Keep Your Information Safe From Social Security Robocall Scam

A release from Stoneham Safety Officer Joseph Ponzo:

If you read these articles then you will know that this is not my first article related to identity fraud and personal information security, but I was asked to write an article specifically talking about the Social Security Robo Scam that has hit Stoneham and many surrounding communities.

Many people have received telephone calls regarding the I.R.S. and owing money, I know I have, but there is a new call being generated that is even more popular now and is attracting even more people. According to the Federal Trade Commission, “the S.S.A. scam may be the new I.R.S. scam.” Although the I.R.S. scam is still around, scam artists are always looking to cash in on the next big thing. According to the F.T.C., people have filed over 76,000 reports about Social Security imposters in the last year alone. Losses of $19 million, with about 36,000 complaints have been filed already. I have researched some facts and information to help you keep your personal information safe.

The Social Security Administration will not call you “out of the blue.” Unless you have an ongoing case with them, any phone calls from them should be extremely suspicious. The scammer(s) will even spoof the phone number to look exactly like the SSA’s telephone number. If you are not sure, you should call back that number and speak to someone directly, do not trust the caller identification and hit redial. By directly dialing and calling back that number, there is no way a scammer can intercept that call so it should go directly to the SSA (800-772-1213).

The SSA will NEVER ask for your Social Security number or other personal information by e-mail. Your Social Security number will not be suspended and you don’t have to verify your number to anyone who calls out of the blue. SSA will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money, send cash, or put money on gift cards. Please if someone asks you for a payment via gift card, especially an I-tunes gift card, it is most likely a scam, because this payment method is almost impossible to track and the scammers know this.

If a call like this is placed to you what can you do? According to AARP Fraud Watch Network, you could call the hotline number directly or go online. You can also report it to the F.T.C. (Federal Trade Commission) on a complaint website, identitytheft.gov/ssa. This website is dedicated to Social Security scams.

If you reveal your Social Security number by accident or realize afterwards you may be a victim of
identity theft via Social Security fraud, a freeze can be placed on your credit reports to prevent someone from opening new bank accounts or credit cards with your information. Report this fraud to SSA’s Office of the Inspector General (https://oig.ssa.gov/report). One should at least, put a fraud alert on your credit reports and check them frequently. Do set up a My Social Security account (/retirement/social-security/questions-answers/what-is-my-social-security/) online and check it regularly for unusual activity. There are even robocall-blocking apps on your smartphone or sign up for a robocall-blocking service from your mobile provider.

With these few warning signs and tips I have given you please do not become a victim of Social Security Theft. If it sounds fishy, it usually is.

Remember Safety First!