Social Security scams and other Government imposter scams are nothing new. They have been at the top of the scam list for quite some time. The scammers intent is to gain your trust and steal personal and financial information from you.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, Social Security scams are now among the top imposter scams affecting a United States agency. It is estimated that there were over 700,000 complaints about these scams in 2020 which was a significant increase compared to the previous year where there were about 470,00 reported. And these are just the ones that were reported, many more go unreported.
Let’s talk about some warning signs and how to protect yourself from falling victim to this type of scam.
Scam Warning Signs
- If someone calls, emails or texts you and any of the following happens it is a scam.
- They tell you there is a problem with your Social Security number or your benefits.
- They request that you send money in any form. It could be a debit or credit card, gift card, wire transfer, PayPal or other form of payment. Never pay them or give them any kind of information related to your finances.
- They may use scare tactics and threats to pressure you into making a rush decision. They may threaten you with legal action or arrest.
- They may tell you that your Social Security number has been frozen, and you will not receive your benefits unless you provide them with the information they are requesting.
- They may tell you that you are entitled to additional benefits or Covid-19 relief payments.
- The scammers can easily disguise the number they are calling from, so it looks legitimate.
The Social Security Administration may contact you by email or text message but only if you have opted in to receive those notifications and only in a few limited situations. They may contact you if you have signed up with them to receive updates and notifications related to your account or as part of their advanced security when you are accessing your account.
How To Protect Yourself
Do not provide your Social Security number unless absolutely necessary, not even the last 4-digits, even if it is a legitimate business, doctors office, utility company or anyone else who asks for it. Explain to them that for security purposes you will not provide that information. When you provide your Social Security number it is logged and saved in their computer system. So even if it is a legitimate business that has it on record a dishonest employee could use it in a malicious way or if the company is part of a security breech and your personal information is stolen, they have your Social Security number along with any other personal information you provided to that company.
Never return a text, email or phone call that you are suspicious of. Never use contact information provided in the message. Don’t click on any links within the message and if you are unsure, call Social Security directly. Visit the Social Security website for contact information. Social Security Administration
Don’t feel embarrassed if you believe you have been the victim of a scam. Report it immediately.
Place a security freeze on your credit reports. This is one of the best ways to protect yourself from identity theft. Doing so prevents someone else from opening an account in your name. Do this at the three major credit bureaus.
Innovis is another, not well-known credit agency. You are entitled to a copy of your credit report from them as well. You can also place a security freeze with Innovis. Innovis
To request a copy of your Innovis credit report, call the company at 1-800-540-2505 or request a copy by mail at the following address PO Box 1640 Pittsburgh, PA 15230-1640
Check your credit reports regularly. You are entitled to a free copy of your credit reports from the three major credit bureaus. TransUnion, Equifax and Experian. You can request a copy online at Annual Credit Report You will be required to provide your name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth to verify your identity.
You can also sign up at Credit Karma and Credit Sesame to monitor your credit and view your credit score.
Sign up for online access at your bank, credit union, utility companies, credit card companies and others you do business with so that you can monitor the activity on your accounts.
Shred any sensitive documents you are disposing of.
Don’t share personal information on social media. Scammers scour these sites for personal information that they can use to steal your identity and even break into your house when you are not home.
Don’t respond to any pop-ups in your web browser.
At the first sign that a phone call seems suspicious hang up and block the number.
Register for Online Access with the Social Security Administration
Social Security Administration
You will be asked a series of questions that only you should know the answers to.
You will select a username and password and verify your email address or phone number by entering a security code that they send to you.
If you have a credit freeze or fraud alert on your credit reports, you will be required to temporarily lift those to create your account. Once your Social Security account has been successfully created you can reinstate the credit freeze and fraud alert.
If you don’t want to provide this information online you can visit your local Social Security office in person and they will assist you in setting up your account.
Registering for online access to your account prevents someone else from falsely setting up an account in your name. If you have been part of a data breach and your name, Social Security number and other personal information has been stolen a scammer can use that information to setup an account in your name.
Benefits of Setting up your Social Security Account
Access to current and past statements.
Estimate your monthly benefits if you claim them early or at the full retirement age.
Update your contact information such as your address and phone number.
Verify your lifetime earnings.
Check for any errors on your statement and take the steps to correct any mistakes that are found.
Setup direct deposits.
Check the status of a pending claim.
Request a verification letter as proof of income.
Request replacement tax forms.
In the past Social Security mailed you a copy of your statement annually a few months before your birthday, they no longer do this, now they only mail statements to workers age 60 and older who do not have a “My Social Security Account”
You can file a request to have your statement mailed to you. Go to Social Security Administration Forms and fill out form SSA-7004.
If you suspect you have been a victim of fraud, go to the Federal Trade Commission’s Identity Theft website and file a report. Federal Trade Commission
Also file a report with the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General
Additionally, notify your bank, credit union and credit card companies that you may have been a victim of identity theft.
Points to Remember
Social Security will never ask you to verify your identity by giving them your Social Security number over the phone or in a text message.
They will never ask for your bank or credit card information.
They will never ask you to send them money or any type of payment.
Zealous Quickly