The Fraudian Slip Podcast: SSA OIG - How to Fight Government Imposter Scams - S7E3

Show Transcript

Below is a transcript of our podcast with our special guest, Rebecca Rose of the Office of the Inspector General with the Social Security Administration 

Welcome to the Fraudian Slip, a podcast by the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC), where we peel back the layers of the latest scams, fraud and identity threats. Today, we are diving into one of the most persistent threats facing people and businesses: government imposter scams.  

Thanks to Hollywood, we often think of identity theft as a high-tech crime committed by someone with superior computer skills and no people skills. However, in today’s cybercrime environment, being able to charm your way into someone’s bank account is just as valuable as being able to hack into someone’s devices.  

There’s a day each year set aside to help people learn how to protect themselves from scams, and that’s today: Slam the Scam Day. Here to talk about some of the latest scams targeting your Social Security benefits is Rebecca Rose, Press Officer from the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Also, as always, we are joined by the ITRC’s CEO, Eva Velasquez.  

We Talked with Rebecca Rose About the Following: 

• What’s the "Slam the Scam" initiative, and why has the SSA made addressing these scams such a high priority? 
• One of the most common scams right now involves a "download your benefits" phishing email. How does this scam work, and what are the red flags listeners should look for? 
• The rise of artificial intelligence is making impersonation and other phishing attacks so much easier to commit, but harder to detect. How is the SSA working to help people avoid being scammed? 
• What actions do you recommend people take to avoid scams, including these government imposter scams? 

We Talked with Eva Velasquez About the Following: 

• Social Security and government imposter scams consistently rank as top threats. What makes these particular "imposter" tactics so effective at deceiving people? 
• We talked a lot over the past year or two about how sophisticated phishing and other scams have become. Is it important for the public to know that the pros are also struggling to manage this evolving threat? 
• What should people do if they have fallen victim to an impersonation or other scam? 

If you want to learn more about Social Security scams and programs to help people, visit the SSA at www.ssa.gov/scam.   

Contact the ITRC 

If you think you have been the victim of identity theft, fraud or a scam, or you want to avoid becoming one, you can always speak with an expert ITRC advisor about your identity issues. We’re available via phone or text (888.400.5530), on our website to live chat or by email during our normal business hours (6 a.m.-5 p.m. PT). Just visit www.idtheftcenter.org to get started.   

Please hit the like button for this episode and subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Join us next week for our sister podcast, the Weekly Breach Breakdown. We will be back next month with another edition of the Fraudian Slip.