The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning of a surge in Social Security scams heartlessly targeting the elderly who depend on Social Security benefits for basic living needs. The scammers also know that the elderly can be overly trusting, making them easy victims. And, unfortunately, these scams are too often successful. Here’s how these scams work:

Every 10 years, the Census Bureau counts every person living in the U.S. The process won’t start until mid-March 2020, but the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is already warning of scammers trying to con you out of your sensitive information. Here are some key things to keep in mind to avoid getting scammed in the 2020 census.