SCAMS BULLETIN Host Jay White is a volunteer attorney who provides free legal assistance for low income seniors in San Mateo County, California.

March 15, 2019

SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS

Fraudsters are calling saying they are from the Social Security Administration. They may show the real SSA phone number (1-800-772-1213) or a number close to it on your caller ID.

Since January 2018, the Federal Trade Commission has received more than 63,000 reports of this scam. Victims have lost $16.6 million (with a median loss of $1,484).

The calling scammer may say your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended because of suspicious activity, or because it’s been involved in a crime. The scammer may want you to confirm your SSN to reactivate it. He may say your bank account is about to be seized – but promises if you add money on your gift cards and give him the codes, SSA can help keep it safe. (Of course, you never want to do that, because then your money is just gone.)

Never give your SSN, credit card or bank account number to anyone who contacts you.

Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended by the SSA.  Your bank account is not about to be seized. The real Social Security Administration will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards.

You can’t believe the numbers on your caller ID. Scammers can easily fake those. But if you’re worried, call the real SSA at 1-800-772-1213. You can trust that number if you dial it yourself – just not on your caller ID.

To report a Social Security scam, go to ftc.gov/complaint. But if you already gave one of these callers your SSN and you’re worried about identity theft, you can visit IdentityTheft.gov/SSA for more information.

SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS

Fraudsters are calling saying they are from the Social Security Administration. They may show the real SSA phone number (1-800-772-1213) or a number close to it on your caller ID.

Since January 2018, the Federal Trade Commission has received more than 63,000 reports of this scam. Victims have lost $16.6 million (with a median loss of $1,484).

The calling scammer may say your Social Security number (SSN) has been suspended because of suspicious activity, or because it’s been involved in a crime. The scammer may want you to confirm your SSN to reactivate it. He may say your bank account is about to be seized – but promises if you add money on your gift cards and give him the codes, SSA can help keep it safe. (Of course, you never want to do that, because then your money is just gone.)

Never give your SSN, credit card or bank account number to anyone who contacts you.

Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended by the SSA.  Your bank account is not about to be seized. The real Social Security Administration will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards.

You can’t believe the numbers on your caller ID. Scammers can easily fake those. But if you’re worried, call the real SSA at 1-800-772-1213. You can trust that number if you dial it yourself – just not on your caller ID.

To report a Social Security scam, go to ftc.gov/complaint. But if you already gave one of these callers your SSN and you’re worried about identity theft, you can visit IdentityTheft.gov/SSA for more information.