The Social Security Administration and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have partnered together to raise public awareness of Social Security imposter scams on the third annual “Slam the Scam” Day, March 10.

In these Social Security scams, the scammer(s) attempt to mislead victims into making cash or gift card payments to fix fraudulent Social Security number problems or to avoid arrest.  For the past several years, these ongoing government imposter fraud scams have continued to be the most common government imposter scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission.

There are many versions of this fraud scheme and the criminals who run them are sophisticated.  Scammers may call or email saying they are from Social Security and that the person’s Social Security number is suspended or was used in a crime.  The caller identification may be spoofed to appear as a legitimate government number.  They may text or email fake documents in attempts to coerce people to comply with their demands.  Another common tactic is citing “badge numbers.”  In the latest development involving Social Security-related scams, criminals are using fraudulent Social Security letterhead to target individuals for money or personal information.

Social Security will never tell you that your Social Security number is suspended, contact you to demand an immediate payment, threaten you with arrest, ask for your credit or debit card numbers over the phone, ask for gift cards or cash, or promise a Social Security benefit approval or increase in exchange for information or money.  Social Security Inspector General Gail Ennis says the best way to deter these scammers is to simply ignore their efforts. “As we continue working with our law enforcement partners and partners from the private sector to combat these sinister schemes, I urge consumers to simply hang up the phone, or delete suspicious texts and emails, without responding to the scammers.”

Social Security employees do occasionally contact the public by telephone for business purposes. Typically, these calls are to people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and requires an update to their record, or someone who has requested a phone call from the agency. If there is a problem with a person’s Social Security number or record, Social Security will typically mail a letter.

To report a scam attempt, go to oig.ssa.gov. For more information, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/scam  and www.socialsecurity.gov/antifraudfacts/.