INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES
California Association of Licensed Investigators
New Mexico Regulation & Licensing Department
Bureau of Security and Investigative Services
National Association of Investigative Services
National Association of Investigative Specialists
Did you know “Q” is
the only letter that
doesn’t appear in
any U.S. state name?
CALIFORNIA LINKS
California Victim Compensation Board
Los Angeles County Victims of Crime
Orange County Victims of Crime
San Diego County Victim Services
California Beaches
NEW MEXICO LINKS
Administrative Office of the District Attorneys
National Assn. of VOCA Assistance Administrators
National Organization for Victim Assistance
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
NM Mothers Against Drunk Driving
New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence
New Mexico Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs
New Mexico Drug Card/Prescription Assistance
Other State Compensation Programs
OVC Online Directory of Crime Victim Services
Violence Against Women Grants Office
Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women
New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator
NM Resource Center for Victims of Violent Death
NM VINE Victim Information and Notification Everyday
NM Statewide Victim Information & Notification
National Sexual Violence Resource Center
National Center for Victims of Crime
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
VICTIM RESOURCES
The National Center for Victims of Crime
RAINN - Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
National Center For Victims of Crime
Victim Information and Notification Network
Jessica's Law: Campaign for Child Safety
Pierce and Keely Brosnan Activism
American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR)
American Civil Liberties Union
GLAAD - Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
IGLHRC: International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights
National and International Gay & Lesbian Organizations
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
NCLR: National Center for Lesbian Rights
Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Service Members Legal Defense Network
Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States
Credit Cards for Domestic Abuse
Ride-Sharing Sexual Assault Safety Guide
The Ultimate Guide to Sustainable Investing
ENVIRONMENT
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
The Ultimate Home Energy Efficiency Guide
GOVERNMENT
United States Forest Service
A multi-faceted agency that manages and protects 154 national forests and 20 grasslands in 43 states and Puerto Rico. The agency’s mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
The Mission of the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is to manage the development of U.S. Outer Continental Shelf energy and mineral resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way.
United States Department of Agriculture
The focus of the Center's information products, services, and activities is to help the regulated community with employee training and to promote the humane care and use of animals by providing information on alternatives (improved methods of animal experimentation that could reduce or replace animal use or minimize pain and distress to animals). AWIC also supports other USDA agencies, such as the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Animal Care, and the Agricultural Research Service.
Missing Pet Network (MPN)
The MPN is a group of volunteers sponsored by the USDA Animal Care Office who help people find missing pet animals. We accept no money, make no endorsements, and use no advertising on our MPN web pages.
Alternatives to Animal Testing
Altweb, the Alternatives to Animal Testing Web Site, was created to serve as a gateway to alternative news, information, and resources on the Internet and beyond.
Did you know Antarctica is
covered in a sheet of ice
that's 7,000 feet thick?
Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare
The Office of Laboratory Animal Welfare (OLAW) provides guidance and interpretation of the Public Health Service (PHS) Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals, supports educational programs and monitors compliance with the Policy by Assured institutions and PHS funding components to ensure the humane care and use of animals in PHS-supported research, testing, and training, thereby contributing to the quality of PHS-supported activities.
Fish and Wildlife Proposed Rules
U.S. Government Services and Information
USA.gov is your online guide to government information and services.
U.S Citizenship and Immigration Services
Created as a separate bureau by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, USCIS allows the DHS to improve the administration of benefits and immigration services for applicants by exclusively focusing on immigration and citizenship services.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The IRS is responsible for collecting taxes and the interpretation and enforcement of the IRC (Internal Revenue Code)
Administration for Children & Families
The Administration of Children & Familes with the Department of Health and Human Services is responsibility to assuring that assistance in obtaining support (both financial and medical) is available to children through locating parents, establishing paternity and support obligations, and enforcing those obligations.
Small Business Administration (SBA)
The Small Business Administration aids, counsels, assists and protects the interests of small businesses and helps people start, build and grow businesses.
Office of Women's Business Ownership
The Office of Women's Business Ownership and the Women's Business Center assist women achieve their dreams and improve their communities by helping them start and run successful businesses, regardless of social or financial disadvantage, race, ethnicity or business background.
The official business link to the U.S. Government. It was developed to provide better customer service for small businesses interacting with the Federal Government.
These grants are given away for free, and they could help low income veterans with bills, mortgage, rent, housing, college, and medications . Please note that grants are only given for veterans who can prove financial difficulties.

Did you know? The trains at Disneyland are made of
cooking oil from the resort’s
restaurants and hotels?
Did you know that Elvis did his first and only radio commercial on this date for Southern Maid Donuts, in Shreveport, Louisiana on November 6, 1954?
Becky was blessed to have seen him in concert when she was eleven years old.


Alcohol Abuse and Binge Drinking
Drug and Alcohol Rehab Maryland
Drug and Alcohol Detox in Houston Texas
Mental Health Treatment for Teens
Maine Adolescent Mental Health Treatment Center
Adolescent Mental Health Treatment Program
Private Mental Health Boarding School for Teens
Substance Abuse Treatment in Idaho
Addiction Treatment Center in Illinois
White Light Behavioral Health
Talking to Children About Cancer


SOME OF OUR FAVORITE THINGS
Elvis the Music

Did you know to date, just 5 states do not require private investigators to be licensed at the state level:
Alaska
Idaho
Mississippi
South Dakota
Wyoming
The remaining 45 states (plus the District of Columbia) do license PIs, and therefore have specific licensing requirements, which include education and experience requirements, application procedures, and renewal procedures. Further, a select number of states allow private investigators to carry weapons; as such, mandatory firearms training, certification, and certification renewal are commonplace.
Generally, minimum requirements for state licensure include: being at least 21 (some states have age requirements as old as 25); possessing a high school diploma or the equivalent; and have U.S. citizenship or residency. Most states also have strict statutes prohibiting candidates who have felony convictions or misdemeanor convictions involving crimes of moral turpitude from becoming private investigators.
ANIMAL RIGHTS AND RESOURCES
Welcome to the Doris Day Animal League
The Humane Society of the United States
Citizens for Animal Protection
International Society for Animal Rights
National Anti-Vivisection Society
Animal Legal & Historical Web Center MSU/Detroit College of Law
Center for Wildlife Law-University of New Mexico School of Law
The Center for Animal Law Studies at Lewis & Clark Law School
Animal Rights Law-Rutgers University School of Law
Did you know a time capsule was buried at the Sleeping Beauty Castle in 1995?
No one knows exactly what’s inside, but we’ll find out when it is unearthed during the park’s 80th anniversary on July 17, 2035.



Asbestos Mesothelioma
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A sneeze generates a wind of 166 km/hr (100 mi/hr), and a cough moves out at 100 km/hr (60 mi/hr).
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Our heart beats around 100,00 times every day or about 30 million times in a year.
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Our blood is on a 60,000-mile journey per day.

AUTISIM FAMILIES
This kit provides information to help families get through the first steps of an autism diagnosis.
Autism Source, Autism Society of America (ASA)
ASA’s Autism Source is a database of resources in local communities. It includes contact information for ASA chapters and other local supports.
Autism NOW
Autism Now is an initiative of The Arc and The Administration on Developmental Disabilities. This national autism resource and information center is a central point of resources and information for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental disabilities, their families, and other key stakeholders.
Autism Wandering Awareness Alerts Response Education (AWAARE)
Working to prevent wandering incidents and deaths within the autism community.
The Department of Education (ED) has resources to assist with the educational needs of children with autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities.
The ED’s Special Education Technical Assistance and Dissemination Network links to a variety of websites and online resources that focus on special education issues, such as policy, technology, curriculum, and parent trainings. In addition, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) within the ED has resources for parents and individuals, school districts, and states in the areas of special education, vocational rehabilitation, and research.
Life Journey Through Autism Series, Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
OAR has published five Life Journey guidebooks and The Best of The OARacle to date. You can read their descriptions, preview each online, or download copies at no cost. Most are available in Spanish.
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A Parent’s Guide to Assessment
This guide helps parents understand the assessment process and learn how to use assessment results to improve their child’s services. -
A Parent’s Guide to Research
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This guide helps parents find, understand, and evaluate autism research studies.
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A Guide for Transition to Adulthood
This guide provides an overview of the transition from school to adulthood.
Mental Health Services Locator, National Mental Health Information Center
The Mental Health Services Locator helps families and professionals find information about mental health services and resources by state and/or region. The National Mental Health Information Center is part of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Operation Autism for Military Families
Operation Autism is a web-based resource specifically designed and created to support military families that have children with autism. It is from the Organization for Autism Research (OAR) and the American Legion Child Welfare Foundation.
School Accreditation, National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
NAEYC provides accreditation for schools that meet certain standards, as well as resources, tools, and information for families and childcare providers.
State Programs, National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
Locate organizations and agencies within each state that address disability-related issues. NICHCY has compiled a resource directory by state that lists key programs for children with developmental disabilities and their families. The lists include state agencies serving children and youth with disabilities, state chapters of disability organizations and parent groups, and parent training and information projects.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES FOR HEALTH CARE
Children’s Health Insurance Program
Insure Kids Now! is a national campaign to link the nation’s 10 million uninsured children–from birth to age 18–to free and low-cost health insurance. It is sponsored by the Department of Health and Human Services. Each state has a Children’s Health Insurance Program that provides free or low-cost health insurance for eligible children. The website has basic facts about these programs as well as links to every state’s program for children. The site also has information on where you can learn who is eligible for the program, how to apply, and what services are covered.
GovBenefits.gov
GovBenefits.gov is a partnership of Federal agencies with a shared vision – to provide improved, personalized access to government assistance programs. This website can help you determine if there are government benefits you can receive.
Medicaid is a federal program that helps certain groups of people pay for medical care. Each state regulates its own Medicaid program, so the rules may be slightly different state-to-state. To get information, contact the Medicaid office in your state.
The Arc Medicaid Reference Desk
The Medicaid Reference Desk is a tool to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities find out what Medicaid can offer them. It is a project of The Arc and the Administration on Developmental Disabilities.
This booklet is for the parents, caregivers or representatives of children under age 18 who have disabilities that might make them eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments. It is also for adults who became disabled in childhood and who might be entitled to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. (SSDI benefit is called a “child’s” benefit because it is paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record.)
Sound Advice on Autism
To answer parents’ questions about autism spectrum disorders, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) offers a collection of interviews with pediatricians, researchers and parents.
Special Needs Trust/Estate Planning
Plan ahead for your child’s financial future by writing a specialized will and preparing other documents that will help your child access his or her government benefits when you are gone.
DISASTER PLANNING
AutismCares
A growing number of national autism organizations partnered to form AutismCares, a national initiative to help families with members who have autism that are challenged with disasters in their community. AutismCares registers families through a free online service to help manage and store their health care records and ensure that trained case managers are able to locate them more effectively in case disaster strikes their community.
Assistive Technology
People who have an autism spectrum disorder may use assistive technology (AT). AT is any item that helps people do things in their daily lives. Examples of AT devices include a keyguard that helps children find the right keys on a computer keyboard, a simpler remote control for a TV or stereo, an adapted mouse that makes getting around on the computer easier, switches that help children play with toys, and talking books.
Assistive Devices, MEDLINEplus
MEDLINEplus is an online service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health. Updated daily, the site offers information on a range of health topics, including autism and assistive device.
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
Screening and Diagnosis
Caring for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Resource Toolkit for Clinicians
A clinical resource to assist in the recognition, evaluation, and ongoing management of autism spectrum disorders throughout the patient’s lifespan from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Developmental Screening/Testing Coding
Developmental screening, surveillance, and assessment are often complemented by the use of special tests, which vary in length.
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), published by the American Psychiatric Association, is the standard classification of mental disorders used by mental health professionals in the United States.
EARLY INTERVENTIONS
Act Early on Developmental Concerns: Partnering with Early Intervention
A presentation that offers health care providers a general overview of early intervention services as well as practical tips, resources, and tools for working with early intervention and community services from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Online
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Online is for professionals interested in child development and behavior in a medical setting. The website focuses on primary care development and behavior, including early intervention and screening, and provides articles, handouts, and materials about developmental disabilities developed for professionals and parents. It also offers a practice section with information to support primary and specialty health care practice.
Association of University Centers on Disabilities
The Association of University Centers on Disabilities is network of interdisciplinary centers advancing policy and practice for and with individuals with developmental and other disabilities, their families, and communities.
Health Resources and Services Administration
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the Department of Health and Human Services, improves access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable. HRSA provides leadership and financial support to health care providers in every state and U.S. territory.
National Center of Medical Home Initiatives for Children with Special Needs
The National Center of Medical Home Initiatives for Children with Special Needs works with federal agencies to ensure that children with special needs have access to a medical home. Its website has resources, information, and tools on providing medical homes for children and youth with special health care needs.
EDUCATORS
Autism and Asperger Syndrome Educator’s Guides, Organization for Autism Research (OAR)
These guides provide teachers and other education professionals with a plan for teaching a child with autism or Asperger syndrome in the general classroom setting. In addition to these guides, OAR has other tips for educators on its website.
The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL)
CSEFEL is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5. They have user-friendly training materials, videos, and print resources which are available directly from this website to help early care, health and education providers implement this model.
The National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders
This organization strives to promote optimal development and learning of infants, children, and youth with ASD and provide support to their families through the use of evidence-based practices. They provide resources for educators that are evidence-based.
National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)
NAEYC provides accreditation for schools that meet certain standards, as well as resources, tools, and information for families and childcare providers.
National Association of Special Education Teachers
The National Association of Special Education Teachers (NASET) has one of the largest sources of information on special education in the United States that teachers have identified as being the most relevant issues faced in the field. The NASET database is updated daily.
Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism
The article “Teaching Tips for Children and Adults with Autism” by Temple Grandin has 28 tips to help teachers in fostering a classroom environment conducive to learning for children with autism. Dr. Grandin is an associate professor at Colorado State University and a well-known adult with autism.
Young Children with Challenging Behavior
The Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention for Young Children, also known as TACSEI, takes the research that shows which practices improve the social-emotional outcomes for young children with, or at risk for, delays or disabilities and creates free products and resources to help decision makers, caregivers, and service providers apply these best practices in the work they do every day.
Zero to Three
Provides professionals working with very young children and their families an extensive collection of resources aimed at supporting the work of professionals in a variety of early childhood settings.
RESEARCHERS
Federal Funding Opportunities
CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities Funding Opportunities
Find information about funding opportunities in CDC’s National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities (NCBDDD). Information about new funding opportunities throughout CDC can be found on the CDC Grants and Cooperative Agreements webpage.
Grants.gov
Grants.gov helps organizations find and apply for more than $400 billion in federal grants electronically. It is the single access point for more than 1,000 grant programs offered by all federal grant-making agencies. The Department of Health and Human Services is the managing partner for Grants.gov.
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Grants and Funding
Find grants and funding opportunities from NIH. You can also use NIH’s new tool, the
RePORT Expenditures and Results (RePORTER)
query tool to learn about currently funded projects related to ASDs. This new tool replaces CRISP (Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects), but keeps all of the features of CRISP, including a searchable database of projects at colleges , hospitals, and other research facilities that are funded by NIH and other government agencies. The new RePORTER tool also has additional search tools, hit lists that can be sorted and downloaded to Excel, NIH funding for each project (expenditures), and the publications and patents that have acknowledged support from each project (results). RePORTER also provides links to PubMed Central, PubMed, and the US Patent & Trademark Office Patent Full Text and Image Database
Autism Genetics Initiative Data Archive
The Human Genetics Initiative, funded by the National Institute of Mental Health, is a national resource of clinical data and biomaterials collected from people with autism and other mental disorders. The data and biomaterials in the Autism Genetics Initiative were collected as part of a genetic linkage study done in 1995–2001. Families in the initiative have at least two affected siblings or more distant relatives. Available data include age, sex, family structure, diagnostic interview data and status, and nonverbal IQ data. Data and biomaterials (cell lines and DNA samples) are available to qualified investigators who study the genetics of autism.
Autism Genetics Resource Exchange
The Autism Genetic Resource Exchange (AGRE) is a resource for the study of autism genetics. Clinical data and genetic material on more than 700 families are freely available for analysis by members of the scientific community. The goal of AGRE is to speed up progress in identifying the genetic underpinnings of autism and autism spectrum disorders by making this information available to the scientific community.
ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov provides free and easy access to information on clinical studies for a wide range of diseases and conditions, including autism. Trials found on the website may be federally or privately funded.
Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health
The Data Resource Center makes it easy to find key findings on the health and health care of children, youth, and families. It is sponsored by the federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau and is led by the Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative, based at the Oregon Health & Science University.
National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics, located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences, is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data about education.
National Center for Health Statistics
CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) has accurate, relevant, and timely statistics to guide actions and policies to improve the health of Americans. The NCHS State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey has in-depth state and local area data that can be used to help meet various program and policy needs.
National Database for Autism Research
The National Database for Autism Research, being developed by the National Institutes of Health, will provide a national resource to support and speed up research in autism. It is a collection of information systems supporting the full range of autism research activities, including genomic, imaging, laboratory, clinical, and behavioral data sources. It provides the core technology for a data warehouse, a data-entry system, and a centralized source for common measures and their documentation. It will support large-scale, multi-site projects as well as pilot studies and basic science investigations.
Human Subjects’ Protection
The Code of Federal Regulations, Title 45, Part 46, is the official federal policy about the protection of human subjects in research studies. You can find more human subjects resources on the CDC human subjects research website. The site includes checklists for writing research protocols and informed consent forms, descriptions of additional protections required if certain groups (such as children and pregnant women) will be research subjects, guidelines for defining public health research versus non-research, and general resources on human subjects issues. The site supports CDC staff and staff on CDC-funded projects to ensure compliance with federal policy on human subjects’ protection.
NIH Loan Repayment Programs
The National Institutes of Health offers several loan repayment programs for researchers. NIH Loan Repayment Programs are a vital component of our nation’s efforts to attract health professionals to careers in clinical, pediatric, health disparity, or contraceptive and infertility research.
Did you know Otters “hold hands” while sleeping, so they don’t float away from each other.
Department of Health and Human Services
Principal agency for protecting the health of U.S. citizens.
Drugs.com
Easy-to-read drug information and useful online tools including a pill identifier.
Epocrates
Point of care diagnostic and treatment information for doctors. Subscription required.
Everyday Health
Personalized health advice, tools, and communities.
Healthline
Publisher with extensive library of more than 20,000 health and wellness articles.
Mayo Clinic
Award-winning medical and health information for healthy living.
MedicineNet
Authoritative medical and wellness information for consumers.
Medline Plus
Diseases, symptoms, injuries, and more with photographs and illustrations.
Medpage Today
Latest clinical and policy coverage geared towards health care professionals.
Medscape
Medical information for specialists, physicians, and industry professionals.
Merck Manuals
The world's most widely-used medical guides.
NIH
Primary agency responsible for biomedical and public health research in the United States.
OpenMD
Health search engine spanning thousands of medical organizations and government databases. Also see: Health Site Directory
RxList
Drug information for consumers and health professionals.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Public health agency dedicated to the control and prevention of disease and injury.
UpToDate
Evidence-based clinical decision support resource for health care providers.
WebMD
Comprehensive consumer health information site.
DOCTOR REVIEWS
CareDash
Provider ratings and reviews, helping patients to make informed decisions about their health.
Castle Connoly
Top doctors based on peer nomination and review by a physician-directed research team.
Health Grades
Details on provider's experience, patient satisfaction, and hospital quality.
U.S. News Health
Directory of 750,000+ U.S. physicians and surgeons.
Vitals
Find, learn about, or rate a doctor. Search by location, specialty, or ailment.
Zocdoc
Find a doctor and book an appointment. Read verified doctor reviews and ratings by patients.
MEDICAL JOURNALS
BioMed Central
Provides open access to hundreds of peer-reviewed medical journals.
Links to free full-text medical journals and resources.
Free Medical Books
JAMA
The most widely circulated peer-reviewed medical journal in the world.
New England Journal of Medicine
Publishes new medical research findings, review articles, and editorial opinions.
PubMed Central
Free digital archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.
CHILD AND TEEN HEALTH
Baby Center
Pregnancy and parenting destination offering trusted information and advice.
Girls Health
Reliable, supportive health information for girls ages 10 to 16.
Partnership for a Drug Free America
Answers and guidance on drug abuse, prevention, and treatment.
Teen Health
Honest information and advice about health, relationships, and growing up.


We all like to think scams could never happen to us, but that’s far from the reality. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission received
5.9 million fraud reports in 2021. And believe it or not, more young people made reports than older folks, and by quite a large margin percentage. To protect yourself from unscrupulous individuals looking for victims they can swindle, you need to arm yourself with information about common scams.You can avoid throwing your money away by not giving personal information to a stranger and looking out for these common scams.
Criminals continue to impersonate SSA and other government agencies in an attempt to obtain personal information, money, or download malware onto phones. Recent reports indicate that criminals are trying to trick people into sharing personal and financial information over the phone or through deceptive text and email messages that lure recipients to a fake Social Security website. Criminals falsely advise recipients to apply to receive Social Security benefits or extra money, such as a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), or to set up an online account. The message may also provide fake contact information for SSA.
“Scammers are relentless in their attempts to lure you to their fake websites or to get you to respond in any manner to their fictitious offers. I urge members of the public to ignore unexpected messages and unsolicited offers. This simple step will help protect you from a scam,” said Inspector General Gail S. Ennis. “Also, be alert for unusual business practices and contact Social Security directly with questions or concerns regarding SSA matters. Never click on the link.”
“We are deeply concerned that fraudsters continue to find new ways to impersonate government agencies to deceive people into providing personal information or money,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of Social Security. “I strongly urge people to be vigilant, and ignore suspicious emails, texts, or letters. If you receive a suspicious message, do not click on any links or attachments.”
Ignore suspected scams and report them to oig.ssa.gov. Reporting these scams helps us identify emerging scam tactics and trends and protects others.
HOW A GOVERNMENT IMPOSTER SCAM WORKS
Recognizing the signs of a scam can help you avoid falling victim to one. These scams primarily use telephone to contact you, but scammers may also use email, text message, social media, or U.S. mail. Scammers pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain your trust. Scammers say there is a problem or a prize. Scammers pressure you to act immediately. Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way.
TIPS TO PROTECT YOURSELF
Do not take immediate action. If you receive a communication that causes a strong emotional response, take a deep breath. Hang up or ignore the message. Talk to someone you trust.Do not transfer your money! Do not buy that gift card! Never pay someone who insists that you pay with a gift card, prepaid debit card, Internet currency or cryptocurrency, wire transfer, money transfer, or by mailing cash. Scammers use these forms of payment because they are hard to trace.
Be skeptical. Do not believe scammers who “transfer” your call to a government official or law enforcement officer, or who feed you a number as proof. Scammers can create fake numbers and identities. Do not trust your caller ID. Be cautious of any contact claiming to be from a government agency or law enforcement, telling you about a problem you don’t recognize or an unsolicited offer. Do not provide your personal information, even if the caller has some of your information Do not click on links or attachments. Block unwanted calls and text messages.
Consumer Financial Protection Burea