{"id":18742,"date":"2017-03-20T15:11:15","date_gmt":"2017-03-20T20:11:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/?p=18742"},"modified":"2017-03-20T15:11:15","modified_gmt":"2017-03-20T20:11:15","slug":"opm-says-dont-fall-for-a-fake-retirement-scam","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/2017\/03\/20\/opm-says-dont-fall-for-a-fake-retirement-scam\/","title":{"rendered":"OPM Says Don’t Fall For a Fake Retirement Scam"},"content":{"rendered":"

Be on the Alert for an aggressive phone scam that targets Federal annuitants: The scammer\u00a0<\/span><\/span>claims<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>to be an OPM employee.\u00a0 The scammer threatens to end the annuitant\u2019s retirement, threatens that a \u201cmagistrate\u201d will criminally prosecute, and demands an immediate payment.\u00a0 This is a government imposter scam \u2013\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Do not send money<\/strong>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Any communication of this type is NOT from an OPM official<\/span><\/strong>.\u00a0 OPM will not<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>make such calls.\u00a0 Scams like this one are carried out by skilled imposters, who may sound convincing. They may use real names and titles \u2013 and they may know a lot about their targets, including personally identifiable information.\u00a0 The scammers may alter the caller ID to make it look like OPM is calling.\u00a0 Scammers may also attempt to use email to \u201cphish\u201d for more information.\u00a0 Finally, these imposters may leave an \u201curgent\u201d callback request.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span>Don\u2019t fall for it.<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Signs of a SCAM<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>(and these are actions OPM does NOT do)<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Call to demand immediate payment.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Demand that you pay a debt first before any appeal.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Request that you pay using gift cards, prepaid debit or credit cards, wire transfers, Western Union, MoneyGram, or PayPal, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Request for credit or debit card numbers over the phone or by email.<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Threaten referral to a Magistrate, the police, or law enforcement.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    If you suspect the caller is an<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>imposter<\/strong><\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n