HELPFUL HINTS

DEAR HELOISE: It’s right about this time of year that scammers start targeting elderly people with various schemes to cheat people out of their savings. They might contact you in-person or by telephone, email or letter.

If they contact you by letter, you will most likely see what looks like an official letterhead from the Office of the Inspector General. Or it might say that they’re from another government agency such as the Federal Trade Commission. Look for misspellings, bad grammar or a request to click on a link or website that does not have “SSA.gov” in the address. These are sure signs that you’re working with a scammer.

If they call on you in-person, they might even have a badge that looks official, but under no circumstances should you let them in their home. If you are contacted through social media and they claim to be from Social Security, it’s a lie. Their agents don’t do that.

Their favorite way of contacting people is usually by telephone, and their goal is to scare you and get you to hand over money and financial information, such as your bank account numbers, your bank account balance and anything else that can help them steal from you. Hang up on this phony caller.

You’ll probably be told that there is a problem with your Social Security account or that you’ve somehow managed to win a prize. You could be directed to another phone number or website, but don’t call their phone number or click on the link provided.

Here are some other tactics scammers use:

1. They might threaten you about getting or taking some kind of legal action. Ignore it. It’s a lie.

2. They say that they will suspend your Social Security number, and you won’t get paid. This is another lie.

3. They usually pressure you to pay immediately. Ignore it!

4. They’ll tell you that they’ll seize your bank accounts.

5. They always seem to demand secrecy.

6. They strongly suggest moving your money to a protected and safe bank account.

If a scammer calls you, report this and any other scam to the Office of the Inspector General at OIG.SSA.gov/ report.

— John M., Arlington, Va.