Scam Alert – The Government Does Not Want Gift Cards

It’s a sad situation that scam artists seek out senior citizens. These predators often use scare tactics to convince innocent victims to turn over money. As the WindomNews.com reports, an elderly couple in this Minnesota town got tricked out of their hard-earned money when a caller, claiming to be from the government, told them that one of their Social Security numbers had been stolen and used illegally in several states. The crook instructed them to go out and buy gift cards and give him the numbers.

Let this be a lesson for everyone. Social Security will not call you. The Social Security Administration (SSA) takes cases of Social Security fraud very seriously. If you suspect you have been targeted, contact the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or submit a report online at https://oig.ssa.gov/.

The Seniors Trust is committed to helping protect Social Security and that includes providing important information to seniors on how to prevent Social Security scams. We also want to see Congress pass The Social Security Expansion Act. It will give retirees an immediate benefits increase of about $200 a month, a fair annual COLA, increased minimum benefits, and will ensure the long-term solvency of the Social Security program.