Slam the Scam: Keep Your Personal Information Safe
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: March 21, 2023
Do you know how to spot a government imposter scam? Knowing how to identify potential scammers will help safeguard your personal information.
There are common elements to many of these scams. Scammers often exploit fears and threaten you with arrest or legal action.
Scammers also pose as Social Security or other government employees and claim there’s a problem with your Social Security number (SSN) or your benefits. They may even claim your SSN is linked to a crime.
When you identify a potential scammer:
- Hang up right away or ignore the message.
- Never give personal information or money.
- Report the scam immediately to our Office of the Inspector General.
If you owe money to Social Security, we’ll mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. We only accept payments electronically through Pay.gov, Online Bill Pay, or physically by check or money order through our offices.
We will never do the following:
- Threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don’t agree to pay us money immediately.
- Promise a benefit increase in exchange for money.
- Ask you to send us gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, internet currency, cryptocurrency, or cash through the U.S. mail.
Scammers continue to evolve and find new ways to steal your money and personal information. Please stay vigilant and help raise awareness about Social Security-related scams and other government imposter scams. For more information on scams, please visit our Protect Yourself from Scams page.
Tell your friends and family about government imposter scams. Let them know they don’t have to be embarrassed to report if they shared personal financial information or suffered a financial loss. The important thing is to report the scam right away.
Together, we can “Slam the Scam!”
Tags: fraud, Office of the Inspector General, OIG, scams, telephone scams
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Aletha L.
If I receive a spam email where the sender is pretending to be Social Security, is there an email address to forward this spam email before I block it? Thank you
Ann C.
Hi, Aletha. Thanks for visiting our blog. Social Security takes reports of fraud very seriously. Please report it to us here.
Carlos M.
What other benefit can have an elderly with disabilities on the especific allegation of work credits as for a future pension at 62 as the cause of unfair dismissal discriminations
Daniel B.
I needed to access my ssa account online
Ann C.
Hi, Daniel. Thanks for visiting for blog. If you are still unable to create an account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “help desk.” We hope this helps.
Darlene R.
Someone is blocking my mail,email,and spying on me!
Ahmad
I went through your blog, it is quite informative, would really like to see more such blogs with amazing content and information. Keep sharing more such blogs.
Darlene R.
Ok, I hope you not the blocking of thing I do? If so your going be lock up !ALL OF MORGAN CO KY IS BEING SPY ON .A OLDER MAN IS PUTING EARING HOME IN ME AND MY PASS DEAD FAMILY MEMBERS.SOMEONE CONNETED TO LYNN REED FAMILY IS CLAMING THEY THAT CARE OF ME .THEY DONT ,,THEY STEELING KILLING MY ME WITH IMPLANTES FROM MI,CAMBRING
Darlene R.
Ok, I am being idenitity. Inform that this person kind to Mary Cathy carry is claiming to be Darlene Roaden keeton.Need this stop.I have tiny phone chip in me Susie brush husband put these in me to claim he in a work progrem!He sets and watches me.Please stop this ?I have work over 30 years.I he a bad car crash and someone hind the xrays that show I got heard.Need help?someone has put a lot of money in HINDING accounts.I can get a lawer to check this.Brandy Sally may be too blane.
awiyah
Thank you for providing valuable information.
Mr M.
Prayer for immigration to USA and get the help with free (financial sponsorship ) job visa
More Than 300 times sent to the USA this request letter . So many offices. Which is the correct office and where do I get help? I don’t know.
Nid NO – 2694813880501
Contact :
H 35, R. 1.. B D,
Dhaka Uddan, Mohammad poor
Dhaka, Bangladesh.
uminhaz077@gmail. com
+88 017101559786
HappyRose
I was a victim of the scammers. They took my last $30 from my credit card in 2015. this number keeps harassing me daily after 5 o’clock 479 385 2505 / 479-385-2273/ 479-385-8698 / 479-385-4462. . I don’t have the funds to look these numbers up myself.
John
Setup answer system on phone. May need knew phone. Uniden is a good one.
Also if you have cable TV they have setup for showing incoming phone number on screen when it rings. look at customers service or support on screen.
sandi m.
thanks get scammers all day long I hang up answer and hit end same time ooops just got one ,