As always scammers are opportunists taking advantage of whatever is in the news, particularly if the news creates some sense of emergency and the present government shutdown fits the bill. Scammers are contacting targeted victims by emails, text messages and phone calls posing as officials from Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid or other federal programs claiming that their victims’ benefits have either been suspended or require veification to continue. They then either require personal information that can lead to identity theft, or a payment to continue benefits, often demanded to be made by gift cards or cryptocurrencies. Emails or text messages may carry the subject line of “Government Shutdown Notice” or “Benefits Suspension.” Due to the Federal Trade Commission being unable to process scam complaints during the shutdown it could be expected that these scams will be increasing.
TIPS
Federal agencies are not contacting people asking for information or payments related to the shutdown and no government agency accepts payments by gift cards or cryptocurrencies so if you are ever asked to make a payment in either manner, you can be sure it is a scam. You can never be sure when you get a phone call, text message or email as to who is really contacting you. Your Caller ID can be manipulated by spoofing to make it appear that a call or text from a scammer is coming from a legitimate government agency rather than from the scammer who is actually contacting you and the address of email senders can also be made to appear legitimate.
If you do have questions about benefits you are receiving, you should call the agency or go to their website, but make sure you use the correct number and not the number from any communication that appears to come from the scammer.
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