Inspector General Warns Public About New Twist To Social Security Phone Scams

Social Security Administration ^ | January 9, 2020 | by Tracy Lynge, Communications Director for the Office of the Inspector General

[Red Badger]

The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, is warning the public that telephone scammers may send faked documents by email to convince victims to comply with their demands. The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has received reports of victims who received emails with attached letters and reports that appeared to be from Social Security or Social Security OIG. The letters may use official letterhead and government “jargon” to convince victims they are legitimate; they may also contain misspellings and grammar mistakes.

This is the latest variation on Social Security phone scams, which continue to be widespread throughout the United States. Using robocalls or live callers, fraudsters pretend to be government employees and claim there is identity theft or another problem with one’s Social Security number, account, or benefits. They may threaten arrest or other legal action, or may offer to increase benefits, protect assets, or resolve identity theft. They often demand payment via retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency such as Bitcoin, or pre-paid debit card.

Inspector General Ennis urges continued vigilance against all types of phone scams no matter what “proof” callers may offer. As we continue to increase public awareness of phone scams, criminals will come up with new ways to convince people of their legitimacy. Social Security will never:

1> Threaten you with arrest or other legal action unless you immediately pay a fine or fee;

2< Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment;

3> Require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card; or

4> Send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.

If there is ever a problem with your Social Security number or record, in most cases Social Security will mail you a letter. If you do need to submit payments to Social Security, the agency will send a letter with instructions and payment options. You should never pay a government fee or fine using retail gift cards, cash, internet currency, wire transfers, or pre-paid debit cards. The scammers ask for payment this way because it is very difficult to trace and recover.

If you receive a call or email that you believe to be suspicious, about a problem with your Social Security number or account, hang up or do not respond. We encourage the public to report Social Security phone scams using our dedicated online form, at https://oig.ssa.gov. Please share this information with your friends and family, to help spread awareness about phone scams. For more information, please visit

https://oig.ssa.gov/scam.

[cuban leaf]

I turn 66 in a few weeks. My rule with the IRS will be simple. If I get any notification from them, even legitimate mail, head straight down to the SS office and discuss.

I live in a small town in rural KY. We have a SS office here.

[Red Badger]

Luckily, our SS office is literally within walking distance of my house!............If I could just remember which way..................

[Mr Ramsbotham]

For more information, please visit https://oig.ssa.gov/scam. And have your credit card and personal information ready.

[Liz]

Here’s a good way to give the scoundrels agita .....say .......”hold on a sec....”

“My other phone is ringing.....it’s my spouse who works in the telephone fraud unit of the FBI.”

[Fred Hayek]

One called me at lunchtime. Told them I was having lunch with the US Attorney (whom I happen to know personally).

[Liz]

LOL....good ploy.

[xrmusn]

“My other phone is ringing.....it’s my spouse who works in the telephone fraud unit of the FBI.”
= = = = = =- = = = = =

I have seen some of these ‘boiler room’ ops in the past and I would imagine a lot of the ‘callers’ have NO IDEA that they are ‘annoying’ or doing anything but good.

I got involved with making pickups for a boiler room ‘sheriff group’ (before EVERYONE had 3 or 4 credit cards) and the people working there really thought they were doing something credible.

I couldn’t get fired as I was an’Independent Contractor’ but they didn’t ask me back after some ‘old lady’ called and told them I REFUSED to take her money....
They wouldn’t have needed to ‘fire’ me as after the ‘old lady’ incident, I took what I had back to them and told them to ‘shove it’ and would be more than happy or willing to share WTF they were doing.

I believe that the callers were paid a smidgeon but did get a percentage of what they were able to bring in AFTER the money was received.

I believe I was also offered a ‘bonus’ if I could get them to up their ‘donation’.

Must have been 100 callers, also long before the robo calls etc etc