With Rising Concerns Over Fraud, Taxpayer Protection Legislation to Halt Improper …

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, President Trump signed into law legislation advanced by the Ways and Means Committee to give the U.S. Department of the Treasury permanent access to data that will curb the improper payment of taxpayer dollars made to deceased individuals. The Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act (S. 269) authorizes the Social Security Administration (SSA) to continue sharing its complete death records with Treasury to enhance the effectiveness of the Department’s Do Not Pay service. SSA’s current authority to share this data expires at the end of 2026. Identical legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 2716) received unanimous bipartisan support by the Ways and Means Committee.

Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (MO-08) issued the following statement:

“This cooperation between Treasury and the Social Security Administration is a proven fraud prevention measure that has already saved American taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars. In its first year of implementation, it stopped over $100 million in improper payments going to dead people. Americans deserve a government that makes every effort to defeat waste, fraud, and abuse within the bureaucracy, and this commonsense policy will ensure an effective tool remains in place to safeguard the taxpayers’ hard-earned money.”

Ending Improper Payments to Deceased People Act (S. 269):

• In 2021, the SSA received authority to share its full death data with…

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What is the greatest online Fraud threat? In 2026 Impersonation Fraud fueled by Generative AI is the greatest online threat: Fraudsters use Deepfakes (cloned voices and hyper-realistic video) to mimic family, executives, or trusted brands. These high-fidelity deceptions bypass traditional “red flags” like poor grammar, making them nearly impossible to detect. By exploiting human trust and psychological pressure—often via “Business Email Compromise” (BEC) or urgent family distress calls—criminals manipulate victims into making irreversible cryptocurrency or wire transfers. In a world where you can no longer trust your eyes or ears, manual verification is your only true defense.

Deepfake Impersonation High-fidelity AI is used to clone the voices or faces of trusted individuals, such as CEOs or family members, to authorize urgent money transfers.

Business Email Compromise (BEC) Fraudsters hack or spoof corporate email accounts to intercept invoices and change banking details, diverting legitimate payments into criminal accounts.

Phishing (Email & Web) Mass emails or fake websites designed to look like legitimate brands (banks, SARS, or Netflix) to trick you into entering login credentials or PINs.

Smishing (SMS Phishing) Deceptive text messages, often claiming “unusual account activity” or “unclaimed packages,” containing malicious links that install spyware on your phone.

Vishing (Voice Phishing) Fraudulent phone calls where the caller poses as a bank official or technical support, using social engineering to “verify” your OTPs or bank details.

Investment & Crypto Scams “Get-rich-quick” schemes, including Ponzi and pyramid structures, that promise high, “guaranteed” returns on unregulated cryptocurrency or offshore platforms.

Identity Theft The theft of personally identifiable information (ID numbers, addresses, and dates of birth) used to open fraudulent retail accounts or take out loans in your name.

Online Shopping Fraud Fake e-commerce websites or social media “boutiques” that advertise high-end products at massive discounts but never deliver the goods after payment.

Romance Scams Criminals build long-term emotional trust via dating apps or social media, eventually inventing a crisis (medical or legal) that requires urgent financial help.

Advance Fee Fraud (419) The classic “Inheritance” or “Lottery” scam where you are told you have won a fortune but must pay a “small processing fee” or “tax” to release the funds.

The Big Four:

1. Urgency: “Your account will be suspended in 2 hours” or “Pay this invoice now to avoid legal action.”
2. Fear/Threats: Impersonating the SAPS, SARS, or a bank claiming you are in trouble or have a security breach.
3. Greed/Euphoria: “You’ve won a prize,” “Exclusive investment opportunity,” or “Unclaimed inheritance.”
4. Helpfulness/Curiosity: “A parcel is waiting for you” or “Can you help me out with a quick favor?” (Common in “Boss” or “Friend” impersonation).

1. The Head-Turn Test: If you are on a video call and suspect it’s a deepfake, ask the person to turn their head fully to the side. Most AI face-swaps glitch or “melt” when viewed in profile.
2. Unnatural Physics: Look for blinking that is too fast or non-existent, “dead” eyes that don’t follow movement, or lighting on the face that doesn’t match the background.
3. Audio Glitches: Listen for “robotic” patches, unnatural pauses in breathing, or a voice that sounds too “clean” and lacking background noise.

1. Sender Mismatch: Hover over the sender’s name to see the actual email address. A “Standard Bank” email coming from @gmail.com or @account-verify.co.za is a scam.
2. Link Hovering: Before clicking, hover your mouse over any button or link. The “Target URL” (usually shown at the bottom of your browser) must exactly match the official website domain.
3. Generic Salutations: Despite AI improvements, many mass-phishing attempts still use “Dear Valued Customer” or “Dear Sir/Madam” instead of your actual name.

1. Unusual Payment Methods: No legitimate South African business or government department will ever ask you to pay via iTunes/Amazon gift cards, WorldRemit, or unverified Crypto wallets.
2. Verification Codes: If you receive an OTP (One-Time PIN) you didn’t request, and someone calls you immediately to ask for it—hang up. This is a “Sim-Swap” or account takeover attempt.