{"id":577,"date":"2020-06-28T15:20:00","date_gmt":"2020-06-28T15:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog-2023\/?p=577"},"modified":"2023-12-04T01:54:28","modified_gmt":"2023-12-04T01:54:28","slug":"i-was-a-victim-of-a-social-security-scam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/i-was-a-victim-of-a-social-security-scam\/","title":{"rendered":"I was a victim of a Social Security scam"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"577\" class=\"elementor elementor-577\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a97c3a7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a97c3a7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-481f932\" data-id=\"481f932\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b538a6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b538a6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.13.3 - 28-05-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Cyber attacks have been on the rise with the looming uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. That means our personal information is now more at-risk than ever. Predatory hackers seek to take advantage of vulnerable groups, including soon-to-be retirees and seniors citizens, by exploiting confusion, uncertainty, and anxiety.\u00a0<\/p><p>One of our users, who we will call George here, recently wrote in about a terrible scam that happened on the eve of his long-awaited retirement. He volunteered to share his story here, in the hopes that it would help others to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/whats-this-charge\">protect themselves and their retirement savings<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-4deee40 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"4deee40\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9e9193c\" data-id=\"9e9193c\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f4c2d75 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"f4c2d75\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"196\" class=\"elementor elementor-196\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-339b45e0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"339b45e0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f771e94\" data-id=\"3f771e94\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44435407 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"44435407\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<link rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/elementor\/css\/custom-pro-widget-call-to-action.min.css?ver=1764022918\">\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/simplywise.app.link\/Iv0wVANrvfb\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-content-item elementor-cta__content-item elementor-icon-wrapper elementor-cta__icon elementor-view-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"far fa-lightbulb\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">DID YOU KNOW?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRetirement is 99% easier when your paperwork is organized. \n\nJoin 250,000+ Americans securely storing their important receipts, bills &amp; documents with the SimplyWise app.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGet the App\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-532fc75 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"532fc75\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b22357b\" data-id=\"b22357b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fe5ed47 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"fe5ed47\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3><b>George\u2019s Story: The Social Security Scam That Almost Ruined My Retirement<\/b><\/h3><p>I turned 66 this past March. I had been counting down to that day\u2013my retirement\u2013on my kitchen calendar for the last year. This was the year I\u2019d finally start receiving 100% of my Social Security benefits. This was the year I would finally get to put my feet up and start enjoying my retirement. And yet, what was supposed to be the best year of the rest of my life started terribly.\u00a0<\/p><p>I was one of the many citizens that has fallen victim to a Social Security scam. I am sharing my story, with the hope of preventing this from happening to anyone else.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p>It was mid afternoon on a Sunday, and I was sitting in my living room checking my personal email. I had an email flagged as \u201cImportant\u201d with the subject \u201cA Dispute Regarding Your Social Security Benefits\u201d. It looked completely legitimate, and of course concerned me. It had a government header, and read like a proper government email. It was well formatted and grammatically correct. It didn\u2019t look like any of the sketchy Nigerian wire transfer emails, or the threatening scams people receive from governmental imposters\u2026<\/p><p>On top of that, within ten minutes of receiving the email, I received a voicemail, and then a call. I looked at my caller ID, which said \u201cSocial Security Administration\u201d. At this point, I knew it was urgent. I was quick to pick it up.\u00a0<\/p><p>The caller said in a concerned tone that my SSN had been used to open up 5 bank accounts recently,\u00a0<i>and<\/i>\u00a0that I had applied for a hefty car loan, all in the state of Texas \u2013\u00a0 and I\u2019m from Florida. The lady then went on to tell me to fill out the form I had received via email, and that she would take care of the rest. I was panicked, recalling every identity theft and Social Security scam news segment I\u2019d ever heard\u2026<br \/>This fraud anxiety led me to follow every instruction she gave me. The mix of fear and uncertainty made me act quickly, especially because it felt like my retirement and savings for my family was on the line.\u00a0<\/p><p>I reopened the email, which said the SSA needed me to verify my identity, including my social security number and banking and routing numbers. I filled out the form, which (again) looked to me like it was from the Social Security Administration.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-157cfe0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"157cfe0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ecfde02\" data-id=\"ecfde02\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-a9f1ebe elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a9f1ebe\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-f1b837d\" data-id=\"f1b837d\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4f4e0a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4f4e0a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>After filling out the form, I got a call back within ten minutes to transfer my money into an account for further processing and verification. The amount was $5,000, which the woman assured me would be returned as soon as verification was complete. I did not even once think to verify where the money was going. It was all in the heat of the moment, and all I could think was that I needed to act fast to stop further damage. The ordeal was over within an hour, and I sighed in relief, knowing I had followed the SSA\u2019s explicit instructions\u2026<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-3e65960\" data-id=\"3e65960\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e291433 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e291433\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.13.3 - 28-05-2023 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image{text-align:center}.elementor-widget-image a{display:inline-block}.elementor-widget-image a img[src$=\".svg\"]{width:48px}.elementor-widget-image img{vertical-align:middle;display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"552\" src=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Screen-Shot-2023-06-16-at-10.22.29-AM.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-580\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Screen-Shot-2023-06-16-at-10.22.29-AM.png 684w, https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Screen-Shot-2023-06-16-at-10.22.29-AM-300x259.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c6c9d00 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c6c9d00\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-bbd9216\" data-id=\"bbd9216\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bfc906e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bfc906e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3a8a490 elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-content\" data-id=\"3a8a490\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-content.default\"><div class=\"elementor-widget-container\"><div class=\"elementor elementor-2580\" data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"2580\" data-elementor-settings=\"[]\"><div class=\"elementor-inner\"><div class=\"elementor-section-wrap\"><section class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15e2b8c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default elementor-section elementor-top-section\" data-id=\"15e2b8c\" data-element_type=\"section\"><div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\"><div class=\"elementor-row\"><div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e4ca9ce elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column\" data-id=\"e4ca9ce\" data-element_type=\"column\"><div class=\"elementor-column-wrap elementor-element-populated\"><div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\"><div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2db2526 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2db2526\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\"><div class=\"elementor-widget-container\"><div class=\"elementor-text-editor elementor-clearfix\"><p>A day passed, with no response from (what I thought) was the SSA. Another couple of days go by, and I have a terrible feeling in my gut that I might not be getting my money back. I also worried they would somehow be able to empty my accounts. I wondered \u2018how do banks investigate unauthorized transactions\u2019 and determined I didn\u2019t want to find out. So I\u00a0began checking my account obsessively.\u00a0<\/p><p>Not long after this panic had set in,\u00a0I reached out to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and told them my situation. The attendant on the other end of the line sounded weary, and told me that SSA offices rarely ever call you, and never email you regarding a fraud.\u00a0<\/p><p>I was shocked. I\u2019ve heard about Social Security\u00a0phone call scams and email frauds\u00a0a million times\u00a0over the years\u2026 But I never thought\u00a0<i>I<\/i>\u00a0could become a victim of such fraud.\u00a0<\/p><p>I now know that this can happen to anyone and I urge you all: stay proactive, and stay alert. Share stories like mine within your community so you know what warning signs to watch out for. The anger and, honestly, the shame I felt was nothing compared to the hassle of fixing the situation. I needed to file an identity report with the FTC and file a police complaint. I had to freeze all my credit, contact my state tax office, and on top of that, still may have to change my SSN if any further identity fraud is detected. It has been a nightmare. And far from the relaxing retirement I\u2019ve been planning for so long.<\/p><h3><b>Keeping yourself protected from Social Security scams and identity theft<\/b><\/h3><p>What happened to George is terrible. And unfortunately, while these stories often go untold (particularly because, as he acknowledges, there is often embarrassment associated with being a scam victim), the story is all too common. It can very well happen to anyone\u2013no matter how expensive your antivirus software is, or how much you believe\u00a0<i>you\u00a0<\/i>would \u2018never fall for that\u2019.\u00a0<\/p><p>But there are steps you can take to keep yourself protected. First, you must\u00a0remember the golden rule of scams.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/whats-this-charge\/cvs\">Stay extra vigilant<\/a>, and\u00a0never give out personal or financial information to someone you don\u2019t know by internet or phone.\u00a0<\/p><p>Second, remember that while the Social Security Administration may in some situations call you,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ssa.gov\/scam\/\">they will never demand an immediate payment from you, require payment by cash<\/a>\u00a0(or wire transfer, gift card, etc.). And they will never threaten to suspend your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/social-security-retirement-benefits\/\">Social Security number<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p><p>Finally, check your accounts regularly. By reviewing your transactions frequently, you can stop any fraudulent charges or unknown expenses happening on your bank or credit card statements.<\/p><p>Knowing and sharing\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/pandemic-scams-targeting-senior-citizens\/\">the latest scams<\/a>, as well as first-hand accounts like George\u2019s, is important. Staying safe and being vigilant about exploitative tactics requires understanding the many different types of Social Security scams out there.\u00a0<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c8090ae elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"c8090ae\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\"><div class=\"elementor-widget-container\"><div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\u00a0<\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bc13042 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bc13042\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-c0c24cd\" data-id=\"c0c24cd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6019723 elementor-widget elementor-widget-template\" data-id=\"6019723\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"template.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-template\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"196\" class=\"elementor elementor-196\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-339b45e0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"339b45e0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3f771e94\" data-id=\"3f771e94\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-44435407 elementor-cta--skin-classic elementor-animated-content elementor-bg-transform elementor-bg-transform-zoom-in elementor-widget elementor-widget-call-to-action\" data-id=\"44435407\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"call-to-action.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-cta\" href=\"https:\/\/simplywise.app.link\/Iv0wVANrvfb\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-content-item elementor-cta__content-item elementor-icon-wrapper elementor-cta__icon elementor-view-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"far fa-lightbulb\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-cta__title elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">DID YOU KNOW?<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__description elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRetirement is 99% easier when your paperwork is organized. \n\nJoin 250,000+ Americans securely storing their important receipts, bills &amp; documents with the SimplyWise app.\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-cta__button-wrapper elementor-cta__content-item elementor-content-item \">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-cta__button elementor-button elementor-size-md\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGet the App\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cyber attacks have been on the rise with the looming uncertainty surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. That means our personal information is now more at-risk than ever. Predatory hackers seek to take advantage of vulnerable groups, including soon-to-be retirees and seniors citizens, by exploiting confusion, uncertainty, and anxiety.\u00a0 One of our users, who we will call [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":578,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-577","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v21.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>I was a victim of a Social Security scam - SimplyWise Cost Estimator<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"I was a victim of a Social Security scam - from a number that showed up on my caller ID as &quot;Social Security Administration&quot;; I share my story here...\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/i-was-a-victim-of-a-social-security-scam\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"I was a victim of a Social Security scam - SimplyWise Cost Estimator\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"I was a victim of a Social Security scam - from a number that showed up on my caller ID as &quot;Social Security Administration&quot;; I share my story here...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/i-was-a-victim-of-a-social-security-scam\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"SimplyWise Cost Estimator\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-06-28T15:20:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-12-04T01:54:28+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/shutterstock_353125589.jpeg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"634\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Allie Fleder\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Allie Fleder\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/i-was-a-victim-of-a-social-security-scam\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/i-was-a-victim-of-a-social-security-scam\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Allie Fleder\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/e1e876d7736d540f0047b6adc84e2ba1\"},\"headline\":\"I was a victim of a Social Security scam\",\"datePublished\":\"2020-06-28T15:20:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-12-04T01:54:28+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/i-was-a-victim-of-a-social-security-scam\/\"},\"wordCount\":1110,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/i-was-a-victim-of-a-social-security-scam\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/i-was-a-victim-of-a-social-security-scam\/\",\"name\":\"I was a victim of a Social Security scam - SimplyWise Cost Estimator\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.simplywise.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2020-06-28T15:20:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-12-04T01:54:28+00:00\",\"description\":\"I was a victim of a Social Security scam - from a number that showed up on my caller ID as \\\"Social Security Administration\\\"; 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