Don’t Be Misled By False Medicare Or Social Security Ads

Jim Borland, the Social Security Administration’s acting deputy commissioner for communications offers the below information:

Online and otherwise, there’s a lot of information out there, and sometimes it’s difficult to tell what sources are credible. With millions of people relying on Social Security, scammers target audiences who are looking for program and benefit information.

The law that addresses misleading Social Security and Medicare advertising prohibits people or non-government businesses from using words or emblems that mislead others. Their advertising can’t lead people to believe that they represent, are somehow affiliated with, or endorsed or approved by Social Security or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Medicare).

People are often misled by advertisers who use the terms “Social Security” or “Medicare.” Often, these companies offer Social Security services for a fee, even though the same services are available directly from Social Security free of charge. These services include getting:

A corrected Social Security card showing a person’s married name;

§  A Social Security card to replace a lost card; 

§  A Social Security Statement; and§   

§  A Social Security number for a child.

If you receive misleading information about Social Security, send the complete ad, including the envelope, to:

Office of the Inspector General Fraud Hotline
Social Security Administration
P.O. Box 17768
Baltimore, MD 21235

You can learn more about how we combat fraudulent advertisers by reading our publication What You Need to Know About Misleading Advertising. 

Social Security Administration Fraud Alert: Is That Phone Call From Us?

Jim Borland, the Social Security Administration’s Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications, offers the below information:

It’s the morning of a busy day at home and you get a call from an unknown number. You answer only to find yourself on the receiving end of a threatening message saying your Social Security benefits will stop immediately unless you provide your personal information. It happens every day to thousands of Americans.  And it’s not Social Security calling.

Scammers have many ways to lure their victims into providing information and then stealing their identities. Sometimes they call under a guise of helping you complete a disability application. Protecting your information is an important part of Social Security’s mission to secure today and tomorrow. Any request from our agency will come to you as a written notice first. If you do receive a call from one of our representatives, they will provide you with a telephone number and extension.

The Acting Inspector General for Social Security, Gail Stallworth Stone, urges everyone to stay vigilant of impersonation schemes and to not be afraid to hang up.

You must always remember that you’re in control. Also remember that Social Security will never do any of the following:

Call you to demand an immediate payment;

Demand that you pay a debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe;

Require a specific means of payment, such as requiring you to pay with a prepaid debit card;

Ask you for your personal information or credit or debit card numbers over the phone; or

Threaten you with arrest or deportation.

If you receive one of these scam calls or emails, do not provide them with any information. You should:

Hang up immediately;

For Social Security impersonations, contact Social Security’s Office of Inspector General at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.

If you receive a notice from Social Security, please use the telephone numbers provided in the notice sent to you. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 or visit socialsecurity.gov for how to contact Social Security.

Remember that scammers try to stay a step ahead of the curve. You can do the same by protecting your information.