Social Security Scam Hitting Mother Lode
Sonora, CA – Scammers are targeting Social Security benefit recipients in the Mother Lode wanting personal information and bullying the individual to get it.
Tuolumne County Sheriff’s dispatch has received several reports of menacing calls from scammers threatening lawsuit or even lockup to get in their information. The trickster tells the person that their Social Security number is being suspended for criminal or fraudulent activity and that is why they could be in legal jeopardy.
Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Andrea Benson further describes, “Victims are being told to call another number to end the supposed action or they are being asked to verify their social security number and other personal identifying information like bank account numbers and date of birth. If you supply this information, fraudsters can utilize it to take money from your accounts.”
Benson warns once scammers have your information they can call the Social Security Administration and ask to change the address or bank account; thereby diverting the money to their pockets. She adds that government agencies never call or email, instead they send letters.
Just as reported last week with tax time underway there have been several IRS scams hitting the area as well. Click here for tips to avoid falling prey to swindlers.
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