Mayor Menino, The Boston Police Department, and The City of Boston Commission on Affairs of the Elderly want to see to it that you don’t get scammed this holiday season.

Please take a moment to read the following tips to help protect you and yours form falling victim of a fraudulent scam this holiday season.

• 60-80 % of fraudulent telemarketing calls are directed at senior citizens.
• Each year nearly 25 million Americans are victim of Consumer fraud.

You can prevent such fraud by keeping these tips in mind:

• NEVER give out your social security number over the phone or internet unless you have imitated the contact
• Offers too good to be true usually are. Always ask to receive information on the deal in writing if it is a legitimate company offering they will mail it to you.

In our effort to help protect Senior Citizens against fraud will post current known scams below. Please help us spread the word.

Latest Phishing Internet Scam:

The Boston Police department has received reports of an email message being circulated with the subject “Cost-of-Living for 2007 update” claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. The message provides information about the 3.3 percent benefit increase for 2007 and contains the following “NOTE: We now need you to update your personal information. If this is not completed by November 11, 2006, we will be forced to suspend your account indefinitely.” The reader is then directed to a website designed to look like Social Security’s Internet website.

Once directed to the phony website, the individual is asked to register for a password and to confirm their identity by providing personal information such as the individual’s Social Security number, bank account information and credit card information.

To report receipt of this email message or other suspicious activity to Social Security please call 1-800-269-0271. A Public Fraud Reporting form is also available online at OIG’s website www.socialsecurity.gov/oig.

You may also download the Scam Advisory.