by Dave Moore, CISSP
03/03/2024
It’s always refreshing to see companies and government agencies reaching out to the public-at-large to help folks stay out of trouble on the Internet. Such is the case with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and their “Slam the Scam Day.”
Government agencies large and small have a checkered past when it comes to the safety and security of their networks and the information they store. From the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the U.S. Department of Defense all the way down to the Oklahoma Department of Securities and the City of Okemah, Oklahoma, way too many government entities have been caught with their cybersecurity pants down in a string of hacks that never should have happened. The SSA is making a good move in reaching out to help keep their customers safer, which will also make the SSA safer.
Visit ssa.gov/scam/resources.html and you will see the “Slam the Scam Day 2024” page designed “to raise awareness of government imposter scams, which continue to spread across the United States. Slam the Scam Day is Thursday, March 7, 2024, as part of National Consumer Protection Week, which takes place this year from March 3-9.”
Some of the resources found on the page are geared towards those who want to promote Slam the Scam Day on the Internet using social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram, with various posters and slides that can be downloaded and posted wherever you like.
For folks who don’t care to promote Slam the scam Day themselves, but just want to learn more, reading the posters and slides can be pretty educational.
“Scam Alert,” cries one poster. “Watch out! Scammers target everyone. Recognize scammers. They may pretend to be from an agency or organization you know; say there’s a problem or promise a prize; pressure you to act immediately, or tell you to pay in a specific way. Do not give scammers money or personal information – Ignore them!” That’s pretty good advice.
“How to avoid a scam,” the poster continues. “Remain calm. Talk to someone you trust. Hang up or ignore the message. Do not click on links or attachments. Protect your money. Criminals will insist that you pay in a hard-to-trace manner, such as with a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, money transfer, or by mailing cash. Protect your personal information. Be skeptical of a contact you didn’t initiate. Spread the word. Share your knowledge of Social Security-related scams. Post on social media using the hashtag #SlamtheScam to share your experience and warn others. Visit ssa.gov/scam for more information. Please also share with your friends and family.”
Visit ssa.gov/scam for an entire tutorial on Social Security scams. What are the four basic signs of a scam? Known tactics: how to avoid a scam. How to report, and what to do if you were scammed.
“You can trust that Social Security will never: threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don’t agree to pay money immediately; suspend your Social Security number; claim to need personal information or payment to activate a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) or other benefit increase; pressure you to take immediate action, including sharing personal information; ask you to pay with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or by mailing cash; threaten to seize your bank account; offer to move your money to a “protected” bank account; demand secrecy, or direct message you on social media.”
Until next time, stay aware; stay educated and stay safe.
Dave Moore, CISSP, has been fixing computers in Oklahoma since 1984. Founder of the non-profit Internet Safety Group Ltd, he also teaches Internet safety community training workshops. He can be reached at 405-919-9901 or www.internetsafetygroup.org