Robocallers, telemarketers, and crooks, oh my! The rash of scam phone calls is on the rise. Have you ever experienced a fraudulent Social Security call? If you answered “yes”, you’re not alone.
Several people report receiving a pre-recorded message from the “Social Security Administration.” The call attempts to retrieve personal information and/or payment.
Similar to email scams, the recording evokes a sense of urgency. It advises callers to act quickly to avoid more penalties. Additionally, a fraudulent Social Security call will usually state that your account has been frozen.
Does the Social Security office make phone calls?
Beyond the recorded messages, there are times when a phony caller will be on the line. They will try to convince you that they are a Social Security employee. The con artist will explain that your file is missing information. To fix the discrepancies, they will ask for data such as your bank card or Social Security number.
Do not fall for it.
Kati Daffan, assistant director of the F.T.C.’s division of marketing practices warned, “The SSA will not contact you out of the blue.”
Furthermore, the Social Security Administration will not threaten you with negative aliments. They, also, will not promise any type of official action in exchange for your personal information.
To be clear, the FTC states, “Your Social Security number is not about to be suspended.”
Don’t Depend on Caller ID
The inspector general of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, warns the public of these fake calls. In a news briefing, it was explained that a large part of this scam involves call spoofing. The calls appear to be from the SSA’s fraud hotline. Because of this, do not depend on your phone’s caller ID.
Hang up on fraudulent social security calls
It is better to hang up and call the office back yourself. Also, make sure to contact the Social Security Administration from a verified number. Even if the wait time is long, you should confirm with the real SSA after receiving a fraudulent social security call.
Lastly, don’t call the phone number left on your voice mail by a robocaller. It is fake and should be reported.
