Inspector General’s Office Warns: Hybrid Scams on the Rise
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 9, 2024
Scammers are compounding tactics by using fake Amazon or PayPal tech support emails and text messages to get you to connect with an imposter Social Security Administration (SSA) employee who will try to convince you that your Social Security number (SSN) or record is compromised.
The email or text message claims that something is wrong with your Amazon or PayPal account and while trying to fix the alleged issue, the scammer instead states that in searching your computer they found other problems, mainly with your SSN. They then offer to assist by transferring you to someone pretending to be with SSA.
“This type of ‘long-con’ is particularly heinous; other agencies refer to these scams as ‘pig butchering’ because they are designed to drain you of all your resources,” said Special Agent in Charge, Anthony Monaco, Social Security Administration, Office of the Inspector General, Major Case Unit.
This type of hybrid scam is part of a new trend – the SSA “long-con,” where:
- Scammers develop confidence over time, often starting as some other scam, but passing the target to an imposter SSA agent when the first scammer “discovers” a problem in the target’s “SSA records.”
- Scammers often have detailed information on their targets, who are typically of Social Security retirement age. This generates further confidence in the credibility of the scam and scammer.
- The scam often ends with an in-person meeting with an individual who is either part of the scheme or an unsuspecting participant, such as an Uber driver, during which the target turns over gold, cash, a crypto wallet, or some other currency for “safe keeping,” at the direction of an imposter SSA OIG federal agent.
In a recent news article, a woman in Ohio liquidated over $500,000 in retirement savings to buy gold and turned it over to scammers who showed up to her house, after a several month “long con,” involving SSA and other government imposters. In an interview, the victim stated, “They were so slick, the guy I talked to everyday had an answer for everything and he was smooth, I had no question he was who he said he was. He didn’t hesitate on any of his answers, he knew what he was doing.”
To learn more about protecting yourself and reporting Social Security related scams visit www.ssa.gov/scam.
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Tags: fraud, Inspector General, Office of the Inspector General, OIG, scams
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Steve
Thank you for your insights! At our company SCDler, we are committed to continuously improving and innovating, and your feedback is incredibly valuable to us as we strive to meet and exceed expectations
Vincent C.
I just heard on YouTube that Social Security was hacked and our SS# are now comprised. So I come to the Social Security site and see nothing. No mention of the hack or how we should protect ourselves. If our SS# is out there everything is in danger. What is Social Security doing?
David S.
Judah8896@gmail.com
Ruby
I just heard on a news station K Love. Stated as numbers were compromised and we should freeze our credit with cr3main credit unions
Roger S.
I heard the same information, that 2.9 billion social security numbers have been hacked throughout the U.S. Canada and the UK. Is this true or fictional?
David S.
Social security Card!!!
DAVID S.
NETSPEND!
MONEY!
SOCIALS SECURITY CARD!
FRAUD! ! !
Beth
I got scammed by someone that I thought was a renewal for net flix. Person was very experienced in what he was doing and a very smooth talker. Do not open an email that you don’t know for sure who it is from. The scammers email can look very much like the real companies or just have a personal email address.
David S.
Fraud Social security Card!!!
Grady D.
I really appreciate the SSA issuing these warnings and guidelines. While I am confident, to a point, that I would not now fall victim to a scam, the time will come when I become less alert and aware of the wolves in sheep’s clothing.
Thank you!
QuacyMcLeod
i have the same problem please find my YouTube account social media on youtube, please follow the link to it for help . http://www.youtube.com/@qu360
Angel V.
Cuando te llega un imail sobre un delivery en curso que no se a podido entregar por problemas con tu direcion,[ojo] inpostor al asecho,no caigas en su trampa,ellos de ante mano ya tienen parte de informacion,para fraguar su [fisching] ten en mente lo siguiente,el seguro social nunca te llamara,ellos envian cartas, y menos el [IRS] ignora esos mensajes,tu no espera un delivery,si tienes dudas ponte en contacto con la [FTC] recuerda todo lo que suena denasiado bueno huele a trampa?Gracias Angel Vega Sr
About
Please continue to give us the information that changes lives in a positive way. Thank you all at SSA.GOV!
I will continue to due my part for the better of the whole.
Boyqsam
….
George J.
Happy TODAY! I really appreciate this article. It’s ironic that I recently received several emails very similar…both started by mentioning PayPal account problems. I have not used PayPal for years and the emails were directed to my Spam folder.
Again thanks for the article…Hopefully it will prevent someone from getting scammed…
Daunte F.
It’s opening