PLEASE TAKE NOTE OF THE FOLLOWING:

 The phantom debt collection scam comes in a number of variations, but the common element in almost all of them is a claim that a consumer owes money on a debt and needs to pay or else face serious consequences. Regardless of whether the consumer actually takes out a loan, he or she may receive a call later demanding money be paid. 

 Even for consumers who do not have outstanding debts, the con artists are threatening and convincing and have led some consumers to wonder whether someone has taken out loans in their name. In cases where a consumer actually does have outstanding loans, the scam artist may claim that the victim owes far more in fees and interest than he or she actually does. In other cases, the victim of the scam may be behind on a loan, but the caller has no authority to actually collect on the debt. No matter the consumer's actual situation, skilled con artists are convincing them to hand over precious cash to settle the "debt." Scammers often demand payment on these phantom debts via wire transfer, credit or debit card. SCAM!

In this scam, the callers are telling the receipients that they are with the Social Security Admistration Office and that their Social Security Number has been suspended because it was flagged as being used fraudulently elsewhere. This scam preys on the fears of Identity Theft and concerns about peoples Social Security Numbers being used by other individuals for criminal purposes. The caller will then want to verify your personal information to verify that you are the true recipient of the Social Security Number in question, by verifying you SS#, full name and date of birth (which gives the scammer your personal information). They may inquire for other information as well such as bank account info, etc. SCAM!

A Social Security Number is issued to every American citizen (usually at birth). It cannot be "suspended".

 Cybercriminals don't just send fraudulent email messages. They might call you on the telephone and claim to be from Microsoft. They might also setup websites with persistent pop-ups displaying fake warning messages and a phone number to call and get the “issue” fixed. They might offer to help solve your computer problems or sell you a software license. SCAM! 

Once they have access to your computer, they can do the following:

• Trick you into installing malicious software that could capture sensitive data, such as online banking user names and passwords. They might also then charge you to remove this software.
• Convince you to visit legitimate websites (like www.ammyy.com) to download software that will allow them to take control of your computer remotely and adjust settings to leave your computer vulnerable.
• Request credit card information so they can bill you for phony services.
• Direct you to fraudulent websites and ask you to enter credit card and other personal or financial information there.

MICROSOFT DOES NOT CALL YOU ON THE PHONE.

Sadly, some scammers are even so low as to try to take advantage of tragedy. Events such as natural disasters or other highly publicized tragic event.   These scammers call and present themselves as collecting money for the victims of those effected by these tragedies, preying on people's good nature and willingness to help their fellow man. SCAM!

 • Be suspicious of solicitors requesting immediate donations. Don’t give in to high-pressure tactics. Be sure to take time to research the charity.

• Pay with care. Never give out credit card numbers over the phone. Avoid cash donations.

• Be wary of “new” charities with unverifiable background or contact information.

• Don’t be fooled by a name. Watch out for charities that use sympathetic-sounding names or names similar to well-known legitimate charities. Watch out for requests from fake “victims” or memorial social media accounts.