Frauds & Scams

Inspector General Announces 2nd National “Slam the Scam” Day

February 10, 2021 • By

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Last Updated: August 19, 2021

Inspector General Announces 2nd National “Slam the Scam” Day

The Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA), Gail S. Ennis, is designating Thursday, March 4, 2021 as the second annual National “Slam the Scam” Day, to raise public awareness of government imposter telephone scams, which continue to spread across the United States. This is part of National Consumer Protection Week, February 28 – March 6.

Last year, we received over 718,000 reports of Social Security-related telephone scams—with a total of $44.8 million reported lost. Victims who lost money reported an average loss of $5,800. On National “Slam the Scam” Day, we will work to spread the word far and wide about these scams—and encourage people to warn their friends and family to just Hang Up!

On the first National “Slam the Scam” Day, we partnered with other Federal agencies, Members of Congress, and nonprofit and retail organizations to help promote scam awareness. This year, we will expand our efforts, to partner with more agencies and organizations, and seek opportunities to work with local and national media outlets to amplify our message.

  • On March 3, 2021, Inspector General Ennis and Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security, will hold a press call to discuss scam awareness and answer questions.
  • On March 4, 2021, USA.gov will host a “Slam the Scam” Twitter chat with Federal agencies.
  • Also on March 4, SSA will host a Facebook Live event to discuss the most common scams, what we are doing to combat them, and what the public can do to avoid becoming victims.

Inspector General Ennis urges Americans to be very cautious of calls from a government agency telling you about a problem you don’t recognize. Real government officials will NEVER:

  • Threaten arrest or legal action against you if you don’t immediately send money.
  • Promise to increase your benefits or resolve identity theft if you pay a fee or move your money into a protected account.
  • Require payment with retail gift card, wire transfer, internet currency, or by mailing
  • Text or email you messages that contain your personal information.

If you ever owe money to Social Security, the agency will mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. Social Security doesn’t suspend Social Security numbers or demand secrecy from you to resolve a problem—ever.

Visit our Scam Awareness page for more information about National “Slam the Scam” Day and Social Security-related phone scams. You can also visit our Fraud Prevention and Reporting page for additional scam resources.

Please share this information with your friends and family—and spread the word about scams on social media. This March 4, we hope you will help us “Slam the Scam!”

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About the Author

Tracy Lynge, Communications Director for the Office of the Inspector General

About Tracy Lynge, Communications Director for the Office of the Inspector General

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Comments

  1. Thomas J.

    Thank you very much SSA team for sharing your knowledge and experience with us in your post, which was very informative and well explained. | Thomas J Coin

  2. Sarah J.

    Your knowledge is great thanks foe sharing

  3. Robin H.

    I received multiple calls from a number that appears to be local. They said my SSN had been compromised and I need to contact the officer immediately by dialing “1”. They threatened a warrant. They claimed to be from Social Security. Because of notices I knew to hang up.

    • A.C.

      Hi, Robin. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.

      If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.

  4. Couponsva

    I found your post very explanatory and informative, thank you very much SSA team for sharing your knowledge and experience with us.
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