Wiser Worker Blog

While President Obama has been busy at working on a new stimulus package….scam artists have been working on a way to scam people on out of their hard earned money.  BE SMART and don’t fall victim to this newest trick that won’t leave you with a treat.

The latest scam looks like this…..you receive in the mail what looks like a “stimulus” check but watch out it’s not from the government. The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs recently uncovered a scam in which potential victims receive an official-looking fake check in the mail along with the promise of thousands of dollars in the form of a “secondary stimulus check” if they register by calling the provided toll-free number.   Don’t call that number……and as I have advised in many prior blog entries…..don’t ever give your social security number to someone on the other end of the phone.

From Scambusters….What information NOT to give on the phone
Con artists tend to rely on the Internet and the U.S. Postal Service, but, according to data compiled by the Federal Trade Commission, more than 31,000 scams were initiated by phone in 2007. 

You never know who you’re going to get a call from, however you should know that there are some things that you never tell anyone by phone. Here are a few:

·         Social Security numbers.  Your social security number allows criminals to apply for credit cards in using your name. Keeping that information under your hat will help keep your identity (and your credit score) safe.

·         Bank account numbers.  When you give your bank account number to a stranger, you risk being wiped out by thieves. Anyone who asks for it may be up to no good.

·         Maiden names or birthdates.  Con artists can use even the most innocuous information to bilk people out of their money. You may use your mother’s maiden name or a birthdates to confirm your identity, but criminals can do the same thing.

How will you know if you are getting a stimulus check? 

Generally you may want to wait until you receive notification from the IRS, last year when we were due refund check you may remember about a 60 days before they were deposited you received a letter. If all else fails check out the IRS website or AARP.  Also you can be sure that if we were to be receiving a large stimulus check in the mail it would be announced on just about every news outlet. Be smart if it seems too good to be true then it probably is…..