Most people know they should protect their Social Security number as much as possible. If your SSN falls into the hands of a thief, then it can cause some severe damage to your finances and credit history.
However, there are scammers out there who attempt to trick you into providing your Social Security number. They try to make you think they are making a legitimate request, and unfortunately, some people fall for these scams.
So, how can you identify and avoid all the Social Security scams currently out there? We will provide valuable tips on handling these situations so you do not fall victim to identity theft. Keep reading to learn all the details!
Types Of Social Security Scams
Unfortunately, these scammers may try to come at you from all angles today. They will use any means possible to gain unauthorized access to your information to use it to their advantage. Here are the main types of scams and how you can recognize each.
Phone Calls
With the prevalence of robocalls today, these scammers can instantly make thousands of Social Security fraud calls. They hope to get at least one person to answer and fall for their scam. Most people receive multiple scam calls per day, so it might be easy to fall for one of these if you are not careful.
Many of these are often Social Security Administration scam calls. You can typically identify a scam in a few ways.
- First, some cell phones will even display spam callers or telemarketers on the caller ID. If you see this, do not answer.
- Next, if you answer the phone and hear silence for a few seconds, this might be a scam call.
The automatic dialing system used by these Social Security robocalls takes a few seconds to transfer to a live person when someone answers the phone.
Callers might also threaten arrest or legal action but do not fall for it. In addition to phone calls, you should also be on the lookout for suspicious text messages. The popularity of text message scams has grown tremendously recently.
Since people conduct so much business today using email, scammers have gotten wise to this trend. They attempt to use phishing emails to obtain people’s personal information, including their Social Security numbers. Be on the lookout for any suspicious emails. If you receive an email from someone that you do not know, then do not click on any links or open any attachments.
Likewise, these people often attempt to impersonate someone that you do know. They will often send an email that appears to be from your bank or financial institution asking you to verify your information to correct a problem with your account. The link will take you to a phishing website, allowing thieves to collect your information.
Traditional Mail
There are some occasions when people still use traditional snail mail to try to scam you out of your information. Although scams via mail are fairly rare today, you should still be on the lookout for suspicious letters that demand you to make a payment or verify information.
Phone and email scams are much more common, especially since committing a scam through the U.S. postal service carries additional fines and penalties for the criminals.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Scammers are getting more creative these days, and you need to stay current on all their schemes.
- Some of the biggest Social Security scams involve fake phone calls and texts, email phishing, and sometimes traditional mail.
- A few ways to avoid getting scammed are to hang up on suspicious phone calls, never provide payment information to unknown callers, and stay vigilant.
How To Avoid Getting Scammed
There are a few things that you should always do that can help you avoid falling for Social Security scam calls or emails. First, you should know that callers can spoof their phone number on your caller ID. Spoofing means that the number on your caller ID is not their actual telephone number. They can make it appear that they are calling from a phone number associated with the Social Security Administration. With that in mind, here are a few tips.
Hang Up the Phone
The first tip is to hang up on any suspicious calls immediately. If you receive a call and someone asks about your Social Security account or Social Security benefits, you should hang up. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will not call you and ask for this information unless you have contacted them first and requested a callback. Thousands of these fake calls occur daily, so you cannot be afraid to hang up the phone on these scammers.
Never Provide Payment Info
Next, you should never provide any payment information to anyone that you do not know. A popular phone scam involves someone calling and telling you your Social Security number has been suspended. They tell you they can correct the problem if you provide immediate payment over the phone.
Even if they ask you to pay with a retail gift card, credit card, debit card, Internet currency, wire transfer, or any other payment method, do not provide any payment or bank account information. So, can your Social Security number be suspended? The answer is no. A similar scam exists with the IRS, but those calls are also fake.
Stay Vigilant
The most effective tip for avoiding these scams is staying vigilant and being aware of suspicious activity. Know that most Social Security fraud comes from fake Social Security phone calls or emails. Like most government employees at similar government agencies, SSA employees will not call you unexpectedly.
If you are unsure, then hang up the phone and call the Social Security Administration back. This way, you can ensure that you dial the correct number and actually talk to someone there.
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What To Do If You Accidentally Fall For A Scam
Even those who are incredibly vigilant might fall for a scam on occasion. So, what happens if you do? Get a copy of your credit report and closely monitor it. It would help if you considered signing up for a credit monitoring service so that you will be notified immediately of any activity on your SSN. This goes a long way in helping with fraud prevention and correcting any issues immediately, should they arise.
Also, place a fraud alert with the major credit bureaus on your SSN. You might even consider putting a freeze on your SSN. If the imposters attempt to use your Social Security number, they cannot obtain any new credit in your name.
TIP
There are several credit monitoring services available that can help you check for fraudulent activity. Many credit card companies offer a free copy of your credit report as part of their benefits.
Reporting Social Security Scams
You might wonder, “Where do I report fake Social Security calls?” You should immediately report the scam to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In most cases, you should go ahead and notify your local law enforcement as well. Many consumer protection laws prohibit this type of criminal activity, and these scams must be investigated. If you do not want to report this activity online, call the FTC Fraud hotline at 877-FTC-HELP.
The Bottom Line
Social Security scams are occurring more frequently today. These scammers use fear and trickery to get you to hand over sensitive personal information. You must stay aware of these potential scams and ensure that you always protect your Social Security number as much as possible.
By following the tips here, you should be able to spot potential scams and avoid handing over any valuable information to these scam artists. You can protect your Social Security number as much as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many people wonder, “Does the Social Security office call you?” Yes, but that comes with a caveat. Social Security will never contact you by phone unless you have contacted them first. If you have called and asked for information from them, they might need to call you back after further research.
Unless you expect a call from them, they will not call you without previous interaction that requires a follow-up. Random calls claiming to be the SSA are fake Social Security calls.
You should get a copy of your credit report and continue to monitor it closely. It would help if you also placed a fraud alert with the credit reporting agencies regarding your Social Security number. Finally, you should notify the FTC that your SSN has been compromised so they know the situation.
Many people wonder how to check and see if someone is using their SSN. The most significant warning sign is when you notice an activity you did not initiate on your credit report. You might also see suspicious activity on your bank or credit card statements.
If you receive notices from your mySocialSecurity account or the Social Security office about activity that you did not perform, this might also be a sign that your SSN has been scammed.
You can find a Social Security Administration office near you by using our SSA office locator and searching for your closest location.
