IF you've been following the news lately,
there's a brand new scam that's been making the headlines called the Social Security imposter scam. If you've never gotten the scam call, here's what happens: You get a call with a warning that your Social Security number has been suspended because of suspicious activity or because it's been used in a crime. You are asked to confirm you number or told you need to withdraw money from the bank and buy gift cards.
The phone call may be a robocaller with a message to "press 1" to speak with a "support representative" from the government to reactivate your Social Security number. The scammers use technology to spoof your Caller ID to make it look like the Social Security Administration is really calling. Of course, this is where you've got to hang up. Its a scam!
Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended. You don’t have to verify your number to anyone who calls out of the blue. And your bank accounts are not about to be seized.
SSA will never call to threaten you or your benefits. And SSA will not 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.
Don’t trust what you see on caller ID. Scammers can make it look like they’re calling from anywhere – even a real SSA phone number.
Never give any part of your Social Security number to anyone who contacts you out of the blue. Or your bank account or credit card number.
Real SSA staff do call people who have ongoing business with the agency. But they’ll never threaten you, ask you to confirm your SSN, or ask you to send money.
And in the words of the Federal Trade Commission, "Gift cards are for gifts, NOT for Payments".
