Thousands of Georgians say accounts for state-issued benefits attacked by scammers – WSB-TV Channel 2

ATLANTA — Social Safety numbers, birthdates and residential addresses are a number of the info Georgians worry scammers now have.

“Their accounts have been deleted,” sufferer Natashia Jackson advised Channel 2′s Ashli Lincoln.

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This comes after 1000’s of Georgians say their accounts with the Georgia Division of Human Companies have been hacked or deleted.

“I scroll down and was like, $275 {dollars} to a Goal in Brooklyn, New York, I wasn’t there,” stated a Warner Robbins resident.

Doable scammers are accused of depleting Georgians of a one-time fee of $350 by the State’s Money Help Program.

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“I don’t care concerning the Kemp money, my concern is my Social, my date of delivery, my place of residence,” stated one resident, who needed to stay nameless.

Jackson says her funds have been utilized in a number of states. Her statements present purchases at an Arizona Walmart and a Domino’s Pizza in Texas.

“We hadn’t even used the factor but,” stated Jackson.

Channel 2 discovered the one-time fee of $350 was issued to Georgians final week. These have been funds introduced by Gov. Kemp earlier this yr. They’re for qualifying members who’re on Medicaid, SNAP, and/or TANF.

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We reached out to the Georgia Division of Human Companies for a remark.

They despatched the next assertion:

“The Georgia Division of Human Companies (DHS) is urging clients to be on excessive alert for phishing schemes by their private emails and third-party accounts as dangerous actors try to use the Money Help Program to steal personally identifiable info with illegitimate emails, textual content messages, social media posts, and sudden telephone calls, amongst different issues.

“The company has shared these steps – dfcs.georgia.gov/services/cash-assistance-medicaid-snap-andor-tanf-recipients for people to acknowledge and keep away from phishing schemes. People are inspired to take steps to strengthen and defend their account info. DHS clients ought to keep robust, distinctive passwords to their Georgia Gateway accounts, and by no means share private account info with anybody who isn’t a chosen caregiver.

“Be suggested, DHS won’t ever provoke contact with clients by telephone, textual content, electronic mail, or social media asking for Social Safety numbers or different private or monetary info associated to Money Help Program funds. Any buyer who has misplaced cash or believes they’ve been a sufferer of id theft ought to file a report with their native legislation enforcement company instantly, then name customer support at 1-833-907-0683.”

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