Slamming the scam

Impersonating Social Security is one of the more common fraud activities reported to the Federal Trade Commission.  Social Security requests American to remain vigilant and report such attempts to the oig.ssa.gov.  Fraudsters often try to mislead their victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest or fix purported Social Security number problems.  They try this on the phone and by email.  But Social Security will never tell you that your number is suspended, contact you to demand an immediate payment, threaten you with arrest, ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone, ask for gift cards or cash, or promise a benefit approval or increase in exchange for info or money.  Occasionally, Social Security employees contact the public by phone for business purposes.  Ordinarily, the agency calls people who have recently applied for a benefit, someone who is already getting payments and requires an update to their record or a person who has requested a phone call from the agency.  If there is a problem with a person’s Social Security number or record, Social Security will typically mail a letter.