[Nfbf-l] Social Security

Thu Dec 11 03:46:50 UTC 2008

Hi everyone,

The SSA, IRS and other government agencies won't send you e mails
threatening you or asking you for information.  This also includes banks of
course.  If you ever get an e mail that might seem like it is for real call
the agency or company and ask them about it.  If you get a letter in your
postal mail box that you are not sure of do the same thing.  Legitimate
looking e mails and letters are how we get caught in scams.  I have two such
e mails that look on the surface like they came from Bank of America but
they did not and if you look at them closely you can tell they didn't.
Often in these kinds of messages you will find bad English and misspelled
words.  No such agency or company would suggest that you click on a link in
a message and put in your log in info and SSN.  You should never ever do
that unless you know for absolutely sure what you are doing.  Do not let the
fear of the threat of the message lead you into doing something that could
cost you everything.  The only communications you should ever get from a
government agency such as the SSA or IRS should be messages that you expect
to get because you have been communicating with them about something you are
completely aware of.  Take no chances.  Call them if you have questions.

Thanks,
Jim Ellsworth

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of David Evans
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 2:05 PM
To: NFB of Florida Listserv
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Social Security

Dear Marion,

You and I may know how to identify these fishing scams, but there are people

out there that don't.
Most entities do not use e-mail to communicate, officially, such as Banks 
credit card companies , but do it in writing or some other media you both 
have agreed to in advance.
I get at least one fishing scam a week and some of them sound real and even 
scary , like the one from the IRS scam that said that If I did not respond 
within 24 hours, a warrant would be issued for my arrest and my property 
seized.
I called there bluff and forwarded it on to the F.B.I. web site.

As for the lawsuit, I think it has merit in that all government branches, 
state and federal and Public entities such as businesses doing business with

the Public are covered by the ADA and are technically required to provide 
information in alternative formats upon request.  The Only government branch

exempt is the Congress and Senate as Congress exempts itself from most of 
the laws it passes, even the ADA.
I will just wait to see how the lawsuit shakes out.

David Evans, NFBF.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Marion & Martin" <swampfox1833 at verizon.net>
To: "NFB of Florida Listserv" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, December 09, 2008 1:13 PM
Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Social Security

> David,
>    There are ways that an informed person can tell the difference between 
> a
> legitimate and a fishing email, as well as ways to protect oneself no 
> matter
> which. For instance, Pay Pal is one service in which many try to fish
> information. If the message does not contain identifying information, such
> as the registered name and uses some generic greeting like "Dear pay pal
> Member" or Dear Social Security Recipient", it is not legitimate. If a
> message asks you to clikc on a link to access the information, don't do 
> it!
> Rather, open a new browser and type the URL into the window so you know 
> you
> are really going to the appropriate site. Nonetheless, I still disagree 
> that
> the blind are systematically denied meaningful access to the information
> from SSA and hope the suit is thrown out!
>
> Fraternally,
> Marion
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "David Evans" <drevans at bellsouth.net>
> To: "NFB of Florida Listserv" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Monday, December 08, 2008 10:13 PM
> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Social Security
>
>
>> '
>> Dear All,
>> Federal law requires the Social Security Administration to communicate in
>> writing and is very leery of e-mail as hackers and fishing artist already
>> try to use real looking e-mails to try to get your personal info, like
>> your name, address and social security number and birth date with real
>> looking fake e-mails.  How will you tell the fakes from the real?
>> Think about the can of worms you are opening?
>>
>> David Evans, NFBF
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "David Anspach" <danspach at tampabay.rr.com>
>> To: "'NFB of Florida Listserv'" <nfbf-l at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 9:42 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Social Security
>>
>>
>>> Hello John,
>>> Like you, I have not heard of any legal action etc. against the SSA
>>> because
>>> of their non-use of accessible materials for blind beneficiaries. Well
>>> apparently, the ACB has filed a class action lawsuit against the SSA for
>>> their failure to provide communications etc. from the SSA to blind
>>> beneficiaries. The suit claims the rehabilitation act  passed in the
>>> early
>>> 70's, I think, is the law being violated.
>>>
>>> To find more about the lawsuit, You have to really dig on the internet
>>> via a
>>> Google search to find it, but here is a link that describes this class
>>> action lawsuit:
>>> http://www.ssa.gov/pgm/classaction.htm
>>>
>>> Personally speaking, it would be nice to receive communications from the
>>> SSA
>>> in electronic format, but I'm not going to go out and sue them over it. 
>>> I
>>> have no problem using my scanner and OCR software to scan and then read
>>> any
>>> documents I receive from the SSA. SSA is in enough financial uncertainty
>>> without forcing them to now retain legal counsel to fend off another
>>> lawsuit. I'm sure they have lawyers on staff for suits like this, but I
>>> would like to think that money spent on this lawsuit might be better
>>> spent
>>> elsewhere. This is just my opinion, however.
>>>
>>> Dave
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>> Of John
>>> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 11:42 AM
>>> To: 'NFB of Florida Listserv'
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Social Security
>>>
>>> Hello Sheila,
>>> I am not sure what law you are under the impression is being violated by
>>> you
>>> receiving a standard form letter in the mail. I am not aware of any such
>>> law. It would surely take some imagination to shoehorn the kind of mail
>>> that
>>> all recipients of mailings that the social security administration sends
>>> out
>>> under the ADA. Please clarify.
>>> Cordially,
>>> John
>>>
>>> John A. Ramsey Jr., Esq.
>>>
>>> Gainesville, FL 32609
>>>
>>> Phone: (352) 505-6642
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
>>> Behalf
>>> Of sheila
>>> Sent: Sunday, December 07, 2008 11:26 AM
>>> To: NFB of Florida Listserv
>>> Subject: Re: [Nfbf-l] Social Security
>>>
>>>
>>> This letter is not a scam, as we are getting a raise. It is just 
>>> terrible
>>> that the Social Security Administration is not more compliant with the
>>> law,
>>> as to not offer their correspondence in a more accessible format.
>>>
>>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
>>
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>> 12/7/2008
>> 4:56 PM
>>
>>
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>
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Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.9.16/1841 - Release Date: 12/10/2008 
9:30 AM

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