Save Social Security Scam ► How it Works

Save Social Security Scam ► How it Works

A new scam is targeting seniors, preying on fears that they could lose Social Security benefits. Seniors are scared into donating to this fake cause and providing their personal information.

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  You get a letter in the mail. It seems to be from a nonprofit advocacy group and claims that Congress is attempting to abolish Social Security. Fortunately, this group is working to save the benefits. They are allegedly mailing referendum ballots to every senior citizen in the country, allowing them to vote to keep the government program.
  
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  To keep up its work, this group needs your donation. A donation of $16.45 will pay to mail "an additional 36 referendums on Social Security to citizens across America who feel the same way as you and me."
  
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  Of course, the donation is a scam. If you send money, you will be out $16.45. Victims who fill out the form to make a credit card donation, open themselves up to ID theft and additional fraudulent charges. As usual, the scam varies slightly in different reports. The name of the advocacy group often changes and so does the exact language used.
  

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  Be wary if you are being asked to act immediately. Scammers typically try to push you into action before you have had time to think.
  
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  Don't share your credit card information. Paying by credit card is typically a great way to protect yourself when purchasing online. But sending your name, address and credit card information to scammers opens yourself up to ID theft and other cons.
  
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  If it seems too outlandish to be true, it probably is: Many cons snare victims by offering deals too good to be true. But some, like this, scare targets into taking action. Either way, use common sense and a quick web search.
  
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  Know your government: In the United States, referendums are not held on the national level and differ from state to state. Outside organizations do not pay for referendum ballots to be sent to voters.
  

Go to www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2016/09/bamboozled_group_accused_of_nationwide_scams_targe.html for more on this scam. To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker www.bbb.org/scamtracker. [Source: BBB Scam Alert | September 23, 2016 ++]

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  Check bank statements carefully and promptly—remember that unauthorized charges can occur even if the card itself was never lost or stolen.
  

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  Use your debit card only with merchants you trust—reach for your credit card for online purchases or transactions where the card will be out of your sight (e.g., restaurants).
  

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  Limit your exposure—don’t link accounts if you don’t need to. Linking your savings account to your debit account could result in both accounts being drained.
  

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  Report loss, theft or unauthorized charges immediately—acting fast limits your liability.
  

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  If you only use your debit card to withdraw cash from ATM machines, consider asking your bank to replace it with a basic ATM card. This ensures that a PIN will be required for all transactions.
  

[Source: BBB Consumer Protection | Emma Fletcher | | September 6, 2016++]

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  Active
  
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  Reserve
  
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  National Guard
  
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  Coast Guard
  
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  Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
  
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  Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  

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  Active
  
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  Reserve
  
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  National Guard
  
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  Coast Guard
  
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  Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS)
  
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  Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
  

3. 100% Service Connected Disabled with the DAVPRM code on their military issued ID.

Retirement Income Taxes: Social Security, military, federal, and state/local government pensions are exempt. Private pension income is exempt up to $47,309 (individual filers) or $94,618 (married filing jointly). These private pensions are reduced by the amount of any public pension deduction claimed. Taxpayers 65 or older may deduct interest, dividends, and capital gains up to $20,000 (individual filers) or $40,000 (married filing jointly). These deductions are reduced by any pension exemption taken. Federal and Michigan public pensions are totally exempt. Public pensions include benefits received from the federal civil service, State of Michigan public retirement systems and political subdivisions of Michigan, military retirement and Tier 2 railroad retirement. If the conditions of the plan under step one are met, then these payments are totally exempt from Michigan income tax. Michigan residents can treat the public pensions received from the following states as totally exempt: Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Michigan residents who receive public pensions from other states are subject to the private pension exemption limits. Michigan residents who receive public pensions from states not listed above are subject to the private pension exemption limits.

Property in Michigan is generally assessed at 50% of its true cash value. Some seniors, disabled persons, veterans, surviving spouses of veterans and farmers may be able to delay paying property taxes. It depends on the county of residence and your income level. If you own the home you live in, you may be exempt from a portion of local school taxes under the Homeowner’s Principal Residence Exemption Program, formerly known as the Michigan Homestead Exemption Program. It allows homeowners an exemption from their local School Operating Millage. In accordance with Public Act 237 of 1994, homeowners that occupy their property as their principal residence may exempt up to 18 mills. A homestead property tax credit is available to homeowners or renters. The credit is based on the property tax on a homestead that is subject to local property taxes or your household income. Only those whose household income is less than $82,650 are eligible. For information on the homestead credit, call 517-334-7076. For other property tax matters, call 517-373-0500. To view the state’s property tax estimator, refer to http://www.michigan.gov/taxes/0,1607,7-238-43535_43540---,00.html

There is no inheritance tax and a limited estate tax related to federal estate tax collection.

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  Green Berets. During the “Land Navigation” training phase, the first female soldier in Green Beret training either withdrew voluntarily, was medically dropped or was administratively removed for not meeting standards, three sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity told The Times. Pending review boards, she may try again. Historically, 1-in-3 candidates pass the entire course.
  
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  COLA. Breaking the trend of the past few years, the August inflation index rose slightly and now stands at 234.909, which puts it .3 percent above the 2014 COLA baseline. Because there was no COLA last year, the FY 2014 baseline is still used to determine the next COLA.  he CPI for September 2016 - the final piece of the COLA puzzle - is scheduled to be released on Oct. 18, 2016. 
  
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  Okinawa Base Relocation. A Japanese court ruled 16 SEP that Okinawa Gov. Takeshi Onaga's revocation of a reclamation permit for a U.S. military base on the southern island was illegal, supporting the central government plan to go ahead with the reclamation despite protests by local residents.
  
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  GTMO. The US government confirmed 14 SEP that at least two Guantanamo Bay detainees released by President Barack Obama's administration, and at least two more released by George W. Bush's administration, "returned to terrorist activities" in the first six months of 2016.
  
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  Stroke Signs. Time is critical. Four steps to take if you suspect someone has experienced a stroke can be seen in the 3 minute video at http://biggeekdad.com/2016/09/4-signs-stroke.
  
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  Biofuels. In early 2016 the Navy deployed ships for the first time that ran on a biofuel blend of processed beef fat. Now, biofuels are taking flight on vegetable oils. The "Green Growler" -- an EA-18G electronic attack jet running on biofuel JP-5 -- made its first flight in September on an advanced biofuel that did not contain petroleum JP-5.
  
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  Savings. A new survey by GOBankingRates indicates that while 34% of Americans have no money in savings and another 35% have less than $1,000, just 15%of Americans have $10,000 or more socked away for a rainy day. Senior citizens age 65 and older are the best savers, with 1 in 4 seniors reporting a savings account balance of more than $10,000. Just 8% of millennials can say the same.
  
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  DFAS COA. If you do not have access to DFAS myPay and need to submit a change of address you can go to https://corpweb1.dfas.mil/askDFAS/ticketInput.action?subCategoryID=13824 and make the change.
  
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  Rent. What do you pay? Is it above or below the average paid in the 150 most populous U.S. cities. For each city, the financial data site calculated the median rent for a one- and two-bedroom apartment and a single-family home based on data from Zillow, and then ranked the top 20 cities. To find out review the following which are rated cheapest to most expensive at https://www.gobankingrates.com/mortgage-rates/cheapest-places-rent: Toledo OH, Detroit, Wichita KS, Fayetteville, North Carolina NC, Augusta GA Columbus GA, Knoxville TN, Memphis TN, Greensboro NC, Tucson AZ, Tallahassee FL, Spokane WA, El Paso TX, Little Rock AR, Lubbock, Des Moines, Cincinnati, Boise ID, Indianapolis, and Rochester NY.
  
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  Military Recruitment. Officials said the Army and the Army Reserves will reach their goal of 62,500 recruits by the end of the month, which is the end of the fiscal year, A Marine Corps assessment suggests the service branch needs 8,000 more troops than the 182,000 it has been approved for.
  
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  Rape. California Governor Jerry Brown on 28 SEP signed a bill to end the statute of limitations for rape, a measure inspired by accusations against comedian Bill Cosby, some of which surfaced decades after alleged crimes occurred.
  

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