Thank you for reading the Hello From Shari column. There will be no column this week; however, Shari’s column will return next Friday, September 25, 2020. We hope you are enjoying Shari’s wise words and life observations.

INDEPENDENCE, Kan.—The SKIL Resource Center in Independence will hold its free annual customer appreciation picnic September 25, 2020. The public is invited to attend.

The free picnic will be held from 5:30-7:00 p.m. in the alley behind the Independence SKIL office, 107 East Main St. In keeping with Coronavirus safety measures, the picnic will be a drive-up, walk-up, roll-up event with social distancing, said SKIL President/CEO Shari Coatney. There will be hot dogs, chips, dessert and drinks served.

“SKIL appreciates all of the support we receive from our customers and the community,” said Coatney. “The community is very supportive of SKIL and our work. We’ll be excited to see you, so please come by and pick up your free meal.”

SKIL holds the free picnics annually, to thank its customers and to further introduce the public to SKIL, a local non-profit center for independent living. The picnics are held in towns where SKIL has a branch office.

The last 2020 SKIL free picnic will be held in Fredonia October 2.

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The most effective way to defeat scammers is to know how to identify scams. You should just hang up on any call you’re uncertain of and ignore suspicious emails. Scammers are always finding new ways to steal your money and personal information by exploiting your fears.

One common tactic scammers use is posing as federal agents and other law enforcement. They may claim your Social Security number is linked to a crime. They may even threaten to arrest you if you do not comply with their instructions. Just hang up.

As a reminder, you should continue to remain vigilant of phone calls when someone says there’s a problem with your Social Security number or your benefits. If you owe money to Social Security, we will mail you a letter explaining your rights, payment options, and information about appealing.

There are a few ways you can identify a scam call. If you do business with us, remember that we will never:

• Threaten you with benefit suspension, arrest, or other legal action unless you pay a fine or fee.
• Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment.
• Require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card.
• Demand secrecy from you in handling a Social Security-related problem.
• Send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.

If you do not have ongoing business with our agency, it is unlikely we will contact you. If you get a suspicious call claiming to be from Social Security, you should hang up and report it to our law enforcement office at oig.ssa.gov.

Sincerely,

Jewell Colbert
Regional Communications Director
Kansas City Region
(816) 936-5740
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