Scammers prey upon your respect for authority when they pretend to be employees of the Social Security Administration during telephone calls or within emails. By inventing problems about your social security number or benefits, these impersonators want to elicit strong emotions like fear and confusion to cause you to suspend your normal cautionary judgment used when receiving an unexpected email or telephone call
Impersonation fraud is not limited to any particular age group. However, it has been more successful with older adults than younger ones. In fact, it is considered one of the contributing factors for the higher losses caused to people over 50 through Social Security fraud scams. Scam victims over 85 years old reported losses in 2022 that were 500% higher than those experienced by victims who were under 30 years old. There is not much difference for victims who were within the 50 to 69 age range because their losses were 477% higher than those of victims under 30.
This article is not intended to stop readers from respecting legitimate authority, rather encourages individuals to step back before responding to a call or email from someone claiming to represent the Social Security Administration. The agency will never
· Threaten you with arrest or legal action
· Suspend your Social Security Number
· Claim to need your personal information to activate a cost of living adjustment or increase a benefit
· Ask you to pay with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cash, or cryptocurrency
· Demand secrecy
· Direct message you on social media
Regardless as to whether the impersonator threatens an individual’s benefits or liberty, scam targets can avoid becoming scam victims by remembering to:
1. Remain calm. Take a deep breath and check your impulses. Talk to someone you trust.
2. Hang up or ignore the message. Do not click on links or attachments.
3. Protect your personal information. Even if the caller or email provides some of your personal information, remain cautious.
Hopefully, these tips will keep you in control of your money, your information, and your peace of mind.
If you believe you have been targeted by a Social Security scam, please report it to the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report
Comments 18
Donna W
Thank you for making me aware of this scam. There was a moment when I was being contacted.
clyde mcentire
good advce, thank you.
Brenda Morgan
Thanks for information.
sandra
always good advise…….
Mary Scialfa
Thanks. It was good to read this about scammers again. Spaced repeticion enables me to commit the information to memory.
Dan S
Thank you for posting this article.
Carlyn Webber
Excellent information!! I’d rather give no info to the right people than any info to wrong people!!
William Henderson
I share with others continually not to answer emails or phone calls from the SSI or anyone asking for personal information.
Barbara Cook
This is also good information to share with friends and family. Thereare scammers everywhere and we must be proactive and aware of different tactics to defraud.
Deborah Bell
Excellent advice, thank you.
eric mosely
thank you
Roz W.
Don’t forget to get your free credit report each year. It’s free and worthwhile.
freddie f
good info thanks
Beverly Moore
Thank you for posting this valuable information.
mrs hohlt
good to know\where does my email address end up…curios cat…aging ahead wash u, like shall get reply anyx soon, but surprise me reply:) thanx again for ssn datum.
Daphne
Being a person who has had someone “use” my info/idenity,I am skeptical of ads even in AARP, that can offer seniors those best deals. Any calls/offers asking for my SSN(last 4 numbers), that info that ‘they’ are suppose to know, but just want to confirm-yeah. It’s rough to trust. It’s rough!
judy otey
It’s good to be aware of this information. thanksforvsharing.
Carol S
always good to have information like this. thanks