Social Security phone call scams have been happening for a long time. Unfortunately, the reason it is still happening is because people keep falling for it.
In 2018, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that more than 35,000 Americans had reported Social Security related scams. Total losses add up to more than $10 million dollars.
Scammers will go to great lengths to obtain your personal information for their gain. In this article we will outline some examples, so you’ll know how to avoid getting tricked by one of these identity thieves.
A challenging aspect of this problem is that Social Security is constantly updating and changing the program.
Examples of Social Security Scams
Scammers use different tactics and methods to obtain your personal details. They need this information in order to steal your identity. They will say ANYTHING to intimidate, scare or coerce you into giving them your information.
In some cases, the scammer states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information (such as your Social Security number) on file. Then, they simply ask you to verify your information. The caller may have a cheery or upbeat disposition to try to trick you into thinking that giving them this information is harmless.
Callers may also try to tell you that there has been “suspicious” or fraudulent activity related to your social security number or benefits. This scam leads to the threat of terminating your benefits or contacting police or other government agencies. They even promise to send you to jail if you do not give them your information or send them money.
Another example could even come disguised as good news such as saying the cost-of-living has increased, which in turn will raise your benefits. In order to get the extra money, you just have to verify your name, date of birth and Social Security number.
Lastly, beware of “spoofing” scams. Calls can even falsely display the caller as 1-800-772-1213 which is Social Security’s actual national customer service number.
So, what exactly do these calls sound like and how do you protect yourself?
Watch This Video To Hear An Example Of A Social Security Scam Call:
How Do You Keep Yourself Safe From Criminals?
In only a few special situations will a Social Security employee request you to confirm personal information over the phone. An example is if you already have business pending with the SSA,
But you still need to be vigilant.
The key lessons from the video are:
- The SSA will never threaten you for information
- The SSA will never promise benefits in exchange for information
These are examples of Social Security scams and you should hang up immediately.
The real SSA already has your Social Security number, so they would never call you to verify it.
Furthermore, if the caller asks for your bank account numbers, requests that you wire money, or asks for you to purchase gift cards and submit the card numbers back to them, these are also red flags that the call is a scam.
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 to anyone who contacts you directly. The same is true for your bank account number or credit card numbers.
Who Should I Contact To Report These Scams?
If you think you have received a scam call regarding Social Security, you can report it by calling the SSA Fraud Hotline at: 1-800-269-0271.
You can also report scam calls to the FTC by visiting: ftc.gov/complaint
Kate writes about retirement benefits for retirementinsurance.org. She has a Masters Degree in Social Work (MSW). She has over a decade of experience in assisting elderly and disabled populations navigate governmental and private programs to obtain the monetary assistance they need to lead better lives. As she watched her parents begin their own retirement journeys and navigate similar systems to obtain Social Security, Medicare and other retirement benefits, she gleaned a further personal knowledge about the topic and is eager to share what she has learned with others.