthen rules to let service providers block certain categories of robocalls, specifically spoofed calls.
Consumer advocates also want regulators to enact more protections.
The FCC said it is considering taking additional action to empower service providers to block illegal robocalls, a spokesperson wrote in an email to Consumer Reports.
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Got A Robocall From The Ssa Office Asking You To Call Back Heres What You Need To Do
You can call back the number only if youre verified the validity of the call.
The Social Security Administration and Office of the Inspectors General employees can contact U.S. citizens by telephone, and they can also request them to confirm their personal information over the phone. However, the government agency stated on their blog that when they do call, it will not appear on caller ID as the Fraud Hotline number of 269-0271. They will also never threaten you with any sort of official action in exchange for divulging your personal information or receiving payment.
Will Social Security Call You How To Protect Yourself From Fraud
You can be a victim of identity theft or fraud at any age, but Medicare recipients can be especially vulnerable to people who want to steal money or personal information. Medicare fraud is a huge expense, and those costs become a burden to Medicare recipients through higher health care costs and taxes. With this in mind, Medicare is constantly working to prevent fraud and protect its recipients and providers, but they cant do it alone. By understanding your rights and what to expect from Social Security and Medicare, you can protect yourself against fraud.
Does Social Security Ever Call You?One of the easiest ways for scam artists to get personal information from you is by calling and asking for it. Innovative technology has made it easier than ever for people to disguise their true identities. Robo-calls claiming to be from Social Security use special software to mask their true phone number and, instead, make sure the official phone number for the Social Security Administration shows up in your caller ID.
Dont be tricked into giving callers information, hang up the phone and call the SSA back directly. The Social Security Administration may contact you by phone, but they do so only for customer service purposes, NOT to request personal information or to demand payments of any sort.
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Your Social Insurance Number Is Confidential
If your SIN falls into the wrong hands, it could be used to obtain personal information and invade your privacy. When the SIN is not linked to you as its rightful owner, another person could receive your government benefits, tax refunds or bank credits. Your personal information could also be revealed to unauthorized people, which could lead to identity theft and other types of fraud.
If someone uses your SIN to work illegally or to obtain credit, you may suffer hardship. You could be requested to pay additional taxes for income you did not receive or you could have difficulty obtaining credit because someone may have ruined your credit rating.
There are a number of things you can do to protect your SIN:
- provide your SIN only when you know that it is legally required
- store any document containing your SIN and personal information in a safe placedo not keep it with you
- contact Service Canada if you change your name, if your temporary citizenship status changes to a permanent resident status or if information on your SIN record is incorrect or incomplete
- take immediate measures to protect your SIN when you suspect someone else is using your SIN fraudulently
How To Request A Social Security Card With A Different Name
The steps to update your card after a name change are similar to those for applying for a card in the first place. Youll need to fill out the Social Security Administrations Form SS-5: Application for a Social Security Card and gather supporting documents to prove your age, identity, and citizenship status.
Form SS-5 is a one-page form with 18 items. Most of these items should be easy for you to complete. This form can be printed and filled out by hand or filled out on a PDF form and then printed.
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Using Our Automated Telephone Services
Services for all beneficiaries
- Request a benefit verification letter
- Ask for a form SSA-1099, Social Security Benefit Statement, to request a replacement tax summary
Services for Medicare beneficiaries only
- Request a replacement Medicare Card
- Request a form SSA-1020 to apply for help with Medicare prescription drug costs
Services for people who have applied for benefits
- Ask to receive a claim status
Services everyone can use
- Find the address of your local Social Security office
- Request a form SS-5,Application for a Social Security Card, to:
- apply for an original Social Security card or a replacement card if yours was lost or stolen,
- request a name change on your card, or
- update or correct other information on your Social Security number record.
Informational Messages
You can listen to informational messages on the following subjects:
- Payment delivery dates
- Best times to call our 800 number
- Social Security Internet address and services
- Supplemental Security Income
- Non-receipt of your Social Security benefit
- Representative payee
Services for Social Security Benefits Only
- Change address and/or phone number
Social Security Combats Fraud
Social Security has zero tolerance for fraud. We diligently work at the national, regional, and local level to combat fraud that undermines our mission to serve the American public.
To meet this challenge, we work closely with the OIG who investigates allegations of fraud and seek to bring offenders to justice. They refer cases to U.S. attorneys within the Department of Justice, among other state and local prosecuting authorities, for prosecution as a federal crime.
Visit our OIGs Investigations page to view a list of recent fraud investigations.
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If You Suspect Someone Is Using Your Sin
If you suspect that someone is using your SIN fraudulently, act quickly to prevent personal loss and minimize the negative impact.