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Food Stamp Scam Warning

By WKRG Staff/The Associated Press

The Attorney General's office says scammers, claiming to be from Department of Human Resources, are calling food stamp recipients asking for their personal information. Food Stamp Scam Warning

Published: Mon, June 16, 2008 - 11:02 am

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The Alabama Attorney General's office is
warning food stamp recipients and others to never give personal
information to callers who claim to be from the Department of Human
Resources. There have been reports to DHR that several elderly
people have been solicited by individuals pretending to be from
DHR.
The callers are asking for their social security numbers, birth
dates, addresses and income information. Attorney General Troy King
said DHR will never require a person to reveal personal information
in a phone call. He said most of the calls seemed to be
concentrated in Mobile, Tuscaloosa and Marion counties.
However, King said the scam appears to be spreading throughout
the state.
“It is unfortunate that in these modern times we must be suspicious of someone claiming to try to help us, but please know that these calls are almost certainly from someone who instead would cause great harm by using your personal information to steal your identity,” said Attorney General Troy King. “Your personal data is a valuable commodity that you must guard with vigilance. Thieves will prey upon your trust in legitimate official sources and they will use lies to trick you into giving them information. If you are called, do not give your information to anyone; instead, contact the organization yourself, by calling a number that you have verified to be correct. “
You should also report it to the Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Affairs at 1.800.392.5658.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)