TINA L. SCOTT
EDITOR
Nearly every week, even in small cities like Merrill, residents are being scammed and losing money to unscrupulous thieves. But these thieves don’t break into homes to steal. And they don’t mug people or use brute force.
Instead, they use the telephone and their voice to steal, use text messaging, or use computers and email to steal, all by way of intimidation.
These thieves call residents or send emails or text messages and impersonate people in authority, threatening to arrest residents or start legal action against them, claiming residents owe money to the government, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), State of Wisconsin Department of Revenue (WI DOR), the Social Security Administration (SSA), or some similar entity for an overpayment or some other debt.
Sometimes these thieves or scam artists switch gears and take a positive approach, promising to increase government benefits or telling residents their identity has been stolen and they will help them resolve the problem if they follow specific instructions, such as moving their money into a new “secure” account.
In other cases, they tell residents they’ve won something but must take additional steps to claim their prize. Or they provide “links” for residents to click on that lead them to websites that enable these thieves to hack into computers and cell phones that may contain secure data such as credit card or banking information.
In still other cases, they infect computers with viruses that generate pop-up windows telling residents to call to clean up their computer and charging fees to callers for this “service” while also possibly hacking into secure data.
Unsuspecting residents too often trust these callers, texts, and emails, believing them, and following their instructions. This has led to residents losing both small and large sums of money. The Merrill Police Department frequently receives calls from Merrill residents who have lost money due to these scams.
How to avoid being the victim of a scam
While it can be intimidating to receive such calls, texts, or emails, rest assured reputable organizations and entities don’t contact residents by phone, text, or email in this manner.
Official government entities, the IRS, the WI DOR, and the SSA, for example, do NOT call residents to tell them they owe money. They send letters on official letterhead with details about financial matters. They do not send text messages or emails with all or part of your secure data asking you to confirm the rest. They do not try to assure you they are “real” or “legitimate” authorities by sending photos of supposed government IDs or credentials.
Police and Sheriff’s Departments likewise do NOT call residents threatening to arrest residents. Real arrests are done in person with an appropriate warrant.
What to do:
• Don’t fall for intimidating phone calls, texts, or emails.
• Hang up on such callers.
• Delete such texts without clicking on any links or responding in any way.
• Delete such emails without clicking on any links or responding.
• Shred checks received in the mail from unknown people or businesses.
• If you get a pop-up on your computer telling you to call a particular number, don’t call it. Instead, call a local computer professional for advice and assistance.
How to recognize a scam
• If a phone call, text, or email sounds suspicious, it probably is. Don’t doubt your gut instincts.
• Do not give out your Social Security Number, credit card numbers, or bank account information to anyone requesting it, unless you have initiated the call to and for a valid reason, such as ordering a product or paying a medical bill at a local facility.
• NEVER make payments with gift cards or prepaid debit cards.
• NEVER make payments with wire transfers, internet currency, cryptocurrency, or by mailing cash.
• DON’T deposit funds for others and then pay them with cash or a check drawn on your account.
• Also, DON’T trust checks you receive unexpectedly from unknown people or businesses in the mail.
• NEVER call numbers that pop-up unexpectedly on your computer screen.
• NEVER give out your personal information via text or email messages.
• REPORT scams. Locally, contact the Police or Sheriff’s Department or to report government scams, go to: reportfraud.ftc.gov. To report Social Security scams, go to: OIG.SSA.GOV.
“Slam the Scam” Day
March 10, 2022, is National “Slam the Scam” Day, an outreach campaign designed to raise public awareness of Social Security scams and other government imposter scams, which is part of National Consumer Protection Week [March 6-12, 2022].
Nationally, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported more than 396,000 complaints of government imposter scams in 2021, with almost nine percent reporting financial losses that totaled more than $442 million.
Don’t be one of those caught unaware.
