Of all the scams out there in this crazy, mixed-up world, imposter scams may be the most nefarious.
Think about it this way: fraudsters use the entities you rely on to try to steal your future.
That’s why Regions Bank is teaming up with the Social Security Administration and Office of Inspector General to support the annual #SlamtheScam campaign. Financial institutions across the country will be joining in for #SlamtheScam day March 7. But since the Doing More Today team fights fraud on a regular basis we decided to jump in the fray a couple of days early.
#SlamTheScam: Here are some examples of imposter scams:
- The IRS calls, emails or texts you that you owe on your taxes and need to make an immediate payment with a gift card of transfer.
Remember: The IRS will only contact you by mail. If you get a scam message, call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 or go to their website (irs.gov/balancedue).
- A message from Medicare says you need a new card, which you can only receive after you provide your account number.
Remember: if you are due a new card, Medicare will send it to you directly.
“We are always looking for opportunities to educate and protect our customers against fraud,” said said Kimberly Reece of the Regions Fraud Strategy Customer Experience team. “The #SlamTheScam campaign is a great way to help spread the word about imposter scams.”
Imposter scams are becoming more common because it’s never been easier to reach people in multiple ways. And, because we depend on these government entities, criminals try to take advantage of our need to resolve matters as quickly as possible.
The best advice when you receive one of these calls?
Hang up or ignore. Government employees will never call with threats and will only use official channels (the U.S. Postal Service) if they need to get your attention.
Do your part and #SlamtheScam.
Related Fraud Prevention Articles From Doing More Today
The information presented is general in nature and should not be considered, legal, accounting or tax advice. Regions reminds its customers that they should be vigilant about fraud and security and that they are responsible for taking action to protect their computer systems. Fraud prevention requires a continuous review of your policies and practices, as the threat evolves daily. There is no guarantee that all fraudulent transactions will be prevented or that related financial losses will not occur. Visit regions.com/STOPFRAUD or speak with your Banker for further information on how you can help prevent fraud.