‘Slam the Scam’: Here’s how to protect yourself from scammers

FILE PHOTO

OAKLAND — California Attorney General Rob Bonta Thursday issued a consumer alert warning the public to beware of Social Security-related scams and other government imposter scams.

“Scammers are relentless and emboldened by technological advancements and show few signs of slowing,” Bonta said in a statement issued in observance of the Seventh Annual Slam the Scam Day.

“My office is on it, sounding the alarm on cruel immigration scams, government imposter scams, scams targeting our military community, and fighting on in our war against robocalls, which are often a vehicle for harmful scams.”

Government imposter scam

In a government imposter scam, someone claims to be an official government employee, and may ask for personal information, demand payment or make threats.

These scams primarily use the phone, but scammers may also use email, text messages, social media or US postal mail.

The Federal Trade Commission reported that consumers lost over $12.5 billion to scams in 2024 — a 25% increase from 2023. Consumers lost more than $5.7 billion to investment scams and almost $2.95 billion to imposter scams, including $789 million in government-imposter scams.

Don’t click on links

Bonta urged consumers not to click on links in texts asking them for personal information, visit only official websites and “talk to friends and family who may be unaware of the dangers of scams.”

Scammers target individuals, businesses and even government agencies to attempt to steal money or personal information.

They pretend to be from a well-known business or organization. Scammers state there’s some sort of problem or offer a prize, such as a benefit increase, or often claim that someone else is using your account, that your information is being used to commit crimes, or that there’s a security problem with your computer.

Pressure to act quickly

They pressure you to act quickly. Most alarming, scammers tell you to pay using currency that is hard to trace, such as cryptocurrency, gift card, prepaid debit card, wire transfer, cash or even gold bars.

They might even say they are helping to keep your money safe. Some scammers may give “evidence” or use the name of a real government official or agency.

“If you are unsure of the legitimacy of the call, you can go to the agency’s official website and contact them directly,” Bonta said.

Protect yourself from scams

How to protect yourself from scammers:

Hang up the phone: If you suspect a scam call, immediately hang up or do not respond. The longer you stay on the line, the higher your chances of becoming a victim.

Protect your Social Security number (SSN): To protect your SSN, avoid carrying your Social Security card in your wallet, and instead keep it at home in a safe place. Only provide your SSN when absolutely necessary — such as on tax forms or employment records — and if a business asks you for your SSN, see if there is another number that can be used instead.

Protect your online information and accounts with strong passwords: Protect yourself by using different, unique passwords for each of your online accounts. Make sure that the passwords you use are at least eight characters, including a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Consider using a password manager to provide suggestions and store strong passwords.

Don’t click on suspicious links: Scammers try to steal your money, personal information, or passwords by getting you to click on links that are sent to you in texts, emails, or social media. Text messaging is particularly dangerous because you might in a hurry click on a link and begin entering a password, not realizing that the link was phony and your password is being recorded. Don’t click on suspicious links.

Don’t move money to “protect it”: Never send money to someone else, no matter who they say they are, in response to unexpected calls or messages.

Check your credit card bills and bank statements often: Look for unauthorized charges, withdrawals, or unexpected bills, and report irregular activity to your bank as soon as you see it. If you notice that a bill didn’t arrive on time, it may mean that someone has changed the contact information on your account in order to hide fraudulent charges. Don’t share personal information: Be careful about what personal information you share, such as your address or financial information.

Take advantage of free annual credit reports: You are entitled to one free credit report every year from each of the three national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. Your credit history contains information from financial institutions, utilities, landlords, insurers, and others. By checking your credit reports at least once a year, you can identify signs of identity theft, as well as errors in your report that could be raising the cost of your credit.

Talk to friends and family: Always seek a second opinion from your friends and family if you suspect an interaction is a scam.

As a rule of thumb, real government officials will never:

• Threaten you with arrest or legal action in exchange for immediate payment.
• Promise to increase your benefits or resolve an issue in exchange for a fee or transfer of funds to a protected account.
• Ask for payment in the form of gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfer, Internet currency or by mailing cash.