Urgent! Your Government Benefits Have Been Suspended. Call The Number Below To Learn More
by Alex Lloyd Gross
National Consumer Protection Week is here and it comes just in time for a new scam. The government benefits scam. It comes by way of a phone call or text telling you to call a number ( or hit a button) because your government benefits are suspended. Not going to be suspended, but are SUSPENDED.
Hang up the phone. Call your case worker or the number that connects directly with the agency giving you benefits. SNAP, welfare, housing assistance, whoever is giving you benefits. Do not contact the number or push any buttons. Officials warn it is a scam.
You might find out someone stole your identity when your state’s unemployment agency or your employer contacts you about unemployment insurance benefits you didn’t file. Don’t ignore the letter, which could lead to problems like wage garnishment or tax identity theft. Instead, take action: focus on moving quickly to stop the damage and protect your personal information.
Start by reporting the fraud to your employer. Then, tell your state workforce agency so they can investigate the identity theft. Finally, report it to the Federal Trade Commission at IdentityTheft.gov. There, you’ll get a free personal recovery plan with steps to take. For example:Freeze your credit. Contact each of the three nationwide credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — to place a freeze on each credit report. They’re free to place and make it harder for anyone to open accounts using your information. Get the links for each bureau at IdentityTheft.gov.
Check your credit reports often. Visit AnnualCreditReport.com to get free weekly credit reports from the three credit bureaus. Regular checks help you spot new fraud quickly. And if you spot accounts you don’t recognize, dispute any errors with the credit bureau.
Set up an IRS PIN. Most people don’t need one. But if unemployment identity theft happens, opting in for an IRS Identity Protection PIN can help you protect yourself from tax identity theft. This six-digit number helps keep thieves from using your SSN to claim a tax return.
Scammers are good. Not all of them speak with a broken English accent. Some speak perfect English and have spoofed the number of the IRS, or government benefits agency, to dupe you into giving them information. That may bait you by asking you to confirm your address. “is your current address 2487 N Main Street”? You correct them by telling them you are actually 2874 . Tell the person on the other end of the phone NOTHING. Hang up and call your case worker. Do not respond to texts or requests for information without verifying the requestor’s identity yourself.