![\"Social](\"http:\/\/www.creativejapan.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/scam-alert-social-security.jpg\" "\\"Social")
<\/a><\/p>\nThe Social Security Administration<\/mark><\/a> (SSA<\/mark>) reports a large increase in phone scams<\/mark>. Senior citizens are targets for scammers<\/mark> claiming to be from the SSA<\/mark>. The reason for the call? To tell the senior his\/her Social Security number<\/mark> has been suspended.<\/a> The caller states there has been criminal or fraudulent activity<\/mark> with the card. The number is suspended to protect the real card holder.<\/p>\n “They say to call a number to clear it up \u2014 where they\u2019ll ask you for personal information<\/mark>,” according to the Federal Trade Commission<\/mark> (FTC). “The caller pretends to be protecting you from a scam while he\u2019s trying to lure you into one.”<\/p>\n The SSA<\/mark> does not suspend Social Security numbers<\/mark>. Not for any reason. There is no cost for a card.<\/p>\n If you get a call from an alleged SSA<\/mark> representative, use caller ID<\/mark> or a free reverse phone book app for iPhone<\/a> to verify the number. Some scammers<\/mark> use spoofing<\/mark> to mirror the SSA<\/mark>\u2019s customer service number \u2014 1-800-772-1213 \u2014 to take the scam a step further.<\/p>\n Social Security\u00a0<\/mark>phone scams<\/mark> are the number one type of fraud<\/mark> reported to the Federal Trade Commission<\/mark> and the Social Security Administration<\/mark>. In 2018, the SSA<\/mark> received more than 63,000 complaints regarding social security\u00a0<\/mark>phone scams<\/mark>. As a result, the median amount lost by seniors was $1,484.00 In 2019, the National Council of Aging listed Social Security\u00a0<\/mark>phone scams<\/mark> as one of the top three frauds targeting seniors.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are taking action to raise awareness and prevent scammers<\/mark> from harming Americans,\u201d said Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security. \u201cI am deeply troubled that our country has not been able to stop these crooks from deceiving some of the most vulnerable members of our society.\u201d<\/p>\n The Social Security Administration<\/mark> works around the clock to stop scam calls<\/mark>.<\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, scammers<\/mark> will try anything to mislead and harm innocent people, including scaring them into thinking that something is wrong with their Social Security account<\/mark> and they might be arrested,\u201d said Acting Inspector General<\/mark> of Social Security, Gale Stallworth Ennis. \u00a0\u201cI encourage everyone to remain watchful of these schemes and to alert family members and friends of their prevalence. \u00a0We will continue to track these scams and warn citizens so that they can stay several steps ahead of these thieves.\u201d<\/p>\n Officials at the Social Security Administration<\/mark> and the Office of the\u00a0<\/mark>Inspector General<\/mark> created a new online form to gather data that will be analyzed for trends. The OIG<\/mark> will use the data to develop investigative leads to thwart scammers<\/mark> and reduce fraud.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are taking action to raise awareness and prevent scammers<\/mark> from harming Americans,\u201d Saul said. \u201cI am deeply troubled that our country has not been able to stop these crooks from deceiving some of the most vulnerable members of our society.\u201d<\/p>\n Saul and Ennis encourage the public to use the new online form to report scams including robocalls<\/mark> and live callers, as well as text, email, and in-person scams. The form requires people to create a Personal Identification Number (PIN) in case the OIG<\/mark> contacts the reporter for verification.<\/p>\n \u201cAwareness is our best hope to thwart the scammers<\/mark>,\u201d said Ennis. \u201cTell your friends and family about them and report them to us when you receive them, but most importantly, just hang up and ignore the calls.\u201d<\/p>\n Fraudsters<\/mark> make threatening phone calls<\/mark> to get people to give out their information. The SSA<\/mark> says the tactics are \u201cincreasingly threatening.\u201d The caller threatens legal action<\/mark> if the person fails to give certain information. The agency does not threaten people or demand specific information over the phone. If a representative of the SSA<\/mark> calls, they will never threaten to arrest someone refusing to give out information.<\/p>\n Fraudsters<\/mark> use different ways to get personal information<\/mark>. Instead of threats, some use a friendly approach. They may offer to sell to the person services already provided by the SSA<\/mark> at no charge. The caller offers to send a new Social Security card, enroll family members in the program, or provide records of contributions and expected future income.<\/p>\n Scammers<\/mark> may use old school ways to create a scam. While most use phones or technology (email, text, etc.), some send mail to potential victims. One scheme involves direct mail aimed at seniors. The senior gets a letter in the mail offering an additional check. The senior fills out a form and will get an extra check if he pays a filing fee. The form asks for the member\u2019s Social Security number<\/mark> and payment. While the SSA<\/mark> will send mail, it usually regards a change in benefits. The letter will never request payment or personal information<\/mark>.<\/p>\n The SSA<\/mark> has listed a series of things to look out for when dealing with a potential scam.<\/p>\n If someone has tried to steal your personal information<\/mark> by pretending to be from a \u00a0government agency<\/mark> like the SSA<\/mark>, IRS<\/mark> or FBI<\/mark>, report it to the FTC<\/a>. Also, report suspicious activity<\/mark> to local law enforcement<\/mark> and the Social Security\u00a0<\/mark>Office of the\u00a0<\/mark>Inspector General<\/mark> at 1-800-269-0271 or online<\/a>. You may also call the OIG<\/mark> hotline<\/mark> (1-800-269-0271).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Social Security Administration (SSA) reports a large increase in phone scams. Senior citizens are targets for scammers claiming to be from the SSA. The reason for the call? To tell the senior his\/her Social Security number has been suspended. The caller states there has been criminal or fraudulent activity with the card. The number […more]<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,2],"tags":[31,29,30,27,28],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.creativejapan.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.creativejapan.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.creativejapan.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.creativejapan.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.creativejapan.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=257"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/www.creativejapan.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":355,"href":"http:\/\/www.creativejapan.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/257\/revisions\/355"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.creativejapan.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=257"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.creativejapan.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=257"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.creativejapan.net\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=257"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Social Security Scam<\/mark> Stats<\/h2>\n
SSA<\/mark> Warns Citizens<\/h2>\n
Threatening Calls<\/h2>\n
Friendly Service Phone Calls<\/mark><\/h2>\n
Social Security Fraud<\/mark> by Mail<\/h2>\n
Protect Yourself<\/h2>\n
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Staying Safe<\/h2>\n
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Reporting a Scam<\/h2>\n