Today is National Slam the Scam Day! This is an initiative to raise public awareness of Social Security-related scams. Here is some information to spot, avoid, and report various scams. Real government officials will NEVER: • Threaten arrest or legal action against you unless you immediately send money. • Promise to increase your benefits or resolve a problem if you pay a fee or move your money into a protected account. • Require payment in a hard-to-trace manner (gift card, prepaid card, cryptocurrency, wire/money transfer, or by mailing cash.) • Try to gain your trust by providing fake “documentation,” false “evidence,” or the name of a real government official. How to avoid a scam: • Remain calm. Talk to someone you trust. • Hang up or ignore the message. DO NOT click on links or attachments!!! • Protect your money. Criminals will insist that you pay in a hard-to-trace manner (gift card, prepaid card, cryptocurrency, wire/money transfer, or by mailing cash.) • Protect your personal information. Be skeptical of a contact you didn’t initiate. RESOURCES: WATCH this Slam the Scam 2024: Protect Yourself From Scams Youtube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6svESSADHM VISIT https://www.ssa.gov/scam/ for more information. REPORT Social Security-related scams and fraud online at https://secure.ssa.gov/ipff/home. REPORT other government imposter scams to the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftc.gov/scams. #SlamtheScam