In response to Just got this same call 4 by Rubyblonde The Social Security Administration will never ask you for your personal information such as your Social Security number, date of birth, or bank account information via email, SMS, or phone. SSA staff will never threaten you with arrest or other legal action if you do not provide personal information. If there is a problem, we will send you a letter. In general, we will only contact you if you have requested an appeal or have ongoing business with us. The latest scam trick in using robocalls or live calls has increased. The scammers pretend to be government employees and claim that there is identity theft or some other problem with the Social Security Number (SSN), account or benefits. You may have received one of these calls — either a recorded voice or someone falsely pretending to be a government employee, warning you of a problem with your Social Security number, account, or benefits, including identity theft. The caller may threaten arrest or other legal action or offer to increase benefits, protect your assets, or repair identity theft if you make the payment using a gift card, cash, bank transfer, internet currency such as Bitcoin or a prepaid debit card. Threatening calls that make you believe your Social Security number and benefits are at risk are on the rise. An ABC7 eyewitness news producer received a dozen in a single day. In response to I Just Received a Call of 1 from Medfly64, the FTC advised to be wary of any call from a government agency asking for money or information, and never to trust the caller ID, which may be false.

The agency warns that callers sometimes use identity theft techniques to make the real Social Security helpline number (1-800-772-1213) appear on the recipient`s caller ID screen. The caller can also identify himself with the name of an actual SSA agent. The Inspector General`s Office of Social Insurance has established a complaint form to collect information on appeals. You can also call the same office at 1-800-269-0271. You want to know things like the number the scammers asked you to call and how the caller identified himself. When these details are collected from thousands or millions of people, they can help investigators trace crimes back to the thieves. Keep in mind, however, that identity theft allows scammers to use (or at least show you) a number of deceptive numbers. Unfortunately, blocking the first number that called you does not prevent further calls from different phone numbers. If you receive any of these calls, notify the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Fake phone calls related to Social Security benefits are among the top scams. The calls often involve people — or robot voices — pretending to be from the Social Security Administration trying to get your Social Security number or asking for money, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

On the other hand, you might get a call from a supposed SSA representative with good news – for example, an increase in the cost of living of your benefits. To get the extra money, all you have to do is verify your name, date of birth, and Social Security number. With these credentials, fraudsters can effectively hijack your account by asking SSA to change the address, phone number, and direct deposit information in your file, hijacking your benefits. 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, see our FAQ. We hope this helps.

You can also report the scam on the FTC`s grievance website. Be sure to document anything you can add to your report, such as a phone number or website, the name of the caller, the time and date of the call or email, the information you requested, and anything else that could help identify the scammer. The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) continues to receive reports from across the country of fraudulent phone calls from individuals claiming to be members of the SSA. Recent reports indicate that unknown callers are increasingly using threatening language during these calls. Callers say a citizen will be arrested for inappropriate or illegal activities with a citizen`s Social Security Number (SSN) or account, or face further legal action if they fail to call a phone number provided to resolve the issue. This is a scam; Citizens should not participate in these calls or provide personal information. Another type of fraudulent call attempts to sell services to the recipient that the SSA gladly provides free of charge. For example, the appellant may offer to present a new Social Security card, enroll a new family member in the program, or provide a record of past Social Security contributions as well as expected future income. Or you might be led to think that your Social Security number is disappearing as the calls claim: “In case we haven`t heard from you, your social media will be permanently blocked.” The Social Security Administration will never call you or threaten you with arrest or other legal action. You should simply hang up the phone on anyone who makes these statements.