Many of you have called us about strange calls you received from people purporting to be from the Social Security Administration and who asked you for money. 

​

Social Security phone scams are the #1 type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and Social Security. Over the past year, these scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. 

​

If you receive such calls, PLEASE:

 

DO  NOT:

​

• Give your Social Security number or other personal information to someone who contacts you by email. SSA never requests information that way.

​

• Call a phone number left on your voice mail by a robocaller. If you want to contact SSA, call the customer-service line at 800-772-1213.

​

• Assume a call is legitimate because it appears to come from 800-772-1213. Scammers use “spoofing” technology to trick caller ID.

​

• Click links in purported SSA emails without checking them. Mouse over the link to reveal the actual destination address. The main part of the address should end with “.gov/” — including the forward slash. If there’s anything between .gov and the slash, it’s fake.

​

NEVER GIVE OUT PERSONAL INFORMATION TO PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW.  THESE INCLUDE:

​

• Your Date of Birth

• Your full name

• Your Social Security Number

• Your address

• Your bank account

• Your place of work

​

With the information above thieves/scammers can assume your identity, borrow money in your name then disappear, leaving you to deal with the consequences. 

​

Please note that Social Security employees will not:

​

• Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended.

​

• Contact you to demand immediate payment.

​

• Ask you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

​

• Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or cash.

​

• Demand that you pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.

​

• Promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money.

​

• Remember that Social Security employees will never threaten you. If there’s a problem with your Social Security record, Social Security will mail you a letter. If Social Security needs you to submit payments, the agency will provide instructions in the letter, including options to make those payments

​

​

BE VERY VERY CAREFUL!

 

IDENTITY THEFT COULD HAVE DEVASTATING EFFECTS ON YOU, YOUR CREDIT AND YOUR FINANCIAL WELL BEING