Watch Your Step—Scam Alert

Social Security Administration Impostor Scam

Social Security Administration imposters contact prospective victims by telephone and falsely claim that the victim’s Social Security number has been suspended because of suspicious activity or because it has been involved in a crime. They ask to confirm the victim’s Social Security number, or they may say they need to withdraw money from the victim’s bank and to store it on gift cards or in other unusual ways for “safekeeping.” Victims may be told their accounts will be seized or frozen if they fail to act quickly.

Perpetrators often use robocalls to reach victims.

Victims may be told to “press 1” to speak to a government “support representative” for help reactivating their Social Security number.

They also use caller ID spoofing to make it look like the Social Security Administration is calling.

With such trickery, perpetrators convince victims to give up their Social Security numbers and other personal information. Social Security Administration imposters operating from abroad often use U.S.-based money mules to receive victim payments and transmit proceeds to perpetrators.

—from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General Tech Support Scam

Fraudsters make telephone calls and claim to be computer technicians associated with a well-known company or they may use Internet pop-up messages to warn about non-existent computer problems.

Scammers claim they have detected viruses, other malware, or hacking attempts on the victim’s computer.

They pretend to be “tech support” and ask that the victim give them remote access to his or her computer.

Eventually, they diagnose a nonexistent problem and ask the victim to pay large sums of money for unnecessary—or even harmful—services.

Tech support scams operating from abroad often use U.S.based money mules (including legitimate-seeming businesses registered in the U.S.) to receive victim payments and transmit proceeds to perpetrators.

After victims make payments, perpetrators often call back and offer refunds to victims, claiming their tech support services are no longer available.

Perpetrators claim to send refund money to the victim’s bank account but falsely claim that too much money was refunded. Perpetrators then induce victims to send payments (often through stored-value cards such as gift cards), purportedly to reimburse the tech support company for its “over-refund.” Victims have lost hundreds or thousands of dollars to this refund scheme.

—from the Federal Trade Commission Lottery Scam

Fraudulent telemarketers based in Jamaica and other countries call people in the U.S., telling them that they have won a sweepstakes or foreign lottery. The fake telemarketers typically identify themselves as lawyers, customs officials or lottery representatives. They tell people they have won vacations, cars or thousands—even millions—of dollars.

“Winners” need only pay fees for shipping, insurance, customs duties, or taxes before they can claim their prizes.

Victims pay hundreds or thousands of dollars and receive nothing in return, and often are revictimized until they have no money left.

Lottery scams operating from abroad often use U.S.-based money mules to receive victim payments and transmit proceeds to perpetrators.

—from the U.S. Embassy in Jamaica IRS Imposter Scam

IRS imposter scams are aggressive and sophisticated phone scams targeting taxpayers.

Callers claim to be employees of the IRS. They use fake names and bogus IRS identification badge numbers.

Victims are told they owe money to the IRS, and it must be paid promptly through a wire transfer or stored value card such as a gift card.

Victims who refuse to cooperate are threatened with arrest, deportation, or suspension of a business or driver’s license.

IRS imposter scams operating from abroad often use U.S.-based money mules to receive victim payments and transmit proceeds to perpetrators. New Variations of IRS Scams

Taxpayers should be on the lookout for new variations of tax-related scams. In the latest twist on a scam related to Social Security numbers, scammers claim to be able to suspend or cancel the victim’s SSN. It’s yet another attempt by con artists to frighten people into returning “robocall” voicemails.

Scammers may mention overdue taxes in addition to threatening to cancel the person’s SSN.

If taxpayers receive a call threatening to suspend their SSN for an unpaid tax bill, they should just hang up.

Taxpayers should not give out sensitive information over the phone unless they are positive they know the caller is legitimate. When in doubt, hang up. Here are some telltale signs of this scam. The IRS and its authorized private collection agencies will never:

• Call to demand immediate payment using a specific payment method such as a prepaid debit card, iTunes gift card or wire transfer. The IRS does not use these methods for tax payments.

• Ask a taxpayer to make a payment to a person or organization other than the U.S. Treasury.

• Threaten to immediately bring in local police or other lawenforcement groups to have the taxpayer arrested for not paying.

• Demand taxes be paid without giving the taxpayer the opportunity to question or appeal the amount owed.

Taxpayers who don’t owe taxes and have no reason to think they do should:

• Report the caller ID and callback number to the IRS by sending it to phishing@irs.gov. The taxpayer should write “IRS Phone Scam” in the subject line.

Taxpayers who owe taxes or think they do should:

• View tax account information online at IRS.gov to see the actual amount owed and review their payment options.

• Call the number on the billing notice.

• Call the IRS at 800-829-1040.

—from the Internal Revenue Service

Romance Scam

Millions of Americans use dating sites, social networking sites and chat rooms to meet people.

And many forge successful relationships. But scammers also use these sites to meet potential victims.

They create fake profiles to build online relationships and eventually convince people to send money in the name of love. Some even make wedding plans before disappearing with the money.

An online love interest who asks for money is almost certainly a scam artist. Romance scams operating from abroad often use U.S.-based money mules to receive victim payments and transmit proceeds to perpetrators.

Sometimes, perpetrators of romance scams convince victims to serve as money mules, receiving illegal proceeds of crime and forwarding those proceeds to perpetrators.

For example, romance scam victims often are induced to receive payments and/or goods such as technology equipment procured through fraud and to forward those payments and goods directly or indirectly to perpetrators.

—from the Federal Trade Commission