The Federal Trade Commission has put out a warning to consumers, saying that a group of scam artists are calling people claiming they are from the government seeking personal financial information related to the Affordable Care Act.
http://www.ftc.gov/...
It's enough to make you sick. No sooner had the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on the Affordable Care Act than scam artists began working the phones. They say they're from the government and that, using the Affordable Care Act as a hook, they need to verify some information. They might have the routing number from your bank, and then use that information to get you to reveal the entire account number. Or, they'll ask for your credit card or Social Security number, Medicare ID, or other personal information.
The FTC warns against ever giving out personal financial information in response to unsolicited phone calls, emails or people knocking on doors.
Scam artists want your information to commit identity theft, charge your existing credit cards, debit your checking account, open new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, write fraudulent checks, or take out loans in your name.
The FTC then gives some practical advice:
The government and legitimate organizations you do business with already have the information they need and will not ask you for it. Then, file a complaint at ftc.gov or call 1-877-FTC-HELP. If you think your identity's been stolen, visit ftc.gov/idtheft or call 1-877-ID-THEFT. You also can file a complaint with your state Attorney General.
The folks at Crooks and Liars speculate this may be a scam dreamed up by right wingers. They cite an article in the IndyNews in which people were told that a new program called Obamacare would pay for their utility bills.
http://www.theindychannel.com/...
Citizens Energy Group and Indianapolis Power and Light Company said in a news release that a number of customers of both utilities have been contacted by someone telling them that a new federal program or "Obamacare" will pay for their utilities.
Customers have been contacted in person and through fliers, social media and text messaging, according to the Better Business Bureau.
The scammers are telling customers that Obama is providing credits if customers provide their Social Security and bank routing numbers.
In return, customers are given invalid bank information to use to pay their utility bills.
The C&L article reminds us of several other suspicious scams in which people were sold policies "protecting" them from the "death panels" of Obamacare or were told that they would face time in prison if they didn't have insurance under the new law (all stuff we were told by Republican officials and certain people in the right wing media, by the way).
http://crooksandliars.com/...
So stay alert and help protect those you know - especially the elderly who are the prime targets for such scams - from falling victim to these frauds.