Social Security Administration: Beware Of Scammers Pretending To Be Social Security

Jim Boland, the Social Security Administration's acting deputy commissioner for communications, offers the below warning.

In the digital age, frauds and scams are an unfortunate part of doing business online. During the holiday season, Social Security has traditionally seen a spike in phishing scams, and we want to protect you as best we can.

We urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your Social Security Number (SSN) or bank account information to unknown individuals over the phone or internet. If you receive a call and aren’t expecting one, you must be extra careful. You can always get the caller’s information, hang up, and — if you do need more clarification — contact the official phone number of the business or agency that the caller claims to represent. Never reveal personal data to a stranger who called you.

Please take note; there’s a scam going around right now. You might receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security or another agency. Calls can even display the 1-800-772-1213, Social Security’s national customer service number, as the incoming number on your caller ID. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.

Callers sometimes state that your Social Security number is at risk of being deactivated or deleted. The caller then asks you to provide a phone number to resolve the issue. People should be aware the scheme’s details may vary; however, you should avoid engaging with the caller or calling the number provided, as the caller might attempt to acquire personal information.

Social Security employees occasionally contact people by telephone for customer-service purposes. In only a few special situations, such as when you have business pending with us, a Social Security employee may request the person confirm personal information over the phone.

Social Security employees will never threaten you or promise a Social Security benefit approval or increase in exchange for information. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, please report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online.

Remember, only call official phone numbers and use secured websites of the agencies and businesses you know are correct. Protecting your information is an important part of Social Security’s mission to secure today and tomorrow.

FBI: Wave Of Government Impersonation Scammers Target Unaware Public - Federal Agencies Do Not Threaten Individuals or Demand Immediate Payment

The FBI released the below information:

Don’t be fooled by scammers pretending to be from the FBI, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), U.S. Marshals Service, or any other federal agency.

Law enforcement officials are aware of a recent wave of scams where callers identify themselves as a federal officer and typically instruct people to wire “settlement” money to avoid arrest. These phone calls are fraudulent. Federal agencies do not call or e-mail individuals threatening them to send money.

There are many versions of this government impersonation scam, but they are all variations of the same tactic. The type of scam has been around for years and targets people across the nation.

The recent uptick in scams may coincide with the tax season. It presents an opportunity to impersonate IRS agents and is a time when individuals and households may be more cognizant of federal authority, possibly making them more sensitive to attempts to appeal to their law-abiding sensitivities.

FBI Impersonation

Scams impersonating the FBI have been around for years and continue today—sometimes citing current FBI Director James Comey or a local field office special agent in charge. The FBI first warned the public in 2008 that “the fraudulent e-mails give the appearance of legitimacy due to the usage of pictures of the FBI Director, seal, letterhead, and/or banners.”

In addition, there have been numerous reports of scammers using Caller ID to reflect actual telephone numbers of FBI Field Offices or their satellite offices in an effort to bolster their scams.

IRS Impersonation

Earlier this month, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) warned thatcriminals continue to impersonate IRS agents, resulting in reports of more than one million fraudulent contacts since October 2013 and more than 5,500 victims who have collectively lost approximately $29 million.

U.S. Marshals Impersonation and Jury Service Scam

Earlier this week, the United States Courts warned that scammers are now more sophisticated, using official-sounding call centers and citing designated court hearing times. The U.S. Marshals Service has also received complaints of specific officer names or badge numbers being cited by scammers.

If you have been targeted by government-impersonating scammers, the sooner you report it, the better are the chances that law enforcement will be successful in their investigation. Here’s how to report specific scam attempts:

• FBI Impersonation: Call your local FBI field office; in Georgia, the Atlanta Division: 404-679-9000

• IRS Impersonation: Fill out the “IRS Impersonation scam” form on TIGTA’s website
• Marshal Impersonation: Call your local U.S. Marshals Service field office

In addition, all types of fraud schemes and scams can always be reported to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. The following information is helpful to report:

• Header information from e-mail messages;
• Identifiers for the perpetrator (e.g., name, Web site, bank account, e-mail addresses);
• Details on how, why, and when you believe you were defrauded;
• Actual and attempted loss amounts;
• Details about the government impersonation; and
• Other relevant information you believe is necessary to support your complaint.

Filing a complaint through IC3’s website allows analysts from the FBI to identify leads and patterns from the hundreds of complaints that are received daily. The sheer volume of complaints allows that information to come into view among disparate pieces, which can lead to stronger cases and help zero in on the major sources of criminal activity. The IC3 then refers the complaints, along with their analyses, to the relevant law enforcement agency for follow-up.

The public can learn about other common scams by visiting http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/frauds-from-a-to-z and learn about ways to reduce their risk of being scammed: http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud/Internet_fraud.