How You Can Help Social Security Protect Others
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
Scams have become an unfortunate part of doing business online or via phone. Many people have received a call or voicemail from someone warning them that their Social Security number or benefits are suspended due to suspicious activity. It’s an alarming scam and one we must help people identify so that they do not become the next victim.
We, at Social Security, are serious about protecting the information entrusted to us. In the past year, we’ve posted a series of blogs about how our beneficiaries can protect their information from scammers and what to do when they receive a call from someone pretending to be us.
We are teaming up with other government agencies and organizations to help spread these tips. Most recently, we worked with the Federal Trade Commission and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to create a new fraud prevention placemat to help you avoid Social Security scams. We’ve also worked with the Administration for Community Living and the Office of the Inspector General to develop and publish educational resources to help the public spot these schemes and avoid becoming victims themselves. The resources include a video, factsheets, and materials on how we can protect the elderly from fraud.
These resources are free and easily shareable. You can find the video about how you can help Social Security protect your information on our website. You can download the factsheet Protecting Your Information by visiting the Office of the Inspector General’s website. You can also check out the National Center on Elder Abuse for materials about preventing the financial exploitation of our older citizens.
We believe that knowing how to tell the difference between a scam and a genuine call from Social Security is important. You can help us protect the people you serve. These are some things to remember:
- Don’t answer calls from numbers you don’t recognize.
- Never give out personal information such as your account numbers, passwords, Social Security number, mother’s maiden name, or other identifying information if a call seems suspicious.
- Government employees will not threaten to take away benefits or ask for money or personal information to protect your Social Security card or benefits.
- If you receive a call from someone asking for your Social Security number, bank account number, or credit card information, don’t engage this caller. Instead, hang up and report that information to the Office of Inspector General via their online fraud-reporting form. You should also report these calls to the Federal Trade Commission.
Scammers are hard at work every day. Together, we can help safeguard the American public. Please help us spread the word.
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About the Author
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner
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Carol B.
How can I stop scammer calls on home phone
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Mark L.
To whom this may concern, my name is Mark Edward Lawrence 1752 . I am an IPE (Individual Protective Equipment) Specialist here on Scott Air force Base IL. Our job here is facilitate service members that are deploying with their personal protective gear for their safety; Example: Gas Mask, IOTV (Improved Outer Tactical Vest) Bulletproof plates/side plates, CBRNE (Chemical Biological Radiological and Explosive materials) JSLIST (Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology) Etc… I was in the United States Navy stationed in Japan in 1988. I became a DOD Civilian in 2009 working on NAF Atsugi Base Japan to be able to help service members and their families. I transferred to Scott Air Force Base August 06 2014 to work for LRM/LGRMSI (Logistics Readiness Squadron). Approximately 3 months after my arrival I started working the counter actually waiting on the customers as they arrived to pick up their mobility gear. In order to receive a gas mask from my job a service member has to have an updated M50 Gas Mask Fit Test provided by the Medical Group BIO-environmental department (indicating the service member’s tested mask size). This paper has the service member’s first, middle and last name on it along with their squadron name, mask size, contact number, rank, weight, glasses Y/N, test numbers and finally their SSN (Social Security Number). Our objective before issuing out a gas mask here is to make sure the service member has a current Fit Test and ID Card; the only numbers we care about here are on the reverse side of the ID Card called the EDIPI (The Department of Defense identification number, formerly referred to as the Electronic Data Interchange Personal Identifier (EDIPI), is a unique 10-digit number that is associated with personnel and their Common Access Card (CAC). The service members SSN that is on the fit test is used only at Bio-environmental to differentiate service members with the same names and or other reasons related. I immediately began pointing this out to the service members telling them they should blacken out those numbers to prevent identity thief. For months I began speaking to higher ranked individuals picking up gear pointing out their SSN on the fit test and how it shouldn’t be on there. I also suggested to the higher ranked service members that they should teach their lower ranked younger generation on the dangers of someone getting a hold off their SSN. After 2 years and 2 months of pointing this out to our visiting service members to no avail there was an opportunity for change! Approx. October 2017 the base had an Exercise that was a (Mock Deployment Readiness Drill) that included approx. 300-500 service members participating. Everyone was required a gas mask be issued to them, the day of the exercise Bio-environmental sent approximately 3 employees (One of Bio’s staff was Airmen Jarrett Davis) to our warehouse where our breakroom was transformed into an miniature test site to test and issue new fit test for the ones that failed to bring their original one or needed an updated version.. After the first Chalk (first group of 50-60 people) there was a little down time for my coworkers and I so took that time to speak with the Bio-environmental staff in the back and asked who the highest was ranked among them, after that was established I began telling the story I am telling now. I stressed the unnecessary placing of the service members SSN on the fit test and the only numbers we were focused on is located on the back of their ID card. I told the individual(s) to please take this concern to his/their higher ups and hopefully they will act on this imminent threat on the possible ID Thief of our service men and women. I am happy to say 8 out of 10 fit tests read…XXX-XX-0000. Now when someone comes in with a fit test that has their full SSN on it I inform them that after training they should take their old fit test back to Bio and let them shred it and request the new one with the SSN only showing their last four. I care about all the service members around the world, making this change here on Scott Air Force Base is just the beginning. If we can make this change military wide I guarantee identity thief among service members will drop dramatically. Imagine a young man or women entering the United States Military, then they start building a career after that they build a family. Now imagine after they proudly finished serving their country and decide to buy their first home or car, or even apply for their first credit card and they find out their identity has been stolen. Now imagine the work it’s going to take those families to regain control of their lives to start moving forward. This very example is why I fight to protect the identification of our service men and women around the world.
V/r
Mark Lawrence WG-05 IPE Section 375th Logistic Readiness Squadron
M-Flight Alternate Safety Monitor – M-Flight Fall Protection Program Monitor
DSN: 576-2512/Comm. 618-256-2512
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Leslie D.
An acquaintance of mine told me that he received a notice(not sure if it was telephone or mail) that his social security number had been compromised. So now, ssa is investigating this fraud and he claims they will not allow him to use his social security number until the investigation is completed. My question is: Is this immediate protocol to suspend his social security number? Because in my eyes, this information seems rather fishy to me. This acquaintance hasn’t had a job in a rather long time and I have a hunch he is making all this up so he doesn’t have to get a job and help pay his way. Does this sound like a familiar “scam” and did these scammers actually take his social security number or is this a true statement from this acquaintance?
L.A.
Hi Leslie. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Susan E.
received robo from Adedeji Aeryn 1 410 504 2707
asking for SSN etc.
A.C.
Hi, Susan. Thanks for letting us know. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a site specific to Social Security scams, here. We hope this helps.
Joan G.
I received a call this morning (09/10/19) that my SS# was frozen because of fraudulent use. I hung up on them. The phone# is: 888-420-5119
L.A.
Hi Joan. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
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Robert G.
I got a call asking me for my social security from the social security office. I gave them a make up number and they told me that was the correct number, so they hung up.
L.A.
Hi Robert. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
Marrow
I I received a call on 8/31/2019 from this number (833)255-0645 I did not answer, a message was left that I was being contacted because there has been some suspicious activity with my social security number.
L.A.
Hi Marrow. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.