Not every phone call from a government agency is legit, in fact, the majority of calls that have a "Social Security Administration" caller ID are actually from scammers.
As unemployment claims rose higher than ever in 2020, so did cases of unemployment identity theft.
If it's time to renew your TSA PreCheck membership, visit the TSA website directly versus clicking a link in an email—a new scam is underway targeting PreCheck members.
Scammers are impersonating government departments in an attempt to steal your information in this new COVID-19 scam.
A promise of a large sum of money in return for a fee should raise some red flags—more often than not, it's a scam.
If anyone asks for payment via Amazon gift cards, it's likely a scam, especially if it's someone claiming to be from a government agency.
Whether it's the IRS, Social Security office, or a relative, be careful with anyone asking for payment via an Apple gift card—it's likely a scam.
Beating this scam is simple—don't pay for anything using gift cards and don't give anyone you don't know or trust your gift card information.
If you receive a letter from the SSA or IRS, be sure to check for red flags of a scam before you send back any information—it could be a phishing attempt.
When a government official contacts you, you tend to take it seriously. But beware, imposters are everywhere and trying to steal your information.