Phishing scam against retired union members
In today's snail mail, I received the most disgusting scam against retired persons I have seen. So professional, so blatant, it is something to laugh at. But I'm not laughing because I know there are plenty of over 60'ers that very well could fall for this crap.
So, here's this mail from a professional sounding financial institution under the subheading of Pension Administration at a PO box in Delaware. They write that they are aware that I have a pension annuity that I haven't applied for from my previous union affiliation. Actually, they are correct that I have a such a pension but let me continue. They ask that for me to know if I qualify for this pension, I must fill out an enclosed form which requires all of my financial and personal information that includes my wife's information and, if divorced, a copy of my divorce decree. If I don't send these items, I will not qualify for this pension.
First of all, this company has nothing whatsoever to do with my old union or the financial institution that handles it. If I wish to apply for it I can easily go online and apply. Secondly, the only information they supply is "that they are aware" that it exists. That info can be retrieved through the union or handling institution by legal or illegal means relatively easily. It could also easily have come from the phishing Elon Musk and his cohorts did in government records. But all they have is my name, address and the name of the union, nothing else. They want ME to supply all the rest of the details on this flimsy piece of paper and return it with the decree, if it exists, in a self addressed envelope. It's just enough detail to steal my identity, steal the annuity and just about everything else including bank accounts, my wife's accounts and possibly my X's accounts. There's enough background info on a divorce decree to erase me from existence and setup a new me through a Delaware PO Box that connects to the Cayman Islands or such.
I suspect the probability of fraud is 98%. If it's not fraud it's inappropriate and utterly juvenile business practice that should not be tolerated. AI, anyone?
Remember .. NEVER give out personal info that you yourself didn't apply for in person with a proven representative.