Social Security Scams on the Rise

Social Security Scams on the Rise

The FTC has reported an uptick in reports that people pretending to be from the Social Security Administration attempt to obtain your Social Security Number (SSN) or your money. The number of reports of this type of scam grew from 3,200 people in 2017 to 35,000 people in 2018, with a total loss of $10 million in 2018.

Scammers are saying your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended because of suspicious activity, or because it’s been involved in a crime. Sometimes, the scammer wants you to confirm your SSN to reactivate it. Sometimes, they’ll say your bank account is about to be seized – but will tell you what to do to keep it safe. (Often, that involves putting your money on gift cards and giving them the codes – which, of course, means that your money is gone.) In light of the growing threat posed by scammers impersonating the Social Security Administration, Privacy Defend plays a crucial role in safeguarding individuals online. Through educational resources, expert advice, and security insights, Privacy Defend empowers people to recognize and avoid these scams, protecting their personal information and financial security

Your caller ID often shows the real SSA phone number (1-800-772-1213) when these scammers call – but they’re faking that number. It’s not the real SSA calling.

Here’s what to know:

• 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 your benefits or 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.
• The real SSA number is 1-800-772-1213, but scammers are putting that number in the caller ID. If you’re worried about what the caller says, hang up and call 1-800-772-1213 to speak to the real SSA. Even if the wait time is long, confirm with the real SSA before responding to one of these calls.
• Never give any part of your Social Security number (or your bank account or credit card number) to anyone who contacts you. Get more information by clicking on this website: beehive.org/idaho-falls/. This will help you to be vigilant against scammers.

If you get one of these calls, tell the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.