The majority of us have undoubtedly already been the victims of a hoax contact from the Social Security Administration or another official organization. Continue reading to discover more about social security fraud and how to protect yourself.
The Social Security Administration has recently released a caution regarding the rise in hoax contacts’ frequency and effectiveness. (Photo: https://armstrong.house.gov/)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) estimates that American customers lost $375 million in 2021 to fraud artists posing as officials. Fraudsters will use any method of communication, including phone, letter, email, and text, to coerce a prospective target into providing money or confidential information, even going so far as to threaten them with imprisonment or account suspension.
Commonest Social Security Frauds
Scams targeting social security can be carried out via phone conversations, emails, messages, or regular letters. Fraudsters frequently pose as government officials in an effort to deceive you into providing confidential information or sending money. They will frequently make threats of penalties, imprisonment, or legal action or claim there is an issue with your social security account in an effort to frighten you.
No matter what the social security fraud is trying to get you to believe, keep in mind that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will never call you or pressure you in any way to act immediately. This kind of correspondence is probably fraudulent.
Unreliable Phone Messages
The most common social security fraud tactic is phone calls. Due to their widespread use, operators frequently label these phone numbers as “spam risk” or “scam probable” on your caller ID.
In these conversations, social security fraud frequently claim to be government workers and inform prospective victims that their SSN has been the subject of suspect behaviour. They also threaten to suspend their accounts if the victim does not pay fees or a punishment. Following that, they will demand payment via gift cards, preloaded bank cards, wire payments, PayPal, Venmo, or virtual money.
Spam fraud
Another way that social security fraud fool people is through mail theft, where they use the Social Security Administration’s logo and lingo to pass themselves off as the organization. In order to initiate social security benefits, the plaintiffs are instructed in these documents to contact a toll-free number.
The Social Security Administration has emphasized that new benefits always go into action immediately so recipients don’t have to contact the SSA to initiate them in light of the high frequency of these social security fraud mailings. It also cautions readers to look out for grammar or spelling mistakes, which serve as warning signs of phoney messages and can be used to identify them.
Call 1-800-772-1213 to confirm that a document you receive is legitimate if it is from the Social Security Administration. Create an account at My Social Security to keep track of notifications and rewards from the organization.
Social security fraud false letters
Phishing letters are another device scammers use to defraud people. Phishing is a form of identity theft where a con artist sends emails that appear to be formal correspondence from a business or government body in an effort to trick you into disclosing personal information.
In contrast to legal emails, phishing emails frequently contain a feeling of urgency or make threats. Phishing emails can appear very similar to the real thing, just like postal scams can. In addition, they will contain a harmful link that opens a file or a phoney website.
It’s crucial to be cautious of any email that requests you click on links rather than heading straight to the organization’s website because the purpose of these emails is to get you to share confidential information or download adware onto your device. In the event that you get one similar to it, make sure to mark it as junk and refrain from responding or clicking any of the links.
The best way to spot social security fraud texts
Initially check for misspellings or additional characters in the sender’s email address and domain name to determine whether an email is a part of a phishing scheme. Spoofing is when thieves use names that are eerily identical to well-known names and only alter a letter, number, or sign.
Threatening or pressing wording is another obvious indication of a fraud. If you see language like “if you don’t pay, your accounts will be blocked” or “action needed instantly,” report it to the SSA or the relevant agency right away. Federal organisations never use language like this. Observe emails that ask for quick money, private information, or access passwords.
Check out our piece How to Identify a Scam Email if you’re interested in learning more about how to keep yourself safe from these kinds of communications (and What to Do if You Took the Bait).
Falsified phone texts
In addition to phone calls, social security fraud also use texts. There could be a caution or a notification of an issue with your account in the document itself. Messages could include harmful links, just like scam emails do.
It’s critical to keep in mind that the SSA will never request your contact or send you an email that you did not request. If you requested to receive messages from the SSA in particular circumstances, that is the only time they will text you.
Methods to evade social security fraud
By becoming as knowledgeable as you can about social security scammers’ operations and characteristics, you can take the first move towards averting them.
Furthermore, it’s critical to never disclose your social security number aloud in public and to keep your social security card at home unless absolutely necessary.
It’s important to keep in mind that the Social Security Administration will only get in touch with you if you have unfinished business with them. Send an instant complaint to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) if you receive any suspect contact via phone, text, email, or paper.
The Social Security Administration also suggests users open a personal my Social Security account online as a scam protection measure so you can monitor your records and/or any suspect behaviour.
Advice on how to disclose social security fraud
Report any suspect communications or scams you’ve fallen for right away to the Office of the Inspector General. The three easiest methods to do this are to contact them by phone at 1-800-269-0271, online at oig.ssa.gov, or by filing a scam complaint. There is also the choice of writing to the Social Security Scam Helpline at P.O. Box 17785, Baltimore, MD 21235-7785.
Visit the FTC’s dedicated website, IdentityTheft.gov, to report the incident if you see any suspicious activity on your credit report or think someone has used your personal information to file a tax return, apply for a job, get a loan, file a tax return, or engage in any other unauthorized transactions.
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