The U.S. Railroad Retirement Board (RRB) is warning railroad employees, retirees, and family members to stay vigilant against fraudsters and scammers. RRB said that caution and common sense are the best defense against falling victim to this type of activity.
The continued development of artificial intelligence (AI) can make it easier for bad actors to customize and personalize their schemes, which often involve impersonating a trusted entity. Scammers can also use AI to create fake social media accounts or web pages, often using government agency images, colors, and jargon, making them hard to distinguish from official ones. Warning signs can be requests for payment for government forms or documents that are free, such as a replacement Medicare card, and links to websites that do not end in “.gov”.
RRB customers should know that the RRB typically sends official benefit-related communication to its customers via the U.S. Postal Service, with contact information specific to each notice. While the RRB may request certain personal information over the phone to verify the caller’s identity, government agencies do not solicit personal information over the phone or by email or request advance fees or payment for services in the form of wire transfers or gift cards. This includes the RRB, the Social Security Administration, and the Internal Revenue Service.
If customers receive communication that causes a strong emotional response or makes them feel pressured or rushed, they should pause, take a deep breath, and talk to someone they trust. They should hang up or ignore the message and delete it, without clicking on links or attachments. In addition, they are encouraged to be cautious of any contact claiming to be from a government agency or law enforcement telling them about a problem they do not recognize, even if the caller has some of the recipient’s personal information.
Please visit the RRB website to read the alert in its entirety.