report someone to social services

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How to Make an Anonymous CPS Report Online & Over the Phone

Last Updated: January 6, 2024 Fact Checked

How to Anonymously Report to CPS

• State Phone Numbers & Websites

Other Important Hotlines

• Who Can Report

How to Recognize Child Abuse

This article was co-authored by Clinton M. Sandvick, JD, PhD and by wikiHow staff writer, Janice Tieperman . Clinton M. Sandvick worked as a civil litigator in California for over 7 years. He received his JD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1998 and his PhD in American History from the University of Oregon in 2013. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 385,343 times.

Any suspected child abuse or neglect is a serious issue, and it’s important to report it to Child Protective Services (CPS) as soon as possible. In the United States, CPS is managed on a state level, so it’s essential to contact your state’s CPS branch online or over the phone to make an anonymous report. We’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the reporting process, including useful phone numbers, websites, and hotlines. We’ll also cover the different types of child abuse and how to recognize them so you can be as informed as possible when making your report.

Things You Should Know

• Make an anonymous report online or over the phone using your state’s designated website and phone number.
• Provide as much detail as you can in your report, including the events or observations that caused you to suspect abuse.
• Call the Childhelp National Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 for additional advice on how to report child abuse.

• Check the State Phone Numbers & Websites for Reporting section below to find the best ways to report child abuse in your state.

• “Whenever I see Jake, an 8-year-old kid in my neighborhood, he’s always covered in bruises. I’m worried that his parents might be abusing him at home.”
• “Casey Perkins, a 12-year-old in my child’s class, frequently comes to school in dirty clothes, and she has an obvious body odor. My child also notices that she asks other students for part of their lunches—I’m concerned that she might be neglected at home.”
• “I volunteer at a summer camp, and I’m seriously concerned that Randall Ramirez, a 9-year-old kid there, might be getting sexually abused at home. They always seem to be in pain when they’re sitting down, and they tested positive for an STI at the infirmary.”

• Call the Childhelp Hotline at 1-800-422-4453 to learn if/how you can follow up on your case.

State Phone Numbers & Websites for Reporting

• * means that the website is meant for mandated reporters only
• ** means that the website may be unavailable

• Childhelp also offers text support at the same number and live chat support on their website.

• Keep in mind that CyberTipline is meant to report online child abuse, not adult abuse. If someone has posted inappropriate content of an adult online, visit the Stop Non-Consensual Image Abuse website or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center .

Who can make an anonymous CPS report?

• Visit the Child Welfare Information Gateway's website for more information about mandatory reporters.

• The child is absent often.
• The child doesn’t dress appropriately for the weather.
• The child seems filthy and smells bad.
• The child requests food and/or steals money from others. [7] X Trustworthy Source Child Welfare Information Gateway Online portal managed by the U.S. Children's Bureau providing resources related to childcare and abuse prevention Go to source

• A child with visible injuries (e.g., bruises, burns, bites, etc.).
• A child who’s visibly afraid of their parent or guardian.
• A child who’s fearful of adults.
• A child with disappearing injuries after being away from school. [9] X Trustworthy Source Child Welfare Information Gateway Online portal managed by the U.S. Children's Bureau providing resources related to childcare and abuse prevention Go to source

• A child with polarizing types of behavior (e.g., being incredibly submissive then being incredibly aggressive).
• A child who’s behind their peers when it comes to emotional development and maturity.
• A child who acts extremely mature or extremely juvenile.
• A child who has tried to take their own life in the past. [11] X Trustworthy Source Child Welfare Information Gateway Online portal managed by the U.S. Children's Bureau providing resources related to childcare and abuse prevention Go to source

• The child has trouble sitting down or walking around.
• The child mentions wetting the bed or having bad dreams.
• The child is uncomfortable switching clothes for gym class or doing physical things.
• The child gets pregnant or tests positive for an STI/STD. [13] X Trustworthy Source Child Welfare Information Gateway Online portal managed by the U.S. Children's Bureau providing resources related to childcare and abuse prevention Go to source

Expert Q&A

• Check out resources like ChildWelfare , HHS , MayoClinic , and KidsHealth to learn more about child abuse. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 0
• If you’re ever confused about any part of the child abuse reporting process, call or text the Childhelp Hotline at 1-800-422-4453, or visit their website to chat with a professional. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

• If you suspect that a child’s life is in danger because of their abuse, call 911 rather than your state’s abuse hotline. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/responding/reporting/how/
• ↑ https://www.childhelphotline.org/how-it-works/
• ↑ https://mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/child-abuse/symptoms-causes/syc-20370864
• ↑ https://www.childwelfare.gov/pubPDFs/signs.pdf
• ↑ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/child-abuse/symptoms-causes/syc-20370864
• ↑ https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/can/identifying/emotional-abuse/
• ↑ https://hside.org/child-abuse-signs-symptoms/#types

About This Article

To make an anonymous report to child protective services, start by collecting as much information as you can about the situation, such as the child’s name, their parent’s names, address, age, and a description of their abuse or neglect. Since there are many child protective services across the country, call ChildHelp on 1-800-422-4453, who will direct you to the relevant authority. Alternatively, search online for your state or region, followed by “Child abuse hotline” to find the right organization for your area. However, if you suspect that a child is in immediate danger, don’t hesitate to call 911. For more tips from our Legal co-author, including how to report child abuse or neglect in writing, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Home » How Do I Call In a Report? » What Criteria Must Be Met?

What Criteria Must Be Met?

Five criteria cps needs to register a report:.

You do not need to be certain that child abuse or neglect has occurred before you call the Child Abuse Hotline . However, you do need to have a reasonable suspicion . When you call, Child Abuse Hotline staff member will ask you to explain the information and circumstances that caused your suspicion.

Child Abuse Hotline staff members must use the five criteria based on state law to assess each call. Hotline staff will ask you about the child, the child’s family or persons legally responsible for the child and the circumstances in which you believe abuse or neglect took place. CPS needs this information in order to register a report . “Registering” a report means that CPS has enough information to follow up with the family and begin an investigation .

If you have a reasonable suspicion that abuse or neglect has occurred, you should always call the Hotline. If all of the necessary information is not available when you call the Hotline, CPS cannot register the report and may make other recommendations.

Below are the five criteria CPS uses to assess each call to the Hotline.

• CARES, ACS’s Family Assessment Response
• Get Help with Your Case

How to Make a Report

Mandated reporters.

• Office of Safety First
• Parent's Guide to Child Abuse Investigation
• Special Investigations
• What is Child Abuse/Neglect?
• Will My Child Be Removed?

Anyone can make a report (and may do so anonymously), when they suspect child abuse or neglect. Find out how to report on this page. Get more information about child abuse and neglect.

For General Public For Mandated Reporters

General Public

Call 311 in NYC or the New York State Central Register (SCR) directly at 1(800) 342-3720 . If the child is in immediate danger, call 911 .

When making a report, you will be asked for information to help identify and locate the child or parents/persons legally responsible for child, such as:

• Name and address of the child and family members.
• Child's age, sex, and primary language.
• Nature and extent of the child's injuries.
• Type of abuse or neglect, including knowledge of prior history of abuse or neglect of the child or siblings.
• Any additional information that may be helpful.

If the SCR believes the report warrants an investigation, the SCR will direct ACS to begin a child protective investigation.

Learn What Happens When You Make a Report

Mandated reporters are certain professionals mandated by New York State law to report suspected child abuse and neglect to the state hotline, the New York State Central Register (SCR).

Who Are Mandated Reporters? (PDF)

Mandated Reporters should call 311 in NYC or call the SCR's Mandated Reporter hotline directly at 1(800) 635-1522 . If the child is in immediate danger, call 911 .

If the SCR believes the report warrants an investigation, the SCR will direct ACS to begin a child protective investigation..

After calling the SCR, mandated reporters must also submit a written report.

If you are a mandated reporter, follow these steps to complete the written report: Submit a signed mandated reporter form within 48 hours of making an oral report. Mail the completed form to the ACS Borough Office where the child resides.

Download the mandated reporter form (LDSS-2221A) or visit your local Child Protection Borough Office. Find your ACS Borough Office.

If you have questions about making a report or would like to follow-up with a report you made, visit the Mandated Reporter page.

Mandated Reporter Decision Tree (PDF)

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• Reporting crimes

Report child abuse to a local council

If you think a child or young person is at risk or being abused or neglected, contact the children’s social care team at their local council. If you do not know where they live, contact your local council’s team, the NSPCC or the Police for advice.

You can read about what might happen after you report it .

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This service is for England only.

You can also report child abuse to your local authority in Wales , Scotland or Northern Ireland.

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How do I report elder abuse or abuse of an older person or senior?

Call the police or 9-1-1 immediately if someone you know is in immediate, life-threatening danger.

If the danger is not immediate, but you suspect that abuse has occurred or is occurring, please tell someone. Relay your concerns to the local adult protective services , long-term care ombudsman , or the police.

If you have been the victim of abuse, exploitation, or neglect, you are not alone. Many people care and can help. Please tell your doctor, a friend, or a family member you trust, or call the Eldercare Locator help line immediately.

You can reach the Eldercare Locator by telephone at  1-800-677-1116 . Specially trained operators will refer you to a local agency that can help. The Eldercare Locator is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

The laws in most states require helping professions in the front lines -- such as doctors and home health providers -- to report suspected abuse or neglect. These professionals are called mandated reporters.

Important Links

• National Adult Protective Services Association (NAPA) Get Help In Your Area
• National Center on Elder Abuse (NCEA) Resources
• Eldercare Locator: community assistance for older adults

Search HHS FAQs by questions or keywords:

What happens when you report someone to Social services in Oklahoma

Social services in Oklahoma exist to protect children from abuse and neglect. 

Everyone throughout Oklahoma has a responsibility to report known abuse or neglect instances. But the big question for these individuals who report such behavior is: what happens after I report someone?

This blog will answer your many questions and help you better understand everything that takes place after you file a report with social services.

Who is required to report child abuse or neglect?

Caregivers, teachers, medical professionals and anyone who knows of child abuse or neglect must report it to social services. 

If you’re just a neighbor or fellow patron at a playground, you might feel like you have no responsibility to report child abuse and neglect. However, everyone has a responsibility to say something if they see concerning behavior.

Child abuse is defined as harming a child or threatening to harm a child. This abuse can be from any of the following:

• A grandparent
• A caregiver
• A foster parent
• Any adult 18 years of age or older who lives with the child. 

Emotional abuse is when a parent or guardian continuously terrorizes, rejects, isolates, exploits or corrupts a child. 

Neglect can be a bit more difficult to spot. It involves not providing for a child’s needs, such as failure to provide proper food, clothing or adequate medical care. 

Will the person I reported ever know it was me who reported them?

Oklahoma social services has a strict confidentiality policy. 

What you should know is that child abuse or neglect cases that go to court can in very rare circumstances have the reporting individual revealed so that they can testify. However, this is exceedingly rare as the social services team does all it can to protect the reporter’s confidentiality.

Additionally, you can choose to make an anonymous report. Just know that providing your name and information can help the caseworker help the child in need through having the information they need to work through the case.

What information does social services need from me?

When you report child abuse or neglect to social services in Oklahoma, you’ll need to be ready to answer several questions and provide social services with information related to the abuse or neglect you witnessed. 

This information might include:

• Information about the child, such as their name, address, school they attend, etc.
• Details about other people who might be aware of the abuse or neglect, such as relatives or additional caregivers. As part of this, social services will want to know of any history of domestic violence, weapons in the home and substance abuse issues. This helps them know how best to intervene and proceed in the case.
• Social services needs details about the nature of the abuse or neglect you’ve witnessed.
• Further information you think might help guide social services to protecting the child and removing them from the abusive situation.

If you don’t have information pertaining to some of these areas, that’s OK. You should still report the issue to social services with as many details as you can. 

What happens after I file the report?

After you file the report with Social services, the team will go to work determining whether or not the details and circumstances you provided meet the requirements of the state’s abuse and neglect standards. 

Based on the child’s risk of harm and who the abuser is, the social services team will act accordingly. The team must determine proper next steps within five days of receiving a report of potential child abuse or neglect. 

Jacqui Ford Law is here to help

Witnessing child abuse or neglect is never a comfortable or easy situation. If you’re worried about your legal rights or requirements to report such abuse, just give us a call . We can guide you through what you need to know. 

On the other hand, if you’re facing child abuse charges, our Oklahoma criminal defense attorneys can get to work building a defense for you. Contact us for a free consultation.

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Social Security

Fraud prevention and reporting ( en español ).

We take fraud seriously and so should you

Social Security Combats Fraud

Social Security has zero tolerance for fraud. We diligently work at the national, regional, and local levels to combat fraud that undermines our mission to serve the American public.

To meet this challenge, we work closely with our Office of the Inspector General (OIG), which investigates allegations of fraud and seeks to bring offenders to justice. The OIG refers cases to U.S. attorneys within the Department of Justice, and other state and local prosecuting authorities, for prosecution as federal crimes.

What Is Social Security Fraud?

Fraud involves obtaining something of value through willful misrepresentation. In the context of our programs, fraud exists when a person fails to disclose a material fact for use in getting benefits and payments. Information is “material” when it could influence our determination on entitlement or eligibility to benefits under the Social Security Act.

Examples of fraud include:

• Making false statements on claims.
• Concealing facts or events that affect eligibility for benefits.
• Misusing benefits (by a representative payee).
• Failing to notify the agency of the death of a beneficiary and continuing to receive the deceased person’s benefits.
• Buying or selling Social Security cards.
• Filing claims under another person’s Social Security number (SSN).
• Scamming people by impersonating our employees.
• Bribing our employees.
• Misusing grant or contract funds.

How To Report Fraud

Do you suspect someone of committing fraud, waste, or abuse against Social Security? You can submit a report online at oig.ssa.gov or contact the OIG’s fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 .

The OIG will carefully review your allegation and take appropriate action. However, they cannot provide information regarding the actions taken on any reported allegation. Federal regulations prohibit the disclosure of information contained in law enforcement records, even to the person making the allegation.

To learn more about reporting fraud, visit the OIG’s Resources for Other Types of Fraud page. You will find information about misuse of SSNs, elder abuse, Direct Express accounts, fraud, and more. Also, watch their video “ How to Report Social Security Fraud ” for more details about the fraud referral process.

Scammers Commit Fraud

Be alert! It is important to be aware of scammers pretending to be from Social Security. Reports about fraudulent phone calls from people claiming to be from our agency continue to increase. To learn more about scams, visit Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams .

Measures You Can Take To Prevent Identity Theft

Identity theft happens when a person illegally uses your personal information to commit fraud. Someone illegally using your SSN and assuming your identity can cause a lot of problems.

There are several things you should do to prevent identity theft:

• Do not routinely carry your SSN.
• Never say your SSN aloud in public.
• Beware of phishing scams (emails, internet links, and phone calls) trying to trick you into revealing personal information.
• Create a personal my Social Security account to help you keep track of your records and identify any suspicious activity.
• The eServices block — This prevents anyone, including you, from seeing or changing your personal information online. Once we add the block, you or your representative will need to contact your local office to request its removal.
• The Direct Deposit Fraud Prevention block — This prevents anyone, including you, from enrolling in direct deposit or changing your address or direct deposit information through my Social Security or a financial institution (via auto-enrollment). Once we add the block, you or your representative will need to contact your local office to request its removal. You will need to do the same to make any future changes to direct deposit or contact information.

What To Do If You Suspect Identity Theft

The OIG provides 10 tips on Protecting Personal Information and details several actions to take if you suspect identity theft.

If someone uses your SSN to obtain credit, loans, telephone accounts, or other goods and services, contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC collects complaints about identity theft from those whose identities have been stolen. You may reach the FTC’s identity theft hotline toll free at 1-877-IDTHEFT ( 1-877-438-4338 ) or visit their website at www.ftc.gov/idtheft .

Additional Resources:

• Protecting Your Social Security Number from Identity Theft
• IRS Taxpayer Guide to Identity Theft
• FTC’s Consumer Alerts

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Report Fraud

The Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, allows the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at the Social Security Administration (SSA) to collect your information, which OIG may use to investigate alleged fraud, waste, abuse, and misconduct related to SSA programs and operations. Providing the information is voluntary, but not providing all or part of the information may limit our ability to conduct a complete investigation. As law permits, we may use and share the information you submit, including with other Federal and local government agencies, and others, as outlined in the routine uses within System of Records Notices (SORN) OIG-001 and OIG-002, available at www.ssa.gov/privacy . When appropriate, the information you submit may also be provided to the SSA for use in computer matching programs to establish or verify eligibility for SSA programs and to recoup debts under these programs. All SSA SORNs are also available at www.ssa.gov/privacy .

Do you suspect someone of committing fraud, waste, or abuse against Social Security?

Did you receive a suspicious call, letter, text, or email about an alleged problem with your Social Security number, account, or payments?

Report Scams

<oig.ssa.gov>

An official website of the Social Security Administration

How to Spot a Social Security Scam (and What to Do About It)

Here are a scam's red flags and how to report it if someone tries to scam you. The first things to do if a scammer contacts you: Remain calm and ignore them.

• Newsletter sign up Newsletter

“I manage a fulfillment center in the South that assures products ordered on e-commence websites actually reach the customer. Recently, our computer data was stolen, including names and ages of all employees. Then Marie got a phone call from someone claiming to be from Social Security . The caller wanted her to send $500, or she could be arrested for fraud. She asked me to listen, and it was an obvious scam! And then other employees got similar calls from people claiming to be with the IRS and different governmental agencies, demanding money. I think you should address these issues, as older people are often too trusting. Thanks, ‘Terry.’”

I checked in with Nilsa Henriquez, public affairs specialist in the Press Office of the Social Security Administration . “Sadly, we hear about these scams on a daily basis,” she said. “March 7 (was) Slam the Scam Day, and with the help of the Office of the Inspector General and the Federal Trade Commission , we explain(ed) to the public how these scams work and ways of protecting yourself from losing personal information and your money.”

She outlined the “sophisticated tactics scammers are using” and how to respond:

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1. These people are very convincing, playing on your emotions and fear — scaring you — so that you act without thinking and reveal personal information or send them money.

Scammers pretend to be from an agency or company you know, such as the Social Security Administration, the IRS , even your local power or water utilities. They pressure you into thinking there is a problem requiring a cash payment, via gift or prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers. Your fear is their best friend, as there is usually the threat that you’ll be arrested if you do not comply.

2. If you get one of these calls, emails or letters — and anyone can, regardless of their age — first, remain calm and ignore it.

Often, it starts with a phone call, email or a text message claiming that you or a family member received an overpayment requiring an immediate refund or someone will be arrested. They want you to act quickly, so remain calm and do not speak with the caller. Also, do not click on any links in an email or text message.

Using caller ID spoofing, scammers will often pretend to be employees at SSA or the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), so the call seems legit. No governmental agency will ask you for cash, gift cards, wire transfers, prepaid debit cards or cryptocurrency.

3. If you are contacted by a scammer, report it immediately.

SSA and OIG want to know when someone has been contacted by scammers or has been scammed. File a report online with OIG at oig.ssa.gov . Report Social Security fraud on SSA’s website . Also, share this information with friends and family.

How much has been lost to Social Security scams?

The Federal Trade Commission said Social Security scams cost consumers more than $126 million in 2023, according to CBS News .

“This is a huge problem that we and other federal agencies are taking seriously,” Henriquez said. “So often, victims are afraid to admit to those closest to them what has occurred. Once you send money, the scammers know who they can victimize again. It is so sad hearing these stories of people who were so scared that, without consulting anyone, just sent money or, even worse, revealed their Social Security number.”

Red flags to look for

Scammers all share the same tactics, known as the four P’s, Henriquez said:

• They Pretend.
• They say, “There is a Problem,” or “You have won a Prize.”
• They Pressure.
• And they want a Payment.

“Anytime you receive a call that ends with the caller asking you to send money,” Henriquez said, “it is a scam. Social Security will never call, threaten or demand payment.”

Will your bank restore funds if you are the victim of a scam?

In general, banks are not responsible for refunding payments you make voluntarily, but they are responsible for restoring unauthorized withdrawals. Users of the Zelle app have greater chances of being made whole. The Federal Trade Commission discusses several avenues you can pursue in its article What to Do if You Were Scammed .

Concluding our interview, Henriquez underscored another clear giveaway that you are dealing with a scammer: “If you are instructed to tell no one about the call and to go to your bank and withdraw cash, and (the caller says) that it is to buy a car, hang up!”

Dennis Beaver practices law in Bakersfield, Calif., and welcomes comments and questions from readers, which may be faxed to (661) 323-7993, or e-mailed to [email protected] . And be sure to visit dennisbeaver.com .

Related Content

• Five Biggest Frauds to Watch Out for in 2024
• ‘Simple’ Scam Messages May Fool Even the Most Discerning Eye — What to Know
• Romance Scams That Target Older Adults Rising: What to Do
• Why Can’t You Ever Use Your Timeshare?
• Can Language Apps Teach You to Speak a Foreign Language?

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA .

After attending Loyola University School of Law, H. Dennis Beaver joined California's Kern County District Attorney's Office, where he established a Consumer Fraud section. He is in the general practice of law and writes a syndicated newspaper column, " You and the Law ." Through his column he offers readers in need of down-to-earth advice his help free of charge. "I know it sounds corny, but I just love to be able to use my education and experience to help, simply to help. When a reader contacts me, it is a gift." 

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• Published: 08 April 2024

Changes in intention to use an interprofessional approach to decision-making following training: a cluster before-and-after study

• Hajar Taqif 1 , 2 ,
• Lionel Adisso 2 , 3 ,
• Lucas Gomes Souza   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2965-4660 2 , 3 ,
• Suélène Georgina Dofara   ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0008-0537-8965 2 ,
• Sergio Cortez Ghio 2 ,
• Louis-Paul Rivest   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-4351-4127 1 &
• France Légaré   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0002-2296-6696 2 , 4  

BMC Health Services Research volume  24 , Article number:  437 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Health professionals in home care work in interprofessional teams. Yet most training in decision support assumes a one-on-one relationship with patients. We assessed the impact of an in-person training session in interprofessional shared decision-making (IP-SDM) on home care professionals’ intention to adopt this approach.

We conducted a secondary analysis of a cluster stepped-wedge trial using a before-and-after study design. We collected data among home care professionals from November 2016 to February 2018 in 9 health and social services centers in Quebec, Canada. The intervention was an in-person IP-SDM training session. Intention to engage in IP-SDM pre- and post-session (dependent variable) was compared using a continuing professional development evaluation scale (CPD-Reaction) informed by the Godin’s Integrated Behavioral Model for health professionals. We also assessed socio-demographic and psychosocial variables (beliefs about capabilities, beliefs about consequences, social influence and moral norm). We performed bivariate and multivariate analysis to identify factors influencing post-intervention intention. We used the STROBE reporting guidelines for observational studies to report our results.

Of 134 respondents who provided complete pairs of questionnaires (pre- and post-), most were female (90.9%), mean age was 42 (± 9.3) years and 66.9% were social workers. Mean intention scores decreased from 5.84 (± 1.19) to 5.54 (± 1.35) (Mean difference = -0.30 ± 1.16; p  = 0.02). Factors associated with higher intention post-intervention were social influence (ß = 0.34, p  = 0.01) and belief about capabilities (ß = 0.49, p  < 0.01).

After in-person IP-SDM training, healthcare professionals’ intention to engage in IP-SDM decreased. However, the scope of this decrease is probably not clinically significant. Due to their association with intention, beliefs about capabilities, which translate into having a sense of self-competency in the new clinical behavior, and social influences, which translate into what important others think one should be doing, could be targets for future research aiming to implement IP-SDM in home care settings.

Peer Review reports

Canada’s population is aging, and people aged 65 and over (older adults) are living longer than ever [ 1 , 2 ]. As a society we must ensure that these older adults are supported when they need to make decisions about safe and comfortable accommodation.

Aging is generally associated with a higher risk of developing disabilities that can lead to a loss of autonomy. As they start losing their autonomy, older adults are faced with one of the most difficult decisions: to stay at home or to move somewhere where they will be able to receive appropriate care (e.g., a health care facility or a nursing home) [ 3 ]. This decision is very difficult to make alone. The shared decision-making approach (SDM) represents a middle ground between the traditional paternalistic approach, where the health care professional makes the decision alone, and the consumer approach, where the patient is the sole decision maker [ 4 ]. An interprofessional (IP) approach to SDM is especially relevant to caring for the frail elderly, as chronic illness often means that several different kinds of healthcare professional are involved in their care. The interprofessional approach to SDM (IP-SDM) enables health professionals to collaboratively support patients in facing difficult decisions and reach healthcare choices that are agreed on by the patient, their family members or caregivers, and the interprofessional team [ 3 , 5 ]. Various obstacles hindering SDM have been identified, particularly within multidisciplinary care settings. These barriers include a lack of knowledge of what other disciplines can do, insufficient trust in the expertise of other disciplines, and inadequate communication among the different disciplines [ 6 ]Consequently, training home care teams in SDM through an IP approach that directly addresses these barriers is expected to facilitate the seamless adoption of decision tools in clinical practice. This, in turn, is anticipated to contribute to the widespread implementation of SDM across the health and social care system.

Based on our previous research using the IP-SDM approach [ 7 ,  8 ], and considering the potential of an intervention involving task-sharing among diverse kinds of professionals to alleviate the burden of the discussion about transitioning to long term care, we hypothesized that IP-SDM training would increase the intention of healthcare professionals in home care teams to engage in this approach.

To strengthen our analysis, we used Godin's integrated model, which explains healthcare professionals' clinical behavior, as the theoretical framework for our study. Godin et al. conducted a systematic review of 76 studies examining the influence of social cognitive theories on healthcare professionals' adoption of clinical behaviors [ 9 ]. The authors confirmed the key role of intention as a predictor of behavior and identified six psychosocial factors that influence intention: beliefs about capabilities and consequences, moral norms, social influences, role and identity, and individual characteristics. Based on this framework, Legare et al. developed the CPD-Reaction tool for evaluating continuing professional development courses [ 10 ]. The tool evaluates intention (using 2 of the 12 included items) immediately after training and has been shown to be a good predictor of behavior six months after the training [ 11 ]. In addition, it measures the psychosocial factors that influence intention, which suggests elements which could be target in future behavior change interventions [ 10 , 12 ]. Thus this tool was useful for measuring the impact of our intervention and possible psychosocial targets to improve it.

Several studies that have measured behavioral intention used a cross-sectional design [ 13 , 14 , 15 ]. However, intention scores measured at a single point in time do not demonstrate a change in professionals’ intention to adopt a behavior. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the impact of IP-SDM training on healthcare professionals' intention to engage in an IP-SDM approach, both before and after an in-person training session, and to identify factors that influenced this intention.

Study design

We reported this cluster pre-post study according to the STROBE reporting guidelines for observational studies [ 16 ]. We performed a secondary analysis of an existing database collected during a stepped-wedge study [ 17 ]. This primary study aimed to scale up and evaluate the implementation of SDM in interprofessional home care teams caring for older adults or their caregivers facing a decision about staying at home or moving elsewhere. The study was conducted from November 2016 to February 2018 in 9 health and social services centers (HSSCs) in the province of Quebec in Canada. HSSCs are regional health authorities that provide public health and social care for the population of their region. The trial was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02592525) on October 30, 2015 and the protocol was published [ 6 ].

In this study, we used a pre-post measurement design with clusters to compare intention and its variables (pre and post-intervention) to engage in an IP-SDM approach among healthcare professionals in home care teams and, post-intervention, we analyzed significant factors of intention.

Participants

Of the 22 HSSCs contacted, 9 participated in the study. Since this was a secondary analysis of a cluster randomized trial, selection criteria applies to the site rather than the individual: all clinicians at the site were invited to participate in the training. Thus healthcare professionals from interprofessional home care teams who were involved in the care of older adults with loss of autonomy, practiced in one of the participating HSSCs, and gave informed consent ( n  = 281) were included in the study (Additional file 1 ).

Intervention

Before taking the in-person training program, healthcare professionals in home care teams were invited to complete the Ottawa Decision Support Tutorial (1h30), an online general SDM tutorial (Additional file 2 ) [ 18 ]. The 3.5-h in-person training, based on adult education principles, was designed according to the IP-SDM conceptual model [ 6 ]. In the context of decision-making with older adults about housing, it addressed communication techniques and strategies for engaging frail older adults with cognitive impairment or their caregivers in the decision making. It included the use of a patient decision aid (PtDA), and involved a lecture, a video, and a role play session[ 6 ].

Data collection and variables

Data was collected before and after each of the 9 in-person IP-SDM training sessions from November 2016 to February 2018, using the self-administered CPD-Reaction Questionnaire, which was adapted to the home care context [ 7 ]. Questionnaires were completed upon participants' arrival in the training room and at their departure. The CPD-Reaction questionnaire is a validated theory-based tool [ 10 , 12 ] that followed a strict development procedure. It assesses the impact of training on clinical behavioral intention using items based on Godin’s integrated socio-cognitive model for healthcare professional behavior change [ 10 ]. CPD-Reaction evaluates behavioral intention and its psychosocial variables using 12 questions that are scored with a Likert-type scale from 1 to 7, except for one question (on social influence) which is scored on a scale of 1 to 5. The study questionnaire also collected the sociodemographic characteristics of healthcare professionals in home care teams[ 19 ].

Dependent variable: intention

The dependent variable of this study was the intention of healthcare professionals in home care teams to engage in an IP-SDM approach, defined as the mean of the scores of the 2 CPD-Reaction questions (items) on intention as measured on a 7-point Likert-type scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = Strongly Agree).

Independent variables (predictor variables)

Our independent variables were beliefs about capabilities (healthcare professional’s perceptions of facilitators and barriers to adopting the behavior, 3 items), beliefs about consequences (the usefulness and the benefits/risks of adopting the behavior, 2 items), social influence (perception of approval or disapproval by significant persons regarding the adoption of the behavior, 3 items), moral norm (feeling of personal obligation to adopt the behavior, 2 items) and sociodemographic characteristics of healthcare professionals in home care teams: number of clients served per week, age, sex, number of years of practice in home care, profession, highest level of education attained, and whether they had completed the online general SDM Tutorial and the in-person IP-SDM training session.

Statistical analysis

Only health professionals in home care teams who completed both questionnaires before and after attending the in-person IP-SDM training were included in the analyzes ( n  = 134).

We used descriptive statistics to report on the intention of healthcare professionals in home care teams to engage in IP-SDM and on the other 4 psychosocial variables before and after the intervention, and to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, using frequencies (n, %) for the categorical variables and mean and standard deviation (SD) for the continuous variables. For the education variable, given that participants could complete multiple response categories, we treated the variable as an ordinal of highest education obtained using the classification of the Quebec educational system.

The data we analyzed herein is from all 9 health and social services centers, making it non-independent (clustering effect).

Using repeated measures models and Wilcoxon signed ranks tests, as the normality assumption was rejected, we compared the levels of intention to engage in IP-SDM as well as the 4 psychosocial variables before and after the intervention, proceeding with the intention-to-treat analysis. This kind of analysis is appropriate for practical clinical scenarios as it makes allowance for non-compliance and protocol deviations [ 20 ]. Then we performed a sensitivity analysis by excluding participants who may or may not have been exposed to the intervention (we have no evidence of their presence). In additional analysis, we compared the pre-intervention intention of healthcare professionals who attended the preliminary online general SDM tutorial before attending the in-person training session to the pre-intervention intention of those who skipped the preliminary online tutorial, in order to see the impact of the online tutorial as well.

To determine which factors influenced participants’ intention to engage in IP-SDM, we then fit mixed linear models specifying a random effect at the health and social service center level. We started with bivariate analyses to examine the relationship between intention and the independent variables of interest (at the 0.20 alpha level). Then we performed multivariate regression analysis using a manual backward stepwise selection of the variables with a significance level (p-value) of 0.05. After obtaining the final model, we reintroduced the variables that had been excluded during the selection process one by one into the model to assess whether their inclusion improved its performance. In the final model, we considered p-values < 0.05 as statistically significant. We performed all the analyzes using R version 4.1.2. All tests were two-sided, and a p-value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Flow of the trial and participant characteristics

A total of 281 healthcare professionals in home care teams were recruited at the start but 134 provided data before and after the planned intervention and thus were included in these analyses (completed pairs of pre and post questionnaires) (Fig.  1 ). There were 22 health professionals who had completed both questionnaire (pre- and post-) but for whom we were not able to specify for sure if they had been exposed to the intervention as we could not find evidence of their signature on the list of trainees presence at the workshop. We thus conducted sensitivity analyses with and without them and observed no change in our results (data not shown). The characteristics of the 134 who were included in the analyses are described in Table  1 . Mean (± SD) age was 42 (± 9.3) years. Mean patients served per week was 13 (± 7.6) and mean years of practice in home care was 11 (± 7.0).

Most of the healthcare professionals in home care teams were female (90.9%). Most were social workers (66.9%), and a bachelor’s degree was most frequently the highest qualification (25.3%).

Intention before and after the intervention

Mean scores of intention to engage in IP-SDM (outcome of interest) ( n  = 134) decreased from 5.84 (± 1.19) to 5.54 (± 1.35). Beliefs about consequences also decreased from 5.89 (± 1.12) to 5.65 (± 1.19) (Table  2 ) . Similarly, mean score of social influence and belief about capabilities decreased from 5.50 (± 1.03) to 5.42 (± 1.09) and 5.58 (± 1.10) to 5.51 (± 1.15) respectively. Considering intention-to-treat [ 20 ], mean score of moral norm increased from 6.07 (± 1.02) to 6.15 (± 0.89). Wilcoxon signed ranks tests confirmed these results. We noted a significant difference only for intention and beliefs about consequences (Table  2 ). However, due to the scope of the difference, less than half of a standard deviation, these differences are most probably not clinically significant [ 21 ].

Second, we did a sensitivity analysis: we only analyzed the healthcare professionals in home care teams whom we could be sure were exposed to the intervention based on the list of attendees who signed in (solely the in-person IP-SDM training) ( n  = 112), and still noted a significant difference, but only for intention, which decreased from 5.88 (± 1.22) to 5.57 (± 1.35) after the intervention, while there was no significant difference for the other psychosocial variables (Additional file 3 ).

Third, in additional analysis we did not detect a significant difference in the intention of healthcare professionals in home care teams who completed the online general SDM Tutorial before the in-person IP-SDM training ( n  = 197) compared to those who did not ( n  = 84) (Additional file 4 ).

Factors associated with post-intervention intention

Factors associated with higher intention to engage in IP-SDM post-intervention were perception of approval by colleagues or significant others in the profession ("social influence") (ß = 0.34, p  = 0.01) and perceptions of facilitators and barriers to adopting the behavior (“beliefs about capabilities”) (ß = 0.49, p  < 0.01) (Table  3 ).

The variance of intention explained by these two factors was 72.1%.

In this study, we assessed healthcare professionals' intention to engage in an IP-SDM approach both before and after receiving in-person training. Additionally, we explored factors associated with this intention after the intervention. Contrary to our main hypothesis, we observed a decrease in intention following the intervention. However, given the scope of the decrease, this is most probably not clinically significant. Beliefs about consequences also decreased, whereas moral norm increased post-intervention. Despite a decline in social influence after the intervention, it remained associated with healthcare professionals' intention to engage in the IP-SDM approach. Similarly, beliefs about capabilities, which also decreased, were also associated with intention. These findings lead us to the make following observations:

First, intention to engage in IP-SDM had a statistically significant decrease after the intervention, but this decrease was most probably not clinically significant as it did not reach half of the standard deviation of the means for the intention to engage in IP-SDM before and after the intervention [ 21 ]. Our main hypothesis that could explain these findings is the fact that this trial was planned before a major reform in the health and social care system, initiated by the Quebec government in March 2015 [ 22 , 23 ]. The reform occurred between the intervention and data collection at exit, which varied from 10 to 32 months [ 7 ]. Briefly, existing healthcare organizations were merged into 22 megastructures which took over the mandates and missions of the previous structures in their areas of jurisdiction. The new organizations gathered a much broader scope of health services under a single governing body per territory. Under this imposed merger, many healthcare teams, including home care teams, faced loss of staff, heavy workloads, low morale, and changes in team composition. This may have been behind the decrease. The ones who remained may have been simply overwhelmed trying to meet the essential basic daily needs of their clients. On the other hand, our finding might underscore a critical point: while training programs targeting behavioral changes among healthcare professionals are valuable, structural and organizational barriers within healthcare systems can impede the successful implementation of evidence-based practices such as SDM. As highlighted by Müller et al., organizational culture, leadership support, and alterations in workflow structures are pivotal factors for the effective integration of SDM in healthcare[ 24 ]. Moreover, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding the influence of system-level characteristics on SDM implementation [ 25 ]. Therefore, future research aimed at implementing IP-SDM in home-care settings should delve into the organizational and system-level characteristics that both facilitate and hinder implementation. Quantifying the varying impacts of these characteristics, understanding their potential interactions, and exploring how the system could operate differently are crucial aspects to consider in advancing SDM implementation efforts [ 25 ] and should be a target of future studies.

Second, following the training, there was a statistically significant decrease in the "beliefs about consequences" construct, which assesses perceptions of positive or negative outcomes linked to specific behaviors. Again, the scope of the decrease is most probably not clinically significant. Existing literature also suggests that some allied health professionals express frustration with engaging in SDM, citing issues such as client characteristics and misalignment with their professional frameworks [ 26 , 27 ]. Our findings confirm this ambivalence among health professionals: despite recognizing the moral importance of an IP-SDM approach, the barriers within their practices and professional frameworks may block their intention to engage in IP-SDM, even after training. Future studies should address these challenges and design interventions tailored to the specific context barriers encountered by these professionals in their daily practices.

Third, factors associated with intention to engage in IP-SDM post-intervention were perception of approval by colleagues or significant others in the profession ("social influence") (ß = 0.34, p  = 0.01) and perceptions of facilitators and barriers to adopting the behavior (“beliefs about capabilities”) (ß = 0.49, p  < 0.01). The "social influences" construct reflects individuals' perceptions of approval or disapproval from peers regarding a specific behavior. Similarly, a separate review of 19 studies identified the key characteristics of interprofessional teams that influence implementation and that also play a role in social influence, including governance structures, communication power dynamics, and training [ 28 ]. Our intervention addressed only one of these elements – training – and it is possible that integrating these other factors into the IP-SDM model could enhance social influence. This is crucial because our data indicated a statistically significant association between social influence and intention. Consequently, future adaptations of the IP-SDM model may benefit from implementing behavior change techniques specifically targeting social influence. In a separate study with interprofessional teams within a Quebec mental health network, strategies such as providing information about peer approval, promoting trust through social comparison, and fostering social support/change emerged as relevant approaches that could be integrated in future adaptations [ 29 , 30 ]. Moreover, we found a statistically significant association between beliefs about capabilities and intention. This aligns with findings from a systematic review of SDM training programs[ 31 ], which revealed that studies involving allied health professionals or nurses often indicated a desire for more training to enhance their SDM skills [ 32 , 33 ]. Future interventions targeting allied healthcare professionals should consider this and incorporate additional training sessions, practice opportunities or ongoing support programs to build their beliefs about their capabilities and confidence in implementing IP-SDM effectively.

Finally, we did not detect a significant difference in intention, or in any of its variables, among healthcare professionals who attended the online training on general SDM principles meant as a prompt (Additional file 4 ). This suggests that the online portion of the training did not have a great impact on the predisposition of health professionals to attend the IP-SDM in-person training and thus on their intention to engage in an IP-SDM approach. This may be explained by the fact that for health professionals to invest time in training they need to feel that the material is relevant to them from start to finish. Anecdotally, participants told the research team that the online module was too general and not relevant to their work (data not shown). Thus it will be important to develop more targeted online training material in future studies [ 34 ].

The strength of this study lies in its use of a socio-cognitive theory to identify factors associated with professionals' intention to engage in an IP-SDM approach. In keeping with this theory [ 9 ], factors associated with healthcare professionals' intention to adopt a clinical practice or not were identified following a comprehensive and rigorous review. The factors identified on the basis of this theory explained more than two-thirds of the variance in intention, and our results thus confirm the theory’s hypothesis: that modifiable psychosocial factors are more likely to explain healthcare professionals' behavior change than sociodemographic characteristics. Also, a validated tool with acceptable internal consistency of constructs [ 19 ] was used to measure intention as well as its psychosocial determinants.

This study has a number of limitations. First, few healthcare professionals in home care teams completed both the pre and post intervention questionnaires, due to the major healthcare reform that took place during the study. Different information and selection biases could have occurred, as the 134 included participants may have had similar behavioral intentions, and different from the 147 who did not complete the questionnaire after the intervention. Second, because we used a self-reported questionnaire, a social desirability bias may apply. In other words, a healthcare professional may have indicated a higher intention than her actual intention to satisfy a certain social desirability [ 35 ].

We found that the level of intention of healthcare professionals to engage in the IP-SDM approach decreased after a training session on the IP-SDM approach and the use of a PtDA. Based on our results, IP-SDM training should use behavior change techniques that focus on social influence and beliefs about capabilities. Designers of training interventions should also focus on strategies to withstand or mitigate disruptions at the system and organizational levels, thus favoring sustainability. Further research could also explore the effect of more training, as the initial training introduced the IP-SDM concept but then revealed the providers' lack of readiness to engage in SDM.

The results of this study will enable health system jurisdictions to plan more effective training of healthcare professionals to engage in the IP-SDM approach and, to a certain extent, better understand how major healthcare reform can hamper implementation of desirable clinical behaviors.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Abbreviations

Continuing Professional Development-Reaction

Health and social services centers

Patient decision aid

• Interprofessional shared decision-making

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Acknowledgements

We thank Louisa Blair for revising and editing the manuscript.

The parent study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (Grant number: 201403MOP-325236-KTR-CFBA-19158), and also supported by the CIUSSS de la Capitale-Nationale (in kind contribution included in the CIHR grant). No other funding sources were used in this secondary study. The funders had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

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Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada

Hajar Taqif & Louis-Paul Rivest

VITAM - Centre de Recherche en Santé Durable, Centre Intégré Universitaire de Santé Et de Services Sociaux de La Capitale-Nationale, Quebec City, QC, Canada

Hajar Taqif, Lionel Adisso, Lucas Gomes Souza, Suélène Georgina Dofara, Sergio Cortez Ghio & France Légaré

Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada

Lionel Adisso & Lucas Gomes Souza

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This study was secondary analysis of a parent study led by the Chairholder of the Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Shared Decision Making and Knowledge Translation. FL designed and wrote the parent study. HT designed and wrote this study. HT conceived the statistical analysis plan and performed data cleaning. HT and SCG performed statistical analyses. HT, FL, SCG, LA, SGD, LGS and L-PR interpreted the data. HT and LGS drafted the manuscript. All authors critically reviewed the manuscript for important intellectual content. All authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript. FL is its guarantor.

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Correspondence to France Légaré .

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Ethics committee review approval was obtained from the Multicenter Ethics Committee of the Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de Laval (2015–2016/01–01-E). Throughout the study, all methods followed the approved methodology in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and adhered to the relevant guidelines and regulations. Participation was voluntary and anonymous. All participant gave informed consent before completing each questionnaire.

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Taqif, H., Adisso, L., Gomes Souza, L. et al. Changes in intention to use an interprofessional approach to decision-making following training: a cluster before-and-after study. BMC Health Serv Res 24 , 437 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10899-z

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Received : 17 March 2023

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Published : 08 April 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-024-10899-z

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What to do about unwanted calls, emails, and text messages that can be annoying, might be illegal, and are probably scams.

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If someone you care about paid a scammer, here’s how to help

Sharing a scam experience with someone you know takes courage. If someone trusts you enough to share their scam story, especially if the scammer is still in touch with them, here’s some advice to help guide you.

• Lead with empathy.  Respond with kindness and concern instead of criticizing or expressing disappointment. Scams can happen to anyone. Keep lines of communication open with a kind, concerned response. 
• Let them tell their story. Talking about a scam experience helps you both understand what happened. And talking about the scam also helps both of you spot it in the future.
• Validate their story. The only person at fault here is the scammer — not your friend or family member. It’s a scammer’s job to steal money or information, and they’ll target anyone. Ask them not to blame themselves and, instead, blame the scammer.
• Ask what we can do next together. See if their personal information was involved, too, so identity theft might be a concern. And see if they might want to report the scam. Their story can help protect friends, family, their community, and themselves, as well as helping law enforcement agencies like the FTC fight that scam. 

Want more help for your friend or family member? Here are some resources:

• To report a scam, go to  ReportFraud.ftc.gov .
• Find out more about other  next steps to take after paying a scammer.
• And, if identity theft is a concern, help them start their recovery at  IdentityTheft.gov .

If scammers find the right buttons to push at the wrong time — like when we’re distracted or stressed — any of us might just pay them or share information. Thank you for helping someone through a difficult time. 

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thank you for sending mr this information.

Great Advice!!

thank you for sending me this information.

My mom was scammed by a scammer in Nigeria and I reported it to Western Union as they said I could recoup some of the money because they had a class action suit. I spent 2-3 day gathering all the information and sent it to them, never heard a word back from them. She had sent about $60 - $70,000. File all the information they asked for. After all that work gathering all the information it makes me wonder was I the one getting scammed by W.U. This happened back in 2020-2021. Never heard a word back from them.

What is absolutely unforgivable is all these government agencies do nothing to help out the victim. Yes fact finding and data collecting is important for policy making but the person who got scammed really gets no direct help whatsoever .

Thank you I did contact FTC I was scammed out of 22,500.00 to Homematters USA CASE IS PENDING BUT YOU NEVER TELL US HOW TO RETRIEVE OUR MONEY BACK; in other words FTC DO INVESTIGATE, but often we the victims never are compensated

In reply to Thank you I did contact FTC … by Deborah C Johnson

If the FTC files an enforcement matter related to something you reported, and gets money back for people, we will try to contact the people who filed reports, and other people who lost money. Read the Frequently Asked Questions to learn about what happens after you report something to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov/#/faq .

We also explain the steps involved in getting refunds to people. Go to this page to read those steps: https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/recent-ftc-cases-resulting-refunds/how-… .

The FTC has a public list of active refund programs at www.ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds . The list tells you who to contact if you have a question about a refund in something on the list.

In reply to If the FTC files an… by FTC Staff

The active refund programs URL should be https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/refunds

I was scammed last year, but I had friends who were able to help me undo the damages!

I didn't get back the stolen money, but I was lucky enough to have it replaced in my investment portfolio, while my monthly allowances replenished my checking and savings accounts!

I was cornered by my family and accused of lying and deceit. It was a horrible shaming experience and continues to bring me to tears. They will never know my full story because they didn't want to "listen" to me. I've been in some type of pain ever since. Thank you for sharing this vital, kind approach to helping others who might feel trapped in their scammer's web.

We've been scammed, and it is a nightmare to get it resolved. These crooks are getting wiser by the minute, we all need to be aware of their tactics. Thank you for putting this info out here ... keep it up!

why isn't the federal government doing more to stop these international scammers from preying on Americans? Can't these phone calls from around the world be stopped? Our tax money is going into this website telling people to be kind--but nothing is being done to end this horror!

I am educated more on identity theft, and various scammers!

My husband was scammed a few years ago out of 1000$ off an Apple card the scammer sent a text & when my hubby called a # given to him the man on the phone told him to enter 99999 as a code, well next thing you know the 1000 was gone! We were devastated because we are not rich & had recently recieved that money & needed it badly for bills.We tried all kind if things, then I came across this website. My hubby sent FTC a message explaining what happened & the on line bank that was holding the $ told us they couldn't return it to us because....I dont remember, but we did get the $ back on the Apple card then moved it to our checking account! We couldn't believe it, it had been 1 year!!! So, don't give up!! Someone @the FTC is listening & I am so thankful. Whoever you are God Bless You!!!

I was actually a victim and I was scammed for around 2k. Trying to get extra money for my daughter and bills. To anyone reading this do not try anything that sounds to good. I tried the bitcoin flip and all they do is tell you you have to pay more and more for the transaction fees.

This is very important info for people to know. I will share with others. Thank you.

Thank you for this information, I am evidently a victim of both scamming, jamming and identity theft, it turns out, it is more difficult and costly to reclaim my identity, than anything else I have undertaken. It's frightening, however I was not previously aware that the FTC is a law enforcement agency, that is a good thing.

The only way to stop them would be a world alliance with big exemples. Unfortunately, some governments encourage them.

More From Forbes

How social security scams work and how you can shut them down.

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(Photo by © Wally McNamee/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

If you’re a swindler, particularly in cyberspace, you know that a Social Security number is a valuable piece of information that opens the door to countless other scams. That’s why crooks of every stripe try to obtain it through texts, phone calls, social media and snail mail.

Social Security number swindles come in many flavors. According to the Social Security Administration, “Social Security impersonation scams have been one of the most common government imposter scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission. Social Security continues to make concerted efforts to address this issue, through extensive outreach and investigative initiatives.”

The most basic Social Security scam involves someone impersonating a government official, who will ask for your Social Security and banking information (never provide it!). More than $100 million is stolen every year through this ruse.

“Criminals use sophisticated tactics to trick potential victims into disclosing personal and financial information, the Social Security Administration Commissioner Marin O’Malley says.

“Typically, they use these P’s – Pretend, Prize or Problem, Pressure, and Payment . For example, scammers pretend they are from Social Security in phone calls, texts, emails, and direct messages on social media, and claim there is a problem with the person’s Social Security number. “

“Scammers may also send fake documents to pressure people into complying with demands for information or money. Other common tactics include citing “badge numbers,” using fraudulent Social Security letterhead, and creating imposter social media pages to target individuals for payment or personal information.”

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How can you protect yourself or someone you know? Here’s what the FTC recommends:

• Do not trust caller ID ID . Scam calls may show up on caller ID as the Social Security Administration and look like the agency’s real number, but it’s not the SSA calling.
• Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended . And your bank accounts are not about to be seized. This is a common lure scamsters use to steal your information.
• Don’t verify your Social Security number or any other personal information to anyone who calls out of the blue. If you already did, visit IdentityTheft.gov/SSA to find out what steps you can take to protect your credit and your identity.
• SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards. Anyone who tells you to do those things is a scammer. Every time. If they want money upfront, that’s always a red flag.

Better yet, watch this helpful video. And if anybody contacts you asking for your Social Security number, ignore them or hang up.

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AT&T says a data breach leaked millions of customers’ information online. Were you affected?

FILE - The sign in front of an AT&T retail store is seen in Miami, July 18, 2019. The theft of sensitive information belonging to millions of AT&T’s current and former customers has been recently discovered online, the telecommunications giant said Saturday, March 30, 2024. In an announcement addressing the data breach, AT&T said that a dataset found on the dark web contains information including some Social Security numbers and passcodes for about 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

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NEW YORK (AP) — The theft of sensitive information belonging to millions of AT&T’s current and former customers has been recently discovered online, the telecommunications giant said this weekend.

In a Saturday announcement addressing the data breach, AT&T said that a dataset found on the “dark web” contains information including some Social Security numbers and passcodes for about 7.6 million current account holders and 65.4 million former account holders.

Whether the data “originated from AT&T or one of its vendors” is still unknown, the Dallas-based company noted — adding that it had launched an investigation into the incident. AT&T has also begun notifying customers whose personal information was compromised.

Here’s what you need to know.

WHAT INFORMATION WAS COMPROMISED IN THIS BREACH?

Although varying by each customer and account, AT&T says that information involved in this breach included Social Security numbers and passcodes — which, unlike passwords, are numerical PINS that are typically four digits long.

Full names, email addresses, mailing address, phone numbers, dates of birth and AT&T account numbers may have also been compromised. The impacted data is from 2019 or earlier and does not appear to include financial information or call history, the company said.

HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?

Consumers impacted by this breach should be receiving an email or letter directly from AT&T about the incident. The email notices began going out on Saturday, an AT&T spokesperson confirmed to The Associated Press.

WHAT ACTION HAS AT&T TAKEN?

Beyond these notifications, AT&T said that it had already reset the passcodes of current users. The company added that it would pay for credit monitoring services where applicable.

AT&T also said that it “launched a robust investigation” with internal and external cybersecurity experts to investigate the situation further.

HAS AT&T SEEN DATA BREACHES LIKE THIS BEFORE?

AT&T has seen several data breaches that range in size and impact over the years .

While the company says the data in this latest breach surfaced on a hacking forum nearly two weeks ago, it closely resembles a similar breach that surfaced in 2021 but which AT&T never acknowledged, cybersecurity researcher Troy Hunt told the AP Saturday.

“If they assess this and they made the wrong call on it, and we’ve had a course of years pass without them being able to notify impacted customers,” then it’s likely the company will soon face class action lawsuits, said Hunt, founder of an Australia-based website that warns people when their personal information has been exposed.

A spokesperson for AT&T declined to comment further when asked about these similarities Sunday.

HOW CAN I PROTECT MYSELF GOING FORWARD?

Avoiding data breaches entirely can be tricky in our ever-digitized world, but consumers can take some steps to help protect themselves going forward.

The basics include creating hard-to-guess passwords and using multifactor authentication when possible. If you receive a notice about a breach, it’s good idea to change your password and monitor account activity for any suspicious transactions. You’ll also want to visit a company’s official website for reliable contact information — as scammers sometimes try to take advantage of news like data breaches to gain your trust through look-alike phishing emails or phone calls.

In addition, the Federal Trade Commission notes that nationwide credit bureaus — such as Equifax, Experian and TransUnion — offer free credit freezes and fraud alerts that consumers can set up to help protect themselves from identity theft and other malicious activity.

AP Reporter Matt O’Brien contributed to this report from Providence, Rhode Island.