Hi Neighbors,
As part of my ongoing effort to keep you informed about the government services that you are entitled to, I wanted to take this opportunity to email you about Social Security scams.
Unfortunately, fraudsters seek to capitalize on crises, and we’ve seen a concerning rise in Social Security scams in recent months. These scams are the #1 type of government imposter fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and Social Security, and in 2020, the Federal Trade Commission received over 178,000 complaints of government imposter scams. Last year, Americans lost $174.2 million, but I want to make sure you don’t lose a dime.
I urge everyone to exercise caution when receiving calls from someone claiming to be from a government agency. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will never call you threatening to cancel or decrease your benefits. You can report Social Security scams here, or visit OIG.SSA.GOV to learn more.
To protect yourself from falling victim to these scams:
- Do not use caller ID to verify that the caller is a government employee. Many scam calls “spoof” official government numbers, such as SSA’s National 800 Number, the Social Security Fraud Hotline, local Social Security field offices, SSA press offices, or local police numbers. Impostors may even use legitimate names and phone numbers of SSA employees, so be cautious.
- Hang up on suspicious calls from “government officials” calling about a problem with your Social Security number or account
- NEVER make payments with gift cards, wire transfers, or by mailing cash
- Do not give them money or personal information
- Report Social Security scams to OIG.SSA.GOV
- Report other scams to reportfraud.ftc.gov
To avoid falling victim to callers claiming to be Social Security, my team and I want to assure you of that SSA employees will NEVER:
- Threaten you for information
- Demand sensitive personal information
- Suspend your Social Security number
- Demand an immediate payment from you
- Ask for gift card numbers, pre-paid debit cards, or to wire or mail cash
- Promise a reward or resolution in exchange for personal information or money
Social Security may email or text you about programs and services, but will never ask for a return call to an unknown number. Social Security only sends emails or text messages if you have opted in to receive them, and only in limited situations.
Government imposter telephone scams unfortunately occur all too often. By knowing what to look out for, you can protect yourself and your community from these dangerous fraudsters. If you ever need help with your Social Security or getting in touch with the Social Security Administration, fill out this form on my website or give my Minnetonka team a call at (952) 656-5176.
Keep the faith and keep in touch,
Dean Phillips
Member of Congress