Hang up on spoofed SSA calls

Hang up on spoofed SSA calls
                        

The following is a recent article from the Federal Trade Commission.

If you get a call that looks like it’s from the Social Security Administration, think twice. Scammers are spoofing SSA’s 1-800 customer-service number to try to get your personal information. Spoofing means scammers can call from anywhere, but they make your caller ID show a different number, often one that looks legit. Here are a few things you should know about these so-called SSA calls.

These scam calls are happening across the nation, according to SSA. Your phone rings. Your caller ID shows it’s the SSA calling from 1-800-772-1213. The caller says he works for the Social Security Administration and needs your personal information, like your Social Security number, to increase your benefits payments. Or he threatens to cut off your benefits if you don’t give the information. But it’s not really the Social Security Administration calling. Yes, it is the SSA’s real phone number, but the scammers on the phone are spoofing the number to make the call look real.

First, hang up. If you are contacted out of the blue by the SSA, it is in all probability a fraudster. The SSA says it calls Social Security beneficiaries only in response to something the beneficiary has initiated such as a question or request for help. So if you get an unsolicited call from the SSA, it's likely not them.

SSA will not threaten you. Real SSA employees will never threaten you to get personal information. They also won’t promise to increase your benefits in exchange for information. If they do, it’s a scam.

If you have any doubt, hang up and call SSA directly. Call 1-800-772-1213. That really is the phone number for the Social Security Administration. If you dial that number, you know who you’re getting. But remember you can’t trust caller ID. If a call comes in from that number, you can’t be sure it’s really SSA calling.

If you get a spoofed call, report it. If someone calls, claiming to be from SSA and asking for information like your Social Security number, report it to SSA’s Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or www.oig.ssa.gov/report. You also can report these calls to the FTC at www.ftc.gov/complaint.

If you think someone has misused your personal information, go to www.IdentityTheft.gov to report identity theft and find out what steps to take.

For more about scams, go to BBB Scam Tips (www.BBB.org/ScamTips). To report a scam, go to BBB Scam Tracker (www.BBB.org/ScamTracker).

Visit www.bbb.org/canton or call 330-454-9401 to look up a business, file a complaint, write a customer review, read tips, follow us on social media and more.


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