Please be advised that if you receive a call from someone claiming to be a Social Security employee, it may be a fraudulent scam. Someone attempting to phish information out of you, such as your social security number (SSN). Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General, Gale Stallworth Stone, has issued two scam alerts for SSA benefits recipients.
SSA Is Not On the Other End
The Inspector General would like all recipients to be vigilantly cautious about anyone who calls claiming to be employed by the administration. With one scammer luring people to divulge personal information by enticing them with a 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of their Social Security benefits. Calling from a "323" area code, according to Forbes, the imposter attempts to get victims to verify their personal information, including:
- Name
- Date of Birth
- Parents’ Name
- Social Security Number
- Any Other Personal Information
Protecting Yourself from Fraud
You can learn how to protect yourself and your clients, here. But below you will find three tips from the Inspector General:
- Understand the threats. Be wary of scammers who may impersonate government officials or seek advance payment for services.
- Exercise caution. In general, no government agency or reputable company will solicit your personal information over the phone or by email, or request an advance fee.
- Secure your information. Store your Social Security number in a safe location — don’t carry it with you. Shred documents that include your personal information.
Moving forward...
If you live in the Orange County area of California and you believe you might have responded to a scam call regarding your Social Security information, please take the time to contact Attorney Stephanie Merritt Driscoll of Driscoll Law Corporation. We may be able to assist you in reaching out to the appropriate Social Security Administration department to alert the SSA of a possible scam.
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