If it hasn’t happened yet to you, it’s likely happened to someone you know — and March 6 is the day we can all try to prevent it.

It? Being scammed.

Thursday is National Slam the Scam Day, a Social Security initiative to recognize and stop Social Security- and other related scammers from stealing our money and personal information.

Attention to scams and scammers that day is especially important since the target of both is our senior population.

But first, to help protect those you love and care for, and others in our community, it’s imperative to recognize when a scam is happening.

Some of those signs include an unexpected problem or offer of a prize or benefit increase, the pressure to act immediately, or a request for an unusual payment such as cryptocurrency, gift cards, gold bars and wire transfers — often under the guise of keeping your money transfer “safe.”

There are also a number of things we can do to avoid being scammed during a pitch, whether it’s in person, by phone, email, internet or text:

— Remain calm and talk to someone you trust.

— Hang up or ignore the message. Do not click on links or attachments.

— Protect your money. Criminals will insist that you pay in a hard-to-trace manner. Gift cards are especially popular because of the ease of obtaining those.

— Protect your personal information and be skeptical of a contact you didn’t initiate.

— Spread the word by sharing what you learn about scams and scammers.

And most importantly, if you do become a victim of a scam, report it. Social security-related scams should be reported to the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. Other scams can be reported at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Stay safe and protect your money and personal information. To learn more, visit www.ssa.gov/scam.