Seniors now need to be extra careful about Social Security scams since fraudsters have embraced AI (Artificial Intelligence) to manipulate people into revealing secure information, says a recent article from U.S. News & World Report, “AI and the Risks of Social Security Fraud.” The schemes are sophisticated and appear entirely legitimate, making them harder to discern from real messages from the Social Security Administration.
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently launched a task force to investigate the use of AI and deter AI-related Social Security scams. The OIG recognizes the risk of criminals using AI to make their schemes easier and faster to execute and the deceptions more credible and realistic.
You will want to know about AI risks if you receive Social Security benefits. Here are some guidelines to keep both your identity and finances safe.
Criminals commonly use robocalls or chatbots. The messages sound as if they come from legitimate government representatives and trick seniors into disclosing personal information or even making fraudulent payments using voice synthesis and natural language processing. This can also happen on a website, with an AI-generated video of the U.S. President or an official with the Social Security Administration (SSA) announcing a new Social Security benefit and encouraging retirees to sign up by following a link on the video. The link takes the user to a fraudulent website, where they are asked to provide essential information, including their Social Security number and other details. Once the information is provided, thieves can re-route the retiree's monthly benefit to an unauthorized account.
Be wary if you receive an email from a source you don’t recognize. Don’t respond to text messages from people or organizations you don’t know. If you receive a suspicious phone call, hang up. If someone claims to be calling from Social Security, hang up, call the local Social Security office yourself, and explain what happened.
If you haven’t already, set up a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov. That’s where you’ll indicate the bank account to receive your benefit, and you can tell SSA not to change it unless you appear in person at the local SSA office.
The SSA doesn’t initiate contact with recipients by email, text, or phone. Anyone saying they are from the SSA using these methods is a scammer. Even if your phone displays the call is coming from the SSA, know that it is very easy for criminals to manipulate caller ID to make the call appear to come from whomever and whatever number they want.
Thieves now use digital technology to trick seniors into revealing personal information. As technology changes, so do the means of stealing. Stay current on common scams and protect your retirement benefits and finances from AI-driven fraud.
Reference: U.S. News & World Report (Sep. 29, 2023) “AI and the Risks of Social Security Fraud”
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