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Scam switches your bank deposit to a con artist's account Hoax letters and calls are targeting Kentuckians' Social Security and veteran benefits By Terry Sebastian/Crystal Staley Frankfort, KY - Attorney General Andy Beshear is warning senior citizens and military veterans to be wary of a new scam that attempts to switch their monthly bank deposit to a con artist's bank account. The scam begins by someone pretending to be an employee of a bank, the Social Security Administration or a veteran organization, and claims the victim's benefit deposit must be 'reverified' following 'suspicious activity.' Once the victim provides their personal, banking and account login information, the scammer has what they need to steal the victim's identity and make unauthorized direct deposit changes. "Con artists will stop at nothing to steal, including targeting seniors who rely on their benefits as a large portion of their income after retirement," said Beshear. "Thanks to those making reports to our office, we know that this scam is trending in the state and it is especially critical that Kentuckians validate any benefit changes directly with the legitimate organization." Beshear's office has recently received reports from seniors and veterans in Edmonson, Fayette, Jefferson and Spencer counties who say scammers tried to steal their monthly Social Security or veteran benefit. Beshear's office indicates identity thieves and mobile deposit scams are increasing as online banking advances allow Kentuckians to change their own mobile deposit routing information online or through smartphone apps. The availability of mobile deposits can also result in con artists targeting unsuspecting victims to transfer money to the scammer using pre-paid credit and gift cards, which are most difficult to trace. Kentuckians can avoid many scams by following these essential steps:
Beshear recommends all Kentuckians stay ahead of scammers by signing up for his office's Scam Alerts. To enroll text the words KYOAG Scam to GOV-311 (468-311) or online at ag.ky.gov/scams and select text message or email alert. Beshear has conducted outreach and education programs in more than 180 locations throughout the state to better protect the senior and veteran population, which are often targeted by con artists. Earlier this year, Beshear joined with AARP Kentucky to launch Mission Veterans Protected (MVP), an outreach program that helps Kentucky's veteran community combat the findings in an AARP studywhere veterans were found to be twice as likely to fall victim to fraud when compared to nonveterans. The MVP website has a complete list of the top-10 scams that most frequently target veterans and tips on how to avoid falling victim. Beshear encourages Kentuckians to report scams and identity theft via his office's online form. This story was posted on 2018-09-30 10:26:10
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