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Your mom and my dad are part of the naive gullible generation that believes everyone who calls them is out for their good and no one has nefarious plans. And sometimes these are the only calls they get each day so at least it is someone to interact with.

Always file a police report after she has given out any personal information. If there is any way to convince her to never answer the phone, I would do so. Real calls will leave her a voicemail

Another thought is call forwarding. On our home phone (currently Verizon, was Comcast) we can forward calls to another phone. And we can do this either from the home phone or from a cell phone. You could forward all her incoming calls to your cell phone if you both have the same provider. If a legitimate call comes through, you can ask them to call back in five minutes, giving you time to switch off call forwarding.
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Worriedspouse Dec 2020
Forwarding calls to your cell phone is a great idea!
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Get a new unlisted telephone number for your mom, Alternatively cancel her landline and get her a cell phone with call blocking.
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disgustedtoo Dec 2020
New number won't stop them, even unlisted. Most of the crap calls don't even know who you are or what number their computer called! The computers they use just start at the top and dial every combination of numbers. I would ask the provider if they have any tools for blocking calls, allowing only a set list of numbers through. They have childproof packs for tvs and computers, why not phones?
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So grateful to each of you who responded! This community truly has helpful, compassionate responders and it means so much to know we're not alone, and to get wise counsel.

I should have explained that my mother lives alone in a gated community, has mild dementia, and a caregiver comes for 3 hours a day to keep her company. I cleaned out all of her financial information a year and a half ago, but amazingly, the day this happened, she found a pink index card with her social security number written on it in a stack of old letters! I had missed it.... I went immediately to her house and retrieved the pink card after this incident. I do handle all of her finances and she does have a credit security freeze with the three reporting agencies.
The vulnerability of our elders is so acute, and the evil ones are so crafty. Our heavenly father sees all! Thank you.
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disgustedtoo Dec 2020
"...she does have a credit security freeze with the three reporting agencies."

AWESOME! So, the only thing you would have really to worry about if they got her SS# is any existing accounts. If she has a credit card, contact them. Contact the bank as well. They may all issue a new ID/card, just in case. Or, if nothing untoward has happened, if they have that info and something DOES happen, it will be easier and quicker to deal with!
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I would do a fraud alert with the credit reporting agencies. Then have them lock her credit down.
She will not be able to open any new accounts without going through a process but, this also stops anyone else from using her name and social security number.

I would also contact all existing accounts that she has and put a fraud alert on the account.

If this all seems like to much, you can always pay LifeLock to monitor her credit.

I pray that you nor she has any issues because of a dirt bag scammer.

The sooner you do something to protect her the sooner you can rest easy knowing that you will be notified if anyone is trying to use her identity.
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Call the police and give them all phone numbers your mother has answered. Hoping they can track the perps down soon.

Also contact social security. Let them know your problem and follow their advice.

Side note: time to secure all sensitive information and financial information and credit/debit cards. Your mom is too gullible to be trusted with that information any longer. Sorry.
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disgustedtoo Dec 2020
Reporting the fraud attempt with the police might be useful, as they can file a report, which gives you some fraud protection with the credit bureaus, but they are not going to be tracking down anyone. That's what the FTC is for. Report the numbers to them. Note that many use spoofing, so the number on the Caller ID could be someone else. Best if you can get a call back number. The FTC tools looks for number, call back number, what the scam is about, whether you provided any information, etc.
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Marshcath, that telemarketer is really despicable and deserves to be caught.    I would agree with the recommendation to contact SS and report the number, even though it could be a spoofed number.

Is there any way you can put the call on speaker and record it?  

I'd have to check but I believe the FTC also has jurisdiction over communication fraud.   

Some years ago we were having problems with pests harassing us, so I did some research and found that the State Police in our state had a fraud task force.    That's another possibility; it wouldn't surprise me if there are a number of fraud task forces.

Is your mother living with you, or vice versa?    Does the fraudster use the same number, and/or does she give a reply number?   If so, I might just call back and advise her that you're aware of her scam and if she continues to harass your mother you'll make sure all the Federal agencies with jurisdiction are aware of her attempts to manipulate and defraud your mother.

If I can have time, I'll see if I can find the statute on attempted fraud of a federal agency.
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DrBenshir Dec 2020
I was being harassed with fraud calls from the same number. So I called them back. Over and over and over. They finally blocked MY number!
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As said, the new Medicare cards do not have the SS# anymore. Its now an ID#.

TG we seem to be getting away from the SS# being used as an acct number. I just signed a form at a Dentists office asking me for a SS#. I did not fill that info in. If you can find an old SS card it says on the back to be for Government use only.

After Dad died I drummed into my Mom not to do anything over the phone. Tell them sorry my daughter handles my finances and hang up. I was lucky she did it.
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Frances73 Dec 2020
My grandmother delighted in telling callers to call her son with such requests after grandpa died.
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Agree with Candyapple. Call and ask what to do. Meanwhile you now need to remove the Medicare Card. All things should go through you for payment, anyway, and her hospitals and doctors will already have this info.
Most of these scams depend upon the elder giving a lot more than the SS number. They count on their giving their accounts with money in them. I think you won't have a problem, but it is worth a call for certain.
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She should have received a new social security card a while back without her social security number on it. If for some reason she hasn't, please request one from the social security office.

I hope mom's heat issue has been resolved, as no one her age should be living without heat. Does she live by herself? Sounds like if she's that vulnerable, she shouldn't be on her own any more. Might be time to be looking into some better living arrangements for mom,(ie. assisted living facility).

In the meantime you can either change her phone number, or have it disconnected, and just get her a simple cell phone to use. Best wishes.
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contact the social security office and inform them. keep documents. tell mom not to be concerned that its an hoax. tell her to never give them information its a scam. tell her to always contact u every time someone calls otherwise she will lose everything. for example, something precious she loves tell her she will lose that this way she will not give up the information. contact aarp.org and see if they have a senior citizen device that will prompt its fraud or telemarketer so she will not have to answer. Maybe u can contact electronic store like best buy something. today they have the monitors you can order to see whose at your door. i believe there's a number to call for fraud. or contact consumer protection bureau
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Get rid of the old Medicare card that has the SSN and give her the new version that doesn't have the SSN. If she doesn't have it, have her call Social Security and ask for a replacement.
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MJ1929 Dec 2020
You can also get one online.
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I found this, hope it helps

https://www.tomsguide.com/us/what-to-do-ssn-stolen,news-18742.html
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disgustedtoo Dec 2020
That is a great link - lots of USEFUL information and not only who to contact, but providing the how as well!
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