Stencil Financial

28734 Rain Creek Road

Hanover, MI 81129

851.357.2257

dan@stencil.com

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Social Security Scams An increase in fraudulent calls from people claiming to be from the Social Security Administration have taken different forms with the intent to obtain sensitive information.

Individuals are receiving phone calls displaying the Social Security Administration’s (SSA) phone number on caller ID. The callers are reportedly attempting to obtain personal information, including Social Security numbers. If you receive this type of call, you should not engage with the caller or provide personal information or payment in response to any requests or threats.

A caller-ID “spoofing” scheme misusing the Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) Fraud Hotline phone number. The OIG has received recent reports of phone calls displaying the Fraud Hotline number on a caller-ID screen. OIG employees do not place outgoing calls from the Fraud Hotline 800 number. You should not engage with these calls or provide personal information.

Fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to be from SSA.  Recent reports have indicated that unknown callers are using increasingly threatening language.  The callers say that due to improper or illegal activity with your Social Security number (SSN) or account, you will be arrested or face other legal action if they fail to call a provided phone number to address the issue. You should not engage with these calls or provide any personal information.

Calls displaying 1-800-772-1213, SSA’s national customer service number, as the incoming number on caller ID.  People who have accepted these calls said the caller identifies as an SSA employee.  In some cases, the caller states that SSA does not have all of the person’s personal information, such as their Social Security number (SSN), on file.  Other callers claim SSA needs additional information so the agency can increase the person’s benefit payment, or that SSA will terminate the person’s benefits if they do not confirm their information.  This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from citizens across the country.

Source: Office of the Inspector General; Social Security Admin., https://oig.ssa.gov/newsroom/scam-awareness

 

U.S. Treasuries Remain Attractive – Global Fixed Income Overview

Even as the 10-year Treasury yield fell below 1.5% in August, it is still offering a more attractive yield than most other developed country government bonds. Yields for 10-year government bonds in Germany and Japan yielded -0.69% and -0.27% respectively. Such negative yields mean that investors are basically paying the governments of Germany and Japan to hold on to their funds.

International investors not only pursue the best yields possible, they also seek the safest debt possible. The U.S. continues to offer the most transparent and liquid debt worldwide of any country or company. U.S. Treasury bonds are also held for trading purposes and for currency control. If too many bonds are bought, then lower rates may weaken the currency, a trade strategy utilized by countries to stabilize or alter exports.

Countries whose 10-year government bond yields were below 0% as of the end of August include France, Germany and Japan.

Source: Bloomberg, U.S. Treasury

 

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