shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com November 26, 2019 • Page 3 Social Security Administration And Its Inspector General Announce New Online Reporting Form For Imposter Scam Calls Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security, and Gail S. Ennis, the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, announce the launch of a dedicated online form at https://oig. ssa.gov to receive reports from the public of Social Security-related scams. These scams—in which fraudulent callers mislead victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for purported Social Security number problems—skyrocketed over the past year to become the #1 type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration. To combat these scams, Social Security and the OIG will use the new online form to capture data that will be analyzed for trends and commonalities. The OIG will use the data to identify investigative leads, which could help identify criminal entities or individuals participating in or facilitating the scams. Ultimately, these efforts are expected to disrupt the scammers, help reduce this type of fraud, and reduce the number of victims. “We are taking action to raise awareness and prevent scammers from harming Americans,” Commissioner Saul said. “I am deeply troubled that our country has not been able to stop these crooks from deceiving some of the most vulnerable members of our society.” Commissioner Saul and Inspector General Ennis encourage the public to use the new online form to report Social Security phone scams including robocalls and live callers, as well as email, text, and in-person scams. The form allows people to create a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN), so if OIG contacts a person about their report, they will know the call is legitimate. “Awareness is our best hope to thwart the scammers,” said Inspector General Ennis. “Tell your friends and family about them and report them to us when you receive them, but most importantly, just hang up and ignore the calls.” Social Security employees do occasionally Interested in this spot? contact people--generally receive a call from the those who have ongoing agency. business with the agency-Social Security will not: by telephone for business • Tell you that your purposes. However, Social Social Security number Security employees will has been suspended. never threaten a person, • Contact you to or promise a Social demand an immediate Security benefit approval, payment. or increase, in exchange • Ask you for credit or for information or money. debit card numbers over In those cases, the call the phone. is fraudulent and people • Require a specific should just hang up. means of debt repayment, Generally, the agency like a prepaid debit card, a mainly calls people who retail gift card, or cash. have recently applied for • Demand that you a Social Security benefit, pay a Social Security debt someone who is already without the ability to receiving payments and appeal the amount you requires an update to their owe. record, or a person who • Promise a Social has requested a phone Security benefit approval, call from the agency. If or increase, in exchange a person is not in one for information or money. ofINTERESTED IN THIS there is a problem these situations, they If SPOT? normally would notto place your adperson’s Social with a here. Call 665-5884 Security number or record, in most cases Social Security will mail a letter. If a person needs to submit payments to Social Security, the agency will send a letter with instructions and payment options. People should never provide information or payment over the phone or Internet unless they are certain of who is receiving it. The Social Security OIG will also continue to take reports of fraud, waste, and abuse in Social Security’s programs and operations. A separate online form for those reports remains available at their website. DENR Fines Smithfield Foods, Inc. GFP Commission Proposes Use Of Call 665-5884 to www.missourivalleyshopper.com for Surface Water Violations here. Rifles On Private Land During West place your ad www.missourivalleyshopper.com PIERRE – The South Dakota Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has fined Smithfield Foods, Inc. (Smithfield) $46,260 for Surface Water Discharge Permit violations at their facility in Sioux Falls. Smithfield’s Sioux Falls wastewater treatment plant discharges to the Big Sioux River under a state-issued Surface Water Discharge Permit. Between February 1, 2019, and July 31, 2019, Smithfield reported violations of its permit limits for total suspended solids, biochemical oxygen demand, ammonia, fecal coliform, and toxicity test. “Smithfield has addressed these violations,” said DENR Secretary Hunter Roberts. “However, this penalty reinforces the need for permit compliance. DENR expects operators to comply with their permits and will continue to work closely with Smithfield to prevent future violations.” In response to the reported violations, DENR required Smithfield to collect daily water quality samples in the Big Sioux River to document any potential impacts. The results indicated the discharge violations did not lead to exceedances of the South Dakota Surface Water Quality Standards in the river. As ordered in DENR’s October 23, 2019, Notice of Violation, Smithfield must conduct additional toxicity monitoring if there are any further violations. Smithfield must also complete an evalua- River Prairie Spring Turkey Season www.missourivalleyshopper.com tion of its water collection system and implement approved corrective actions WATERTOWN, S.D. – Area Program and the to minimize excess water The South Dakota Game, entire Black Hills unit. flows during precipitation Fish and Parks (GFP) To comment in perevents. Commission proposed son, the public hearing Smithfield operates to allow the use of rifles will be held Dec. 12 at a wastewater treatment on private land for the 2 p.m. CST at the Praiplant in Sioux Falls to West River spring turkey rie Events Center in treatCall wastewater genthe 665-5884 to prairie hunting units. Madison. Individuals can erated by its operations. place your ad here. Currently, the use of comment online at?gfp. DENR requires Smithfield rifles is not allowed for sd.gov/forms/posito sample its discharge any spring turkey hunttions?or mail them to 523 and report any violations. ing. This proposal would E. Capitol Ave., Pierre, Interested in For more information continue to exclude use SD 57501. To be included about DENR’s Surface this spot? of rifles on private land in the public record and Water Discharge permitenrolled in the Walk-In to be considered by the ting program visit https:// Call 665-5884 to denr.sd.gov/des/sw/swplace your ad here. dischargepermits.aspx. 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