Pressures you for personal information
Requests secrecy
Threatens to seize your bank account
Promises to increase your Social Security benefit
Tries to gain your trust by providing fake "documentation," false "evidence," or the name of a real government official
...it is a SCAM!
Do not give scammers money or personal information – Ignore Them!
Protect yourself and others from Social Security-related scams
Try to stay calm. Do not provide anyone with money or personal information when you feel pressured, threatened, or scared.
Hang up or ignore it. If you receive a suspicious call, text, or email, hang up or do not respond. Government employees will not threaten you, demand immediate payment, or try to gain your trust by sending you pictures or documents.
Report Social Security-related scams. If you receive a suspicious call, text, or email that mentions Social Security, ignore it and report it to the SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Do not be embarrassed if you shared personal information or suffered a financial loss.
Get up-to-date information. Follow SSA OIG on Twitter @TheSSAOIG and Facebook @SSA Office of the Inspector General for the latest information on Social Security-related scams. Visit the Federal Trade Commission for information on other government scams.
Spread the word. Share your knowledge of Social Security-related scams. Post on social media using the hashtag #SlamtheScam to share your experience and warn others. Visit oig.ssa.gov/scam for more information. Please also share with your friends and family.
Plan for the future, manage the present!
With your free and secure my Social Security account, you can receive personal estimates of future benefits based on your real earnings, see your latest Social Security Statement, and review your earnings history. It even makes it easy to request a replacement Social Security Card, check the status of an application online, and much more, from anywhere!
Thanks to Jeff O’Donnell for sending this.