Frauds & Scams

National Consumer Protection Week

March 8, 2018 • By

Reading Time: 1 Minute

Last Updated: August 19, 2021

man and woman sitting on couch looking at laptop Looking to protect yourself from fraud, identity theft, and scams? This week, March 4-10, is National Consumer Protection Week, when we join the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to help consumers understand their rights and make well-informed decisions about money.

Have questions about how to protect your hard-earned money? You can join us today at 11:00 a.m. EST on Facebook for a special edition of Social Security Live, with Lisa Schifferle of the FTC. We’ll be discussing consumer protection tips, including how to protect yourself and your loved ones from scammers. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from the experts how to protect what’s important to you!

You can visit the National Consumer Protection Week website here to read recent scam alerts and learn about a variety of topics, like privacy, identity, online security, and more.

Social Security has a robust cyber-security program to help us protect the information and resources entrusted to us. You can help secure your information by opening a personal my Social Security account. We’ll continue to do our part to protect what’s important to you and share information on how to protect yourself all year-round.

Don’t forget to RSVP to our special Facebook Live event today!

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Charlene

    I’m going to be changing banks soon. How do I make sure my checks are transferred from one bank to the other?

  2. dtenni1653@aol.com

    my SS online account was taken over by a person who stole all my info, she actually became me! I was denied to login to my own account, made herself my care surrogate…she did this on everything I have….I am well aware of this as is Microsoft and a special co. that deals with these crimes, she quickly changed it all back, but too late, charges being investigated.

  3. Judy

    How do i report someone who is receiving disability but is luring about her wage and tips

  4. CRAIG W.

    CRAIG WYNNE on April 2, 2018 at 7:19 pm said:
    i have filed a fraud case on my account but its been a year and nothing has been done, i have been to my local SS office 2 times, i was told that the money was mine and i should go get it, i was even given the account # of Blue Dot Bank where they sent 2 payments. but no one will clear my record. I am 66 in july and even though i won’t retire until 70 I WANT THIS CLEARED UP.

  5. CRAIG W.

    i have filed a fraud case on my account but its been a year and nothing has been done, i have been to my local SS office 2 times, i was told that the money was mine and i should go get it, i was even given the account # of Blue Dot Bank where they sent 2 payments. but no one will clear my record. I am 66 in july and even though i won’t retire until 70 I WANT THIS CLEARED UP.

  6. Mary

    Hello I am in such a deep identity fraud and theft situation and I can stop it. I’m on disability and it has been a fight for so long I give up and then after 20 yrs of fighting the credit bureaus and my social and person info used for acct I don’t have and I’m on psych disability for life. Making nothing I need help. But I can afford lawyers and I can’t find anyone. My name is changed addresses etc. I need someone to help. In tired of trying to get my reports and they all won’t let me because I can’t prove who I am. That’s how bad it is. I don’t have a computer and I need a lawyer to work it cause I can’t anymore. I

    • Ray F.

      Hi Mary. Generally, reports and investigations of identity theft are handled by the Federal Trade Commission. You can find more information from their website: http://www.idtheft.gov. Or you may call them at 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).

  7. Jason B.

    I have a question actually. I am getting a lot of text messages that are wanting to give me a loan anywhere from just a few hundred dollars to many thousands of dollars, I was wondering if they are scams and they are just trying to get all my information like ss number license number and bank account numbers. If you could let me know something about it, I would be greatful

    • Ray F.

      Hello Jason, you can learn about recent “Scam Alerts” in the FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION website. Thanks!

  8. David P.

    How is the SSA operating without a commissioner?

    • Ray F.

      Hello David, Ms. Nancy Berryhill will continue to lead the agency from her position of record, Deputy Commissioner of Operations, to ensure that agency operations continue uninterrupted and that there is no impact in our service to the American public. Thanks!

  9. Troy D.

    I have been applying for SSI for my 3 year old child who was born with a Congential heart defect and has Down syndrome. Yet, we keep getting denied SSI benefits for him. When he did get it, he only got $61.00 a month for a year and now SSI just informed me that I have to pay it back and not giving me a reason why

    • Ray F.

      Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog and cannot answer your question at this time.
      Keep in mind that when a child is under age 18, not married, and lives at home with his or her parent(s), we may consider a portion of the parents’ income and resources as if they were available to the child. We call this process “deeming.” We make deductions from deemed income for parents and for other children living in the home. After we subtract these deductions, we use the remaining amount to decide if the child meets the SSI income and resource requirements for a monthly benefit.
      See “Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI for Children” for more information.
      Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. One of our agents should be able to provide you with an explanation. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Thanks.

  10. Troy D.

    Can someone, please tell me why does Social Security Administration are putting “minors” social security number on the pages when sending out mail? My child is 3 years old and every piece of mail I get from the SS office has his social on all the pages. That is how fraud is committed.

    I can see putting his last four digits on the paper work but I really feel that something needs to be done. This is how senior citizens information is getting stolen also.

    Someone needs to come up with a different way to identify people.

Comments are closed.