Beware of Social Security Scams

NEWS FOR OLDER AMERICANS

(NAPSI)—Calls and e-mails from scammers pretending to be government employees are widespread. Social Security phone scams are the #1 scam

If you get a threatening call from someone saying they are from Social Security, it is from a scammer.

reported to the Federal Trade Commission. Chances are you, a friend, or a family member have received a call like this.

You don’t have to be receiving benefits to become a victim. You may get a call saying there is a problem with your Social Security number or account. Everyone, regardless of age, income, and geography, is at risk. Scammers will try to scare and trick you into giving them your personal information or money.

Is It A Scam?

The best way to protect yourself and your money is to recognize a scam. Scammers use intimidating language and often offer a “solution” to fix what they say is a serious problem with your Social Security number or account. How can you tell when it’s a scam? Social Security will not:

• Say your Social Security number has been suspended.

• Promise a Social Security benefit approval or increase in exchange for information.

• Call to demand an immediate payment.

• Insist you pay a debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.

• Require payment by retail gift card, pre-paid debit card, Internet currency, wire transfer, or by mailing cash.

• Ask for your personal information.

Scammers prey on your fears. The stories they tell you would scare anyone. No matter how horrible the story, if they do anything above, it’s a scam.

What Should You Do?

If you receive a suspicious call, the safest thing for you to do is:

1. Hang up!

2. Don’t share personal information or make a payment.

3. Report the scam to the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General at

https://oig.ssa.gov.

And, if you receive such threats via e-mail, delete the e-mail and do not click on any links or download any attachments. Even if the e-mail or an attachment contains Social Security’s seal or names of real people, ignore it. Then, report the scam.

Other Tips

How about if Social Security needs to contact you? Generally, they will mail you a letter and only contact you by phone if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with them.

Usually, Social Security will mail you a letter that contains telephone numbers for contacting them. You can also contact Social Security by calling 1-800-772-1213 or visiting

SSA.gov

Scammers are always looking for the next way to trick someone. No matter how someone might try to scam you, learning the warning signs shared here can go a long way to protecting yourself and someone you care about from identify theft and financial loss.

If you think you have been scammed, don’t be embarrassed. Report the scam to Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General at

https://oig.ssa.gov

and share this important information with your family and friends.

Aramark Cause Coffee to Benefit Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Aramark volunteers participated in a beautification project to support the Boys and Girls Club Nicetown location, in Philadelphia, during the company’s global day of service, Aramark Building Community Day, last September. Today, Aramark announced it is donating a portion of sales from javia®, its private label coffee, and Reserve by javia, its new, premium line, to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. (Photo: Business Wire)

PHILADELPHIA–(

BUSINESS WIRE

)–Each year, Aramark provides over one billion cups of coffee and 400 million cold drinks to workplaces around the country. This year, Aramark is donating a portion of sales from javia®, its private label coffee, and Reserve by javia, its new, premium line, to Boys & Girls Clubs of America.

Reserve by javia and javia coffees have been designated as a “Good Cause Coffee,” where a portion of sales is donated to local non-profit organizations. Now in its fifth year, the “Good Cause Coffee” campaign has donated $500,000 to various community centers across the country.

Aramark became a corporate partner of Boys & Girls Clubs of America in 2019, and this year will focus the “Good Cause Coffee” dollars on supporting their mission of helping all youth achieve great futures. Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which had its beginnings in 1860, help keep kids and teens safe after school by providing a positive environment where they can learn, play and grow. The organization’s goal is to enable all young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

\”We are so excited to be the beneficiary of Aramark’s ‘Good Cause Coffee’ this year,” said Chad Royal-Pascoe, National Vice President, Corporate and Cause Partnerships, at Boys & Girls Clubs of America. “These donations will help us reach more youth and give them access to the tools and resources they need to succeed in life. We are so thankful to Aramark and their commitment to great futures.”

There are more than 4,600 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country that serve over 4.7 million young people. Many of Aramark\’s employees volunteer at these Clubs through

Aramark Building Community

, the company’s global volunteer and philanthropic program. Going forward, Aramark is exploring ways to work with the Boys & Girls Club, to integrate health and wellness and workforce programs – which are the focus of Aramark Building Community – into activities at the Clubs.

“Our Refreshments team is pleased to offer a high quality, whole bean coffee program, with Reserve by javia, along with our traditional javia coffees. We’re delighted to be able to energize not only workplaces, but also a very deserving cause,” said Jim Frost, President of Aramark’s Refreshment Services division. “As North America’s leading office coffee provider, we’ve made it part of our mission and promise to give back to the local communities in which we live and work.”

Aramark’s commitment to people is a core part of the company’s sustainability plan,

Be Well. Do Well

, focused on positively impacting people and the planet. Aramark’s people priority is to facilitate access to opportunities that will improve the well-being of the Company’s employees, consumers, communities and people in its supply chain. Building on current work, Aramark continues to help people develop careers and livelihoods; access, choose and prepare healthy food; and grow communities, businesses and local economies. Aramark also offers various Fair Trade Certified™, Rainforest Alliance, Certified Organic and Shade Grown coffee brands that are committed to sustainability.

About Aramark

Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world. Our 280,000 team members deliver innovative experiences and services in food, facilities management and uniforms to millions of people every day. We strive to create a better world by making a positive impact on people and the planet, including commitments to engage our employees; empower healthy consumers; build local communities; source ethically, inclusively and responsibly; operate efficiently and reduce waste. Aramark is recognized as a Best Place to Work by the Human Rights Campaign (LGBTQ+), DiversityInc, Black Enterprise and the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at

www.aramark.com

The Rodger Stone Case: Where Is \”Lady Justice\”?

WASHINGTON, DC–This week saw new controversies related to the Roger Stone case with four top DOJ prosecutors resigning from their posts in protest of AG Barr’s call for reducing Stone’s sentence. Scroll down to see how Judicial Watch has taken an active role in exposing the FBI’s misconduct in raiding, targeting and prosecuting Roger Stone.

From FOX News:

DOJ Prosecutors Resign After Top Brass Reverses Course on Roger Stone Sentencing

(2/12/2020)

Four career Department of Justice prosecutors abruptly withdrew from their postions in an apparent dramatic protest just hours after senior leaders at the DOJ said they would take the extraordinary step of effectively overruling the prosecutors’ judgment by seeking a lesser sentence for President Trump’s former adviser Roger Stone.

Here

From Judicial Watch:

Judicial Watch Sues Justice Departmet for Roger Stone Raid Documents

(4/19/2019)

The Judicial Watch FOIA request and subsequent lawsuit was in part prompted by the extraordinary and exclusive video access to the raid and arrest of Stone obtained by CNN. “That we’re being stonewalled suggests that someone has something to hide,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton.

Here

Targeting of Trump’s Team ‘Worst Corruption by DOJ in Modern Times’

(1/29/2019)

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton: “I don’t think the Justice Department would have brought this prosecution of Roger Stone but for the Mueller special counsel operation, which is geared at trying to destroy President Trump.”

Here

Documents Show Andrew Weissmann Leading Hiring Effort for Mueller Special Counsel

(5/14/2019)

“These documents show Andrew Weissmann, an anti-Trump activist, had a hand in hiring key members of Mueller’s team – who also happened to be political opponents of President Trump,” Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton said.

Here

Hunters! Please Remove Temporary Deer Stands from State Wildlife Areas

DOVER (Feb. 12, 2020) – With Delaware’s 2019/20 deer hunting seasons having ended earlier this month, hunters are reminded to remove their portable deer stands from state wildlife areas by Saturday, Feb. 15. Any stands found on wildlife areas after that date will become the property of the Delaware Division of Fish & Wildlife.

Hunters may temporarily set up portable stands starting Aug. 1 each year and remove them at the end of the season – doing so with the knowledge that placement of a deer stand on a public wildlife area does not provide exclusive rights to hunting from their stand. Under state wildlife area rules, no parts of portable deer stands can be nailed or bolted to a tree. Hunters are also prohibited from cutting any vegetation or branches to hang a stand or to clear shooting paths on a wildlife area.

For more information, please contact the Division of Fish & Wildlife’s Wildlife Section at 302-739-9912.

What You Need to Know About Vampire Energy

(February 15, 2020)–)–Have you ever wondered why all your energy saving efforts seem not enough? Is your electric bill still hiking up? Well, you might have something lurking in your home. This monster is leeching

energy from your sockets and money from your pockets.

How Does It Work?

Vampire energy, also known as standby loss, idle current, or ghost load, refers to the energy being unnecessarily leeched by gadgets or appliances when you leave it plugged in. These products are consuming energy even when not in use. On average, one household can waste more than £86 each year. It is a terrible waste of electricity and money.

Who Are the Culprits?

Guest Opinion: 75 percent of illegal immigrants skip deportation hearings, hiding out in US

OPINION: WASHINGTON SECRETS

Paul Bedard

| February 07, 2020 10:35 AM

More than 7 out of 10 illegal immigrant families ordered to be deported have skipped their court dates and remain in the United States, according to federal statistics.

In just 10 courts, some 36,115 illegal immigrant families ordered out from September 2018 to January 2020 never complied with a requirement to attend their hearings and instead are hiding out in the country, according to a Justice Department report from the Executive Office for

Immigration Review Adjudication Statistics

The report, according to an analysis by the

Center for Immigration Studies

, found that during the period, 47,925 families were denied asylum and ordered deported, but 75% didn’t attend their court hearings to get the order.

The statistics are the latest in a long string of reports that have detailed how illegal immigrants disappear into the U.S. once they enter.

“Their failure to appear suggests that they simply gamed loopholes in our immigration laws to gain entry into this country, to live and work indefinitely,” said former Immigration Judge Andrew R. Arthur, writing for CIS.

“There is nothing wrong with people looking for a better life generally, of course, but the problem in these cases are that (1) they put themselves and their children in danger by entering illegally to begin with, (2) they gave money to criminals and cartels to be smuggled into the U.S., (3) they are swelling immigration court dockets with hearing dates they never attended and likely never planned to attend, and (4) they make it harder for legitimate asylum seekers to get protection in a timely manner, which would allow those aliens to start a new life free from fear and protect their family members still abroad. Oh, and illegal entry is a crime,” he added.

The report said that as in the past, some 9 out of 10 immigrants seeking asylum into the U.S. were denied.

Over the 15-month period and 10 courts studied in the report, judges completed 52,646 cases resulting in deportations of 47,925 — a 91% removal rate.

Secure Your Finances Before Obtaining a Car Loan

image courtesy of unsplash.com

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(February 15, 2020)–Getting a car loan requires you to be responsible. You need to pay the loan each month for three to five years. There\’s a chance that your car could get taken away from you if you fail to pay the required amount. Therefore, you must secure your finances first before you obtain any loan. If you are looking for first-class service and a quick response to your loan request look no further than

Omacl Loans.

Make sure you don’t have any existing major debt

You can’t get a major loan if there’s an existing loan that you still keep paying. Unless you have a huge monthly income, keeping up with two significant loans that require monthly payments would be tough. You can wait until you already finished one loan before getting another, or at least be close to completion.

Check your income source

You should only take on paying a monthly car loan if you have a stable income source. Otherwise, it will be a burden. You will keep worrying about where you’re going to get the amount to help you pay the loan for the following month. If you have a secure job, you can pursue this transaction. If you’re still on probation, or you only recently started your job, you need to think twice.

Understand the terms

Not all car loan companies are the same. Some of them offer reasonable terms. You need to understand what it entails for you to secure a car loan. If you can find

no deposit car finance

, it might be great news. You can drive your preferred car without the need to pay anything first. However, the monthly fees might be a lot higher than usual due to the lack of initial payment. If you already understand the terms, you will know if you chose the right car loan company.

Compare the cars

It also helps if you know the car models. You can check if an option is good enough considering its price, or if there are other better choices. Take your time to review the options using different standards. Once you find the car model that you want, it will be easier to proceed with any transaction.

A no-deposit deal could be the perfect choice

You might have second thoughts about the idea of obtaining a no-deposit car deal. You think that it’s too risky. The truth is that you can still get a great deal if you compare the terms first. The monthly fees might be affordable enough. Even the fees for delayed payments aren’t as terrible as you think. The reason why you have an unfair view is that you only heard what other people said about this loan. Upon further research, you will realize that it could be the perfect deal.

Once you conclude that you will pursue this deal, you need to start gathering the requirements. You also need to ask different car loan companies for quotes. Confirm the information found online and start submitting the documents for approval. Once you get approved, you need to be responsible for the monthly payments.

EPA Says: No Need To ‘Warm Up’ Modern Vehicles In Cold Weather

CAR CARE COUNCIL BE CAR CARE AWARE

(NAPSI)—When the weather is cold, many motorists wonder if they need to let their vehicle “warm up” or idle before driving. In fact, today’s modern cars are ready to drive in cold temperatures without

You may have to bundle up before you drive in cold weather but your modern car is ready to go, with no need to idle a while

excessive idling.

The idea of idling before driving dates back to when cars were built with carburetors. With new fuel-injection technology, complex computer systems and thinner synthetic oils, drivers don’t need to warm up their cars before hitting the road.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “When a car idles for more than 30 seconds, it has several negative effects, such as increasing air pollution unnecessarily, wasting fuel and money and causing excessive wear or even damaging a car’s engine components, including cylinders, spark plugs and the exhaust system. Contrary to popular belief, idling isn’t an effective way to warm up most car engines.”

“Unless you are trying to defrost the windshield or warm the interior of your car, idling is not required for today’s vehicles,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “In most cases, idling longer than 30 seconds is unnecessary, even on the coldest days. The best way to warm up your car’s engine is to drive gently at the start. Remember, a vehicle gets zero miles per gallon when idling and the result is lower fuel economy and wasted money.”

The Car Care Council has a free 80-page Car Care Guide for motorists that features several pages of fuel economy and environmental awareness tips. Available in English and Spanish, the popular guide uses easy-to-understand, everyday language rather than technical automotive jargon and fits easily in a glove box.

The non-profit Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers.

To order a free copy of the popular Car Care Guide, visit the council’s consumer education website at

www.carcare.org

Indiana Legionnaires/Lawmakers Support Homeless Veterans

Cameran Richardson

FEB 11, 2020

American Legion Department of Indiana National Executive Committeeman Jerry Jordan helps during the homeless veterans donation drive at the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis on Monday, Feb. 10. Photo by Ben Mikesell/The American Legion

Data from the Department of Veterans Affairs shows that the homeless veterans population in the state of Indiana has increased by 6 percent in the last year. As a result, anywhere from 300 to 400 homeless or at-risk veterans visit the food pantry at the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation (HVAF) in downtown Indianapolis every month.

Together, the American Legion Department of Indiana and state lawmakers are helping those veterans in need by creating 500 care packages filled with non-perishable food and toiletries.

“Who better to take care of homeless veterans than veterans who understand the struggle when you transition out of the military, essentially leaving behind your second family, and you have to recreate yourself and assimilate back into civilian society,” said Department of Indiana Adjutant John Crosby.

The Helping Our Hoosier Heroes Donation Drive brought Legion leadership and Legion Family members from across the state to the fourth floor of the Indiana Statehouse the morning of Feb. 10 to fill grocery bags with the 3,000 care items stacked on tables. HVAF will be one of four shelter destinations to receive the care packages for homeless veterans statewide.

“This is coming at a really great time for us because our donations are down for the pantry and demand is high,” said Ashlee Walls, vice president of Advancement at HVAF.

The opportunity for the Department of Indiana and state lawmakers to work together arrived when homeless veterans issues became the charitable cause for the House legislative year.

“We are just overwhelmed by the service of Hoosiers to our nation. So policymakers want to do everything that we can to help support those who served our nation and served our state as well,” said Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives Brian Bosma. “We all understand the importance of encouraging that (military) service and supporting our veterans. So we were thrilled that The American Legion of Indiana stepped forward and said, ‘We’ll help you with this.’”

Donations for the care packages poured in from the Legion Family, lawmakers and community. “There’s been a lot of community effort come together for this,” Crosby said.

As House Democrats and Republicans came out of legislative session, Legionnaires walked around the tables with them to fill grocery bags, discuss homeless veterans issues and get their picture taken.

“They appreciate what we stand for, what we do, what we’ve done and they want to help us help others,” said Tommy Goul, a Desert Storm Air Force veteran and member of Post 437 in Selma, Ind. “Anytime we can give back to veterans is great. And anytime I get a chance to be a part of this, I’m all in for it.”

The homeless veterans initiative at the Statehouse also served as an opportunity for members to discuss American Legion initiatives, legislative priorities and membership. Indiana American Legion 10th District Commander Ron Patterson spoke with Rep. Steve Davisson’s about the need for more county service officers to help veterans with their benefits claims. Crosby said currently the Department of Indiana represents about 63,000 of the 85,000 service-connected disabled veterans with claims.

“These care packages will help (the homeless veterans) for a few days, but the bigger idea here is that we get them in touch with a service officer and show them that there is help out there to get off the street and get rehabilitated,” Crosby said.

During their conversation, Patterson learned that Davisson’s son, Jay, is a disabled veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan war who currently is a full-time caregiver for his wife who has a terminal brain tumor. Patterson extended the invitation to invite Jay and his wife into the Legion Family by paying for his dues. “We will help take care of him,” Patterson said.

Davisson handed Patterson a business card to make the Legion Family connection happen.

“A lot of good things are going on here,” said Department of Indiana Commander Allen Connelly. “(The Helping Our Hoosier Heroes Donation Drive) really helps to shine a light on the veteran community and problems with homelessness.”

source

https://www.legion.org

2019 Internet Crime Report Released

Internet-enabled crimes and scams show no signs of letting up, according to data released by the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) in its

2019 Internet Crime Report

. The last calendar year saw both the highest number of complaints and the highest dollar losses reported since the center was established in May 2000.

IC3 received 467,361 complaints in 2019—an average of nearly 1,300 every day—and recorded more than $3.5 billion in losses to individual and business victims. The most frequently reported complaints were phishing and similar ploys, non-payment/non-delivery scams, and extortion. The most financially costly complaints involved

business email compromise

romance or confidence fraud

, and spoofing, or mimicking the account of a person or vendor known to the victim to gather personal or financial information.

Donna Gregory, the chief of IC3, said that in 2019 the center didn’t see an uptick in new types of fraud but rather saw criminals deploying new tactics and techniques to carry out existing scams.

“Criminals are getting so sophisticated,” Gregory said. “It is getting harder and harder for victims to spot the red flags and tell real from fake.”

While email is still a common entry point, frauds are also beginning on text messages—a crime called smishing—or even fake websites—a tactic called pharming.

“You may get a text message that appears to be your bank asking you to verify information on your account,” said Gregory. “Or you may even search a service online and inadvertently end up on a fraudulent site that gathers your bank or credit card information.”

Individuals need to be extremely skeptical and double check everything, Gregory emphasized. “In the same way your bank and online accounts have started to require two-factor authentication—apply that to your life,” she said. “Verify requests in person or by phone, double check web and email addresses, and don’t follow the links provided in any messages.”

“Criminals are getting so sophisticated. It is getting harder and harder for victims to spot the red flags and tell real from fake.”

Donna Gregory, chief, IC3

Shifts in Business Email Compromise

Business email compromise (BEC), or email account compromise, has been a major concern for years. In 2019, IC3 recorded 23,775 complaints about BEC, which resulted in more than $1.7 billion in losses.

These scams typically involve a criminal spoofing or mimicking a legitimate email address. For example, an individual will receive a message that appears to be from an executive within their company or a business with which an individual has a relationship. The email will request a payment, wire transfer, or gift card purchase that seems legitimate but actually funnels money directly to a criminal.

In the last year, IC3 reported seeing an increase in the number of BEC complaints related to the diversion of payroll funds. “In this type of scheme, a company’s human resources or payroll department receives an email appearing to be from an employee requesting to update their direct deposit information for the current pay period,” the report said. The change instead routes an employee’s paycheck to a criminal.

The Importance of Reporting

“Information reported to the IC3 plays a vital role in the FBI’s ability to understand our cyber adversaries and their motives, which, in turn, helps us to impose risks and consequences on those who break our laws and threaten our national security,” said Matt Gorham, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division. “It is through these efforts we hope to build a safer and more secure cyber landscape.” Gorham encourages everyone to use IC3 and reach out to their local field office to report malicious activity.

Rapid reporting can help law enforcement stop fraudulent transactions before a victim loses the money for good. The FBI’s Recovery Asset Team was created to streamline communication with financial institutions and FBI field offices and is continuing to build on its success. The team successfully recovered more than $300 million for victims in 2019.

Besides stressing vigilance on the part of every connected citizen, the IC3’s Donna Gregory also stressed the importance of victims providing as much information as possible when they come to IC3. Victims should include every piece of information they have—any email addresses, account information they were given, phone numbers scammers called from, and other details. The more information IC3 can gather, the more it helps combat the criminals.

In 2019, the Recovery Asset Team was paired with the

Money Mule

Team under the IC3’s Recovery and Investigative Development Team. This effort brings together law enforcement and financial institutions to use the data provided in IC3 complaints to gain a better view of the networks and methods of cyber fraudsters and identify the perpetrators.

The new effort allowed IC3 to aggregate more than three years of reports to help build a case against an active group of criminals who were responsible for damaging crimes that ranged from cryptocurrency theft to online extortion. The ensuing investigation by the FBI’s San Francisco Field Office resulted in the arrest of three people.