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Share this information with friends and family.Don’t be embarrassed to report if you shared personal financial information or suffered a financial loss.Ask someone you trust for advice before making any large purchase or financial decision.If you receive a questionable call, hang up, and report the call to our Office of the Inspector General.Caller ID or documents sent by email may look official but they are not. Scammers pretending they’re from us or another government agency.Any call asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or by mailing cash.A caller saying there is a problem with your SSN or account.Congress has made changes to the law in the past and can do so at any time. Your estimated benefits are based on current law. Ask for personal details or banking information to give you a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).ĭon’t be fooled! You should look out for: have enough credits when you reach age 65, you may contact a local Social Security office to learn whether you are eligible to buy Medicare coverage.Ask for gift card numbers over the phone or to wire or mail cash.Require payment by cash, gift card, pre-paid debit card, internet currency, or wire transfer.We may call you in some situations, but will never: Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money. They often demand payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or mailing cash. Scammers may threaten arrest or other legal action, or may offer to increase benefits, protect assets, or resolve identity theft. The latest scam trick of using robocalls or live callers has increased.įraudsters pretend to be government employees and claim there is identity theft or another problem with one’s Social Security number (SSN), account, or benefits. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. If there is a problem, we will mail you a letter.