How Social Security Scams Work And How You Can Shut Them Down

If you’re a swindler, particularly in cyberspace, you know that a Social Security number is a valuable piece of information that opens the door to countless other scams. That’s why crooks of every stripe try to obtain it through texts, phone calls, social media and snail mail.

Social Security number swindles come in many flavors. According to the Social Security Administration, “Social Security impersonation scams have been one of the most common government imposter scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission. Social Security continues to make concerted efforts to address this issue, through extensive outreach and investigative initiatives.”

The most basic Social Security scam involves someone impersonating a government official, who will ask for your Social Security and banking information (never provide it!). More than $100 million is stolen every year through this ruse.

“Criminals use sophisticated tactics to trick potential victims into disclosing personal and financial information, the Social Security Administration Commissioner Marin O’Malley says.

“Typically, they use these P’s – Pretend, Prize or Problem, Pressure, and Payment. For example, scammers pretend they are from Social Security in phone calls, texts, emails, and direct messages on social media, and claim there is a problem with the person’s Social Security number. “

“Scammers may also send fake documents to pressure people into complying with demands for information or money. Other common tactics include citing “badge numbers,” using fraudulent Social Security letterhead, and creating imposter social media pages to target individuals for payment or personal information.”

How can you protect yourself or someone you know? Here’s what the FTC recommends:

• Do not trust caller ID
  
  ID
  . Scam calls may show up on caller ID as the Social Security Administration and look like the agency’s real number, but it’s not the SSA calling.
• Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended. And your bank accounts are not about to be seized. This is a common lure scamsters use to steal your information.
• Don’t verify your Social Security number or any other personal information to anyone who calls out of the blue. If you already did, visit IdentityTheft.gov/SSA to find out what steps you can take to protect your credit and your identity.
• 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. If they want money upfront, that’s always a red flag.

Better yet, watch this helpful video. And if anybody contacts you asking for your Social Security number, ignore them or hang up.