While the rise of scams committed electronically, and therefore at a lower cost, has reduced the volume of social security fraud by mail, the practice has not completely disappeared. One such scheme is a direct mail scam aimed primarily at seniors. Here`s what happened to Arthur, who wrote: “I received a call that my Social Security number had been suspended and multiple warrants had been issued. I was very worried because my mother depends on Social Security benefits because she is in a nursing home. I thought this call had something to do with it. The call happened on my work phone, which completely discouraged me. I was asked for my first name, last name and postal code. I was nervous during the call until the person asked me to check the last four digits of my Social Security number. I told the person (1) that I didn`t feel comfortable with this and (2) if the allegations are true, then this information should be right in front of you. This person tried to force me several times to give him the last four digits of my social network by saying that someone had opened more than 20 bank accounts in my name in different places. When the person realized that I was not revealing any information, he hung up.
I wish there was something more I could do to stop these scammers. “Social Security will never threaten you, scare you, or pressure you to take immediate action. A number of readers responded to last week`s newsletter about the debate between Roth IRA and a traditional 401(k). Click here for the link to report fraudulent calls or Social Security programs you receive via email, text, or in person. People who are aware of scams are much less likely to fall victim to them. Sign up for watchdog alerts for more tips on how to avoid scams. This might surprise you. Seniors are no longer vulnerable to scams; Young adults are. In Spanish| Social Security numbers are the key to identity theft.
And what better way to get someone`s Social Security number than to pretend to be Social Security? We continue to receive reports of scammers posing as government employees. Scammers may contact you by mail, phone, text message, email, or message in the United States on social media to obtain your personal information or money. The OIG warned of a new trick in early 2021: criminals create fake versions of the IDs federal employees use to gain access to government buildings, and textual or electronic images of the fake IDs to scam targets to “prove” they are engaged in legitimate Social Security enterprises. The Social Security Administration and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) recently announced a special online reporting form for fraudulent calls specifically related to Social Security fraud. The form collects data that agencies can then analyze to detect trends and identify fraudsters. In response to Same, here`s the 877-832 number of a California resident, but keep in mind that identity theft allows scammers to use (or at least show you) a bunch of deceptive numbers. Unfortunately, blocking the first number that called you does not prevent further calls from different phone numbers. This is a lesson that criminals have learned. Social Security fraud is the most common form of government fraud, where scammers impersonate government officials to trick you into sending money or revealing personal and financial information for identity theft. 1.
Threat of arrest or prosecution: If you receive a threatening phone call claiming that there is a problem with your Social Security number or benefits, it is a scam. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will never threaten you with arrest or other legal action if you don`t immediately pay a fine or fees. If you believe you have been a victim of Social Security fraud, report it immediately to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in FTC.gov/complaint and the SSA Office of Inspector General Fraud in oig.ssa.gov. The SSA says the language used in these calls has become “increasingly threatening” in recent years. The caller usually states that they will be arrested for inappropriate or illegal activities with the person`s Social Security number or account, or face further legal action, unless they call a specific phone number to resolve the issue. The reason is to receive personal information from you that you should never provide. The same indications of fraudulent intent apply here as in the case of telephone calls. The SSA says the agency`s legitimate emails never seek personal information and do not adopt an alarmist or threatening tone.
Fake phone calls related to Social Security benefits are among the top scams. The calls often involve people — or robot voices — pretending to be from the Social Security Administration trying to get your Social Security number or asking for money, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). On the other hand, you might get a call from a supposed SSA representative with good news – for example, an increase in the cost of living of your benefits. To get the extra money, all you have to do is verify your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. With these credentials, fraudsters can effectively hijack your account by asking SSA to change the address, phone number, and direct deposit information in your file, hijacking your benefits. “To avoid a first appearance before the magistrate, which results in the suspension of your Social Security number, your file ID is 3392682,” the computerized voice said. “For more information about your case, please call our investigation department immediately. We would be happy to share your case information and help you with the situation. Thank you very much. Another person wrote that she too was concerned after receiving a call about “suspicious activity” associated with her Social Security number.
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