INDIANAPOLIS-- If you get a call that looks like it’s coming from the Social Security Administration, think again.
The Federal Trade Commission issued a warning Monday that scammers are spoofing the administration’s 1-800-772-1213 customer service number.
The scammers then pose as federal agents and try to get your personal information.
“The caller says he works for the Social Security Administration and needs your personal information – like your Social Security number – to increase your benefits payments,” said Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, FTC attorney. “But it’s not really the Social Security Administration calling. Yes, it is the SSA’s real phone number, but the scammers on the phone are spoofing the number to make the call look real.”
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Call 6 Investigates recommends not picking up the phone for any number you don’t recognize.
The FTC says the best thing you can do is hang up if you get a call from the Social Security Administration.
• SSA will not threaten you. Real SSA employees will never threaten you to get personal information. They also won’t promise to increase your benefits in exchange for information. If they do, it’s a scam.
• If you have any doubt, hang up and call SSA directly. Call 1-800-772-1213 – that really is the phone number for the Social Security Administration. If you dial that number, you know who you’re getting. But remember that you can’t trust caller ID. If a call comes in from that number, you can’t be sure it’s really SSA calling.
• If you get a spoofed call, report it. If someone calls, claiming to be from SSA and asking for information like your Social Security number, report it to SSA’s Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or https://oig.ssa.gov/report. You can also report these calls to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
