Government agencies do not initially contact you by phone. So, if a call is received and purported to be from, say, the Internal Revenue Service (who are about to say you need to send them money, or else), Medicare (who are currently asking if you have received your new plastic Medicare card—there’s no such thing), or any other Government agency, and you did not initiate the call, just hang up. Government agencies will send you a letter outlining the issue and may offer you a telephone number to call. Recipients can always check the mailing address to verify this is a legitimate letter.
No government agencies text for personal information. Be guarded about sharing financial information such as about bank accounts. Ask questions: What is the name of the person who is calling you? These callers are hoping to reach people who are unfamiliar with how social media works and are looking to exploit you. Be sure to update your address if you move so that someone else does not receive your financial information in the mail.
Many people rely on cell phones, which may or may not show that a call is suspicious. Most suspicious numbers can be blocked on cell phones. Traditional phones do not offer that option, although newer models may warn about possible spam calls.
As the number of people with landlines decreases, the number of spam calls to landlines does seem to increase. If your phone rings, you are not required to answer it. If it is a spam call, it can be reported to the police but there is little they can do to investigate these issues. Returning the call to the suspicious number may open you up to additional spam calls.
Computers have brought about a major change in communication but also have increased the possibility of malfeasance. Remember, you are not required to answer your phone, especially if you don’t recognize the number. If it is a legitimate call, they will leave you a message.
Report fraudulent IRS calls at: https://www.irs.gov/privacy-disclosure/report-phishing.
Report fraudulent Medicare calls at: https://www.medicare.gov/basics/reporting-medicare-fraud-and-abuse, or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
Report a scam, a company, or an unwanted call: Federal Trade Commission: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/