SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD – Scammers Impersonate the Social Security Administration

There are many ways to defraud taxpayers through the Social Security Administration. One of the direct methods that fraudster use is to call you unexpectedly telling you that there is something wrong with your Social Security number or account. They will ask to “verify” your Social Security number or may ask or demand payment for some made up fee or fine. This is a phishing attempt to gather your personal information to use in further fraud against you or the Social Security Administration.

The Social Security Administration says that it does use emails, text messages, and social media to provide information about its programs and services. But it will never:

·         Threaten you.

·         Suspend you Social Security number.

·         Request personal information or financial information via email, texts, or social media.

·         Demand immediate payment from you.

·         Require payment by cash, gift card, pre-paid debit card, or wire transfer.

·         Ask for gift card numbers over the phone or to wire or mail cash.

Phishing attempts can come via a phone call, email, or text message. The key thing to remember is that the scammer is going to try to shock you to get you to act without thinking. If someone is trying to pressure, threatened, or scare you, hang up the phone or ignore the email or text.

If you receive a scam phone call, email or text message that impersonates the Social Security Administration report it to the Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration by calling its fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or online at https://oig.ssa.gov/.

For more information about Social Security fraud check out the links below.

 

Social Security Administration:

https://www.ssa.gov/fraud/

 

Office of the Inspector General, Social Security Administration:

https://oig.ssa.gov/scam/?utm_campaign=oig-scam-22&utm_content=oig-scam-page&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

 

Federal Trade Commission:

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/features/feature-0014-identity-theft