How to Spot Government Imposters
Do you know how to spot a government imposter scam?
Scammers continue to evolve and find new ways to steal your money and personal information. Throughout the year, we raise awareness about Social Security-related scams and other government imposter scams. We want you to know how you and your loved ones can avoid becoming victims!
There are common elements to many of these scams. Scammers often exploit fears, threatening you with arrest or legal action. Scammers also pose as Social Security or other government employees and claim there’s a problem with your Social Security number (SSN) or your benefits. They may even claim your SSN is linked to a crime.
When you identify a potential scammer:
- Hang up right away or ignore the message.
- Never give personal information or money.
- Report the scam immediately to our Office of the Inspector General.
If you owe money to Social Security, we’ll mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. We only accept payments electronically through Pay.gov, Online Bill Pay, or physically by check or money order through our offices. We will never:
- Threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don’t agree to pay us money immediately.
- Promise a benefit increase in exchange for money.
- Ask you to send us gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, Internet currency, cryptocurrency, or cash through the U.S. mail.
Help protect your loved ones and people in your community. You can:
- Educate your friends and family about government imposter scams. Let them know they don’t have to be embarrassed to report if they shared personal financial information or suffered a financial loss. The important thing is to report the scam right away.
Share our Scam Alert factsheet and Fraud Prevention and Reporting webpage to educate people on how to protect themselves.
Source: Social Security Matters