Protection of Individuals Living with Disabilities from Fraudulent Survey Calls ABI Resources is bringing attention t… — 2023-06-05 f28c0174

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ABI Resources shared a post to the group: Connecticut Caregiver Community.

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Protection of Individuals Living with Disabilities from Fraudulent Survey Calls ABI Resources is bringing attention to an important matter – protecting individuals living with disabilities from fake survey calls. These deceitful phone calls are designed to extract personal information under false pretenses and can be especially damaging for vulnerable populations. Individuals with disabilities may be particularly susceptible due to their dependence on support services. It's our responsibility as members of the community to protect them from this sort of exploitation. Here are some steps we can take to shield our loved ones, friends, and colleagues: Education: Inform them about these deceptive practices. Explain how scammers can pose as legitimate surveyors and that it's okay to hang up if a call feels suspicious. Privacy: Encourage them to always maintain the confidentiality of their personal information. Genuine surveyors will respect their privacy and will not demand sensitive details like financial information, Healthcare information, Social Security numbers, etc. Caller Identification: Encourage the use of caller identification systems to screen calls. If a suspicious call is identified, advise them not to respond. Reporting: Teach them how to report such calls to local law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission. Support Network: Encourage them to reach out to a trusted individual if they are uncertain about a call. This could be a family member, caregiver, or support worker. As an inclusive and caring society, it's crucial that we all play a part in safeguarding individuals living with disabilities. By instilling these practices, we can equip them with the tools to recognize and avoid fraudulent activities. Scammers are getting increasingly sophisticated with their tactics to trick individuals. Here are 10 common tactics they use: Spoofing Caller ID: Scammers can manipulate caller ID to appear as though they are calling from a familiar or trusted number, such as a local business, a government agency, or a number that's similar to yours. Pretexting: Scammers use this tactic to gather personal information about you. They pretend to be from a legitimate organization like a bank, an insurance company, or a government agency. They use this pretext to ask for your personal details. Phishing: This involves sending text messages (smishing) or emails (phishing) that appear to be from legitimate companies. They direct you to counterfeit websites or ask for personal information directly. Impersonating a Loved One: Scammers may pretend to be a family member or friend who is in trouble and needs immediate financial help. Fake Surveys: Scammers call or email you to take part in a survey and reward you with a prize. The goal is to get you to disclose personal information or pay a fee to receive the prize. The Tech Support Scam: Scammers pretend to be tech support from a well-known company, saying that your computer or phone is infected with a virus. They offer to fix the problem for a fee or trick you into installing malicious software that will steal your personal information. Impersonating Government Officials: Scammers may claim to be IRS officials or law enforcement officers. They usually demand immediate payment of taxes or fines, often through unusual methods like gift cards or wire transfers. Lottery and Sweepstakes Scams: These scams inform you that you've won a large sum of money but need to pay a fee or taxes to receive the prize. Medical Scams: Scammers pretend to be from a medical organization, claiming that you owe money for medical treatment or that you are eligible for a free medical test or procedure, often asking for your personal or financial information. Debt Collection Scams: Scammers pose as debt collectors for loans you don't recognize, often using threats and intimidation to coerce you into making a payment. ABI Resources is a reputable organization that provides care for individuals and families in collaboration with various government agencies and community service providers, including the Connecticut Department of Social Services DSS, COU Community Options, the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services DMHAS, Connecticut Community Care CCC CCCI Southwestern Connecticut Area on Aging SWCAA, Western Connecticut Area on Aging WCAAA, Allied Community Resources ACR, Access Health, and United Services. ABI Resources collaborates care with renowned institutions such as HFSC, Gaylord, UCONN, Yale, and Hartford. As a community care and supported living provider, ABI Resources is dedicated to offering high-quality and personalized care to enhance the lives of those it serves. Medicaid MFP Money Follows the person program / ABI Waiver Program / PCA waiver.