FTC Cautions To Watch For Scammers and Fraudsters Pretending To Be From The Social Security Administration Trying To Obtain Social Security Numbers Or Money
Kehoe Law Firm, P.C. wants people to know that the FTC has advised individuals to watch for scammers pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (“SSA”) in an effort to illegally obtain one’s Social Security number or money.
Importantly, the FTC wants you to know the following:
- Do not trust caller ID. Scam calls may show up on caller ID as the Social Security Administration and look like the agency’s real number, but it’s not the SSA calling.
- Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended, and your bank accounts are not about to be seized.
- DO NOT verify your Social Security number or any other personal information to anyone who calls out of the blue. If you already did, visit IdentityTheft.gov/SSA to find out what steps you can take to protect your credit and your identity.
- SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards. Anyone who tells you to do those things is a scammer.
- Talk about it with friends and family. If you’re getting these calls, chances are your friends and family also are getting called.
- People who know about scams are much less likely to fall for them. Thus, by discussing them, you are helping protect people you care for and people in your community.
Click video for more information on Social Security scams.
Source: Federal Trade Commission – FTC.gov