16
Winter 2024
CONSUMER SAFETY
Government Imposter Scams We take breaks, paid-time off, vacations, sabbaticals, rest. But for scammers looking to steal your money, there’s never a break. They call you. They text you. They email you. They message you on social media. They’re experts at disguise. And their tricks are so believable that you’ll want to give them your money. Some of their tricks are so good, they’ll even make you believe you’re talking to the government. And they’re remarkably effective. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), older adults reported having lost a total of $200 million to government imposter scams in 2023 alone. If you haven’t encountered one or more of these thieves already, you almost certainly will. In late 2023, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) filed action against one illegal telemarketing operation that alone was responsible for making over a billion scam calls to older adults. Among other things, government imposters claimed to provide assistance with Social Security and Medicare benefits. “These kinds of scams have become a sad fact of life,” said Genevieve Waterman, Director, Corporate Partnerships & Engagement at NCOA. “And, while they can and do happen at any time, we definitely see some ebb and flow alongside certain predictable patterns.” In other words: scammers are shameless opportunists who will take advantage of current events to improve their chances of success. “Medicare Open Enrollment Period is a prime example,” Waterman
said. “Imposters know that calls and emails from ‘the government’ can seem especially legitimate around that time, so they step up their efforts.” That’s why it’s important for people of all ages to be aware of the types of government imposter scams, how to identify them, and what to do if you or someone you know have been scammed by one. What are the types of government imposter scams? You get a call from the IRS saying you owe taxes. Or your inbox dings with a message instructing you to fill out a form with your Medicare number. Both are tricks designed to separate you from your money, your personal information, or both. And the cons don’t stop there. “There likely are as many scams as there are government agencies,” Waterman said. “Imposters have even pretended to be the FTC inspector general himself! That said, some of these schemes are more common than others.” According to the FTC, the list of top offenders includes: IRS imposter scams You get a call or voicemail warning that the police or other authorities will show up at your door to arrest you or put you in jail if you don’t immediately pay money you didn’t know you owed to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Medicare imposter scams There are several variations of this hoax: • You get a call, email, text, or social media message “alerting” you that
your new Medicare benefits card is ready. • You get a call, email, text, or social media message from someone offering to help you sign up for or change your plan. • You get a call, email, text, or social media message claiming that you’re eligible for a medical device you didn’t realize you needed. In all cases, the person who contacted you explains that you simply need to provide your Medicare number, or pay a fee, in order to take advantage of the offer. Social Security Administration imposter scams You get a call, email, text, or social media message warning that your Social Security benefits are about to expire—or that they will be suspended because you owe money for a reason you previously weren’t aware of. And be wary of contact that appears to be from the Department of Health and Human Services, too. “We’ve recently learned that people are getting scam calls claiming to be from the Eldercare Locator,” Waterman said, “which is of particular concern to us and the older adults we serve.” How can you tell if it’s a government imposter scam? They charm you. They threaten you. They claim you’ll go to jail. How can you tell if someone is truly who they say they are, particularly someone who works for the government? No matter which agency they’re pretending to be from, government imposters share a common set of strategies. Knowing what those strategies are can help you identify the deceit. 740-363-6677 | MySourcePoint.org
