Social Security Scams Are BIG Business $$$$$
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This usually starts with the scammer calling you, sending you an email or traditional mail that looks official.
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Your caller ID may also show a number that looks official or says “private name/unknown”.
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Documents sent to you via email may also look genuine. However, they are not.
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The scammer always lies stating they are calling from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or another government agency.
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The scammer then informs you of a problem with your Social Security number or account and demands one of several forms of immediate payment to correct this.
PLEASE KNOW THAT any communication asking you to immediately pay a fine or a debt using gift cards that you are instructed to purchase, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, or by mailing cash, is a fraud.
An SSA representative could potentially call you. Typically, SSA will mail you a notice informing you they are telephoning on a certain date and time.
During that call and with any communication you receive thereafter the SSA representative will not:
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threaten you,
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threaten to suspend your Social Security number, or
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demand immediate payment from you using any of the methods described above.
If you receive such a call hang up. If you receive such an email delete it. Furthermore, do not give the scammer any personal information. Then file a complaint with the SSA at OIG.SSA.GOV.
Article submitted by MSRN Member Richard K. Abraham, Esquire,
https://www.mdseniorresource.org/services-directory/1417/abraham-bauer-llc-richard-abraham/
