Working with clients and their families to unravel frauds can be complicated, but an old scam has now become new again. Scams that try to take and use your social security information are on the rise. A current audit showed the Social Security Administration lost $1 billion in fraudulent benefit claims.
If you receive a call from someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration, be on the alert. The phone call may appear to be from the government, but thieves may be behind the fraud and will ask for personal information or insist you send money.
The suspended Social Security number scam usually begins with a phone call or robocall. When you answer, a scammer will say your Social Security number has been suspended. To rectify this terrifying scenario, victims are told to call a specific number, where they will be required to provide their personal information. Scammers may also say you need to pay a fine to recover your Social Security number.
Ultimately, the scammer’s goal is to get your personal information. In addition to your Social Security number, this could include your birth date, bank account number and/or home address.
If you receive a call informing you your social security number has been suspended, you can rest assured it is not true. Social Security numbers do not ever get suspended.
If you receive a call that appears to be from the Social Security Administration, but aren’t sure what to do, begin by hanging up. Look up the publicly listed number for this agency and call them back directly at that number. The way to beat any scam or scammer is to be alert, so keep looking for the “red danger flags”.
Be Educated! Be Proactive!
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