To the Editor:

This letter is for the benefit of people who, like Mary Browne, rely on The Altamont Enterprise as their sole source of news. There are many scams to be aware of besides the grandson-in-jail scam. There is the IRS scam, the “you have won a prize” scam, and many ways that identity thieves go after your identifying information.

Here are a few things to remember:

— No government agency — federal, state, or local — takes payment in gift cards;

— The IRS always contacts people by mail, never by phone;

— Never give your Social Security number or bank account number to someone who calls or emails you;

— If someone says there is a problem with your bank account, hang up and get in touch with your bank;

— If someone says you’ve won a prize and wants your account number to deposit it, ask to get a check in the mail;

— If someone calls and says something is ready to ship that you don’t remember ordering, it’s probably a scam so you should hang up;

— If you are really having trouble remembering things, you need to have a trustworthy person handle your money matters for you.

The problem-with-your-account scam hit Altamont a while back. When my husband stopped in to the bank to ask, he was told that there was no problem and several people had already asked.  

To protect against identity theft, you should never carry your Social Security number with you. Since your Medicare number is your Social Security number, make a photocopy of your card with most of the numbers masked. Only three numbers show on the copy I carry; I provide the others as needed at medical offices.

The Altamont Free Library will make a copy on cardstock that you can cut to fit in a wallet. I got this tip from Congressman Paul Tonko.

There is a great deal of useful information on avoiding scams and identity theft on the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) website. If you don’t have internet access at home, you can use a computer at the library; a staff person may help you if you need an introduction to the internet or you may need to schedule a lesson, but it is free and worth the time and effort.

Edna Litten

Altamont