The message asks you to call them back or they will take “legal action” against you. When you call, they will try to trick you into “verifying” or “verifying” your Social Security number. Never give out your Social Security number over the phone, not even the last four digits. HOUSTON — The coronavirus pandemic has paralyzed many surgeries, but there`s actually one we all wanted to make go away: those fraudulent calls that supposedly came from the Social Security Administration. However, like a stubborn weed, they keep coming back. Calls decreased from March to the end of July, but in recent weeks people have started to pick them up. The OCC may take enforcement action for violations of any law, rule or regulation, final orders or conditions imposed in writing; unsafe or unhealthy practices; and breach of fiduciary duty by affiliated parties (IBPs). If there is a problem, we will send you a letter. In general, we will only contact you if you have requested an appeal or have ongoing business with us.
The latest scam trick in using robocalls or live calls has increased. The scammers pretend to be government employees and claim that there is identity theft or some other problem with the Social Security Number (SSN), account or benefits. The Social Security Administration will never call you or threaten you with arrest or other legal action. You should simply hang up the phone on anyone who makes these statements. If you are concerned that a call you have received may be legitimate, you can call this office directly. The SSA number is 1-800-772-1213. We don`t edit comments to remove offensive content, so please make sure your comment doesn`t contain any of the above. Comments published on this blog become in the public domain. To protect your privacy and the privacy of others, please do not provide personal information. The opinions in the comments that appear on this blog belong to the people who expressed them. They are not owned by the Federal Trade Commission and do not represent its views.
Oh, and your caller ID often shows the real SSA phone number (1-800-772-1213) when those scammers call – but they fake that number. This is not the real SSA call. We have the right to take enforcement action against: Fraudsters say your Social Security Number (SSN) has been suspended due to suspicious activity or because it has been involved in a crime. Sometimes the scammer wants you to confirm your Social Security number to reactivate it. Sometimes it says your bank account will be seized – but it will tell you what to do to keep it safe. (Often this means putting your money on gift cards and giving it the codes – which of course means your money is gone.) Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise you a benefit in exchange for personal information or money. 3. Spelling and grammatical errors: If the caller follows emails containing false letters or reports that appear to be from the SSA or the SSA Office of the Inspector General, investigate carefully. Letters may use government jargon or letterhead that sounds official to convince victims, but they may also contain spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. The purpose of this blog and its comments section is to inform readers about the activities of the Federal Trade Commission and to share information that will help them avoid, report, and recover from fraud, fraud, and bad business practices.
We welcome your thoughts, ideas and concerns, and we welcome your feedback. But remember, this is a moderated blog. We review all comments before they are posted, and we will not post comments that do not comply with our comment policies. We expect commenters to treat each other and blog authors with respect. Fraudsters may threaten arrest or other legal action or offer to increase benefits, protect their property or solve identity theft. They often require payment by gift cards, bank transfers, prepaid debit cards, internet currency or cash. The number one phone fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission is the threat that your Social Security number will be suspended or your benefits will end. Robocalls look like this: “There is a lawsuit on your Social Security number for criminal activity, so if you receive this message, please return to our 516 number as soon as possible.
before taking legal action. 1. Threat of arrest or prosecution: If you receive a threatening call claiming that there is a problem with your Social Security number or benefits, it is a scam. The Social Security Administration (SSA) will never threaten you with arrest or other legal action if you don`t immediately pay a fine or fees. “All your benefits will be cancelled pending further releases,” he said in another appeal. “If you think it`s due to an error, you can contact the legal department… In July, we reported an increase in fraud attempts to ask Social Security recipients to pay for the reactivation, protection, or reinstatement of their benefits. Currently, Social Security scams are the most frequently reported type of fraud and fraud, and according to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) of the Social Security Administration, these scams continue to grow. The OIG now warns the public that fraudsters make phone calls and then tracks emails with forged documents to trick people into paying. You may have received one of these calls — either a recorded voice or someone falsely pretending to be a government employee, warning you of a problem with your Social Security number, account, or benefits, including identity theft. The caller may threaten arrest or other legal action or offer to increase benefits, protect your assets, or repair identity theft if you make the payment using a gift card, cash, bank transfer, internet currency such as Bitcoin or a prepaid debit card.
The FTC recommended being wary of any call from a government agency asking for money or information, and never trusting caller ID, which may be false. The Inspector General`s Office of Social Insurance has established a complaint form to collect information on appeals. You can also call the same office at 1-800-269-0271. You want to know things like the number the scammers asked you to call and how the caller identified himself. When these details are collected from thousands or millions of people, they can help investigators trace crimes back to the thieves. Scammers convince frightened victims to send money via bank transfer or gift card. The downside is that it is supposed to “reactivate” or “delete” a social security number from so-called “criminal activity.” Note: Enforcement actions taken against government-chartered savings banks (savings banks) prior to July 21, 2011 are only available in the OTS Enforcement Orders (XLS) archive. Information on the data fields used in this table can be found in the definitions of the enforceable title (PDF). “There are enforcement actions filed on your Social Security number that involve fraudulent activity,” the pre-recorded message said as a passerby answered his phone. Visit these websites to learn more about enforcement actions against financial institutions overseen by other government agencies: Fraudsters are aware that people are continuing their attempts, so they find new ways to convince Social Security recipients that their scams are legitimate.
Here`s what to look for to protect yourself and others from Social Security fraud. You have the choice to leave or not a comment. If you do, you will need to create a username, otherwise we will not publish your comment. The Federal Trade Commission Act authorizes this collection of information for the purpose of managing online comments. Comments and usernames are part of the Federal Trade Commission`s (FTC) public registration system, and usernames are also part of the FTC`s computer registration system. We may regularly use these records as described in the FTC Privacy Act System Instructions. For more information about how the FTC handles the information we collect, please see our Privacy Statement. 2. Emails or SMS containing personal data: If there is a legitimate issue with your social security number or record, the SSA will send you a letter to inform you of any issues. Copyright 2020 by KPRC Click2Houston – All rights reserved. These include the name of the banking organization; individual (if applicable); the number of the implementing measure; Your mailing address, fax number and telephone number; and how you wish to receive the document (mail, fax or collection).
In response to I constantly receive calls from Skylica Policy: Bank Enforcement Actions and Related Matters (PDF) MORE INFORMATION FROM THE FTC: Social Security is not trying to claim your benefits If you believe you have been a victim of Social Security fraud, report it immediately to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in FTC.gov/complaint and the SSA Inspector General`s Office of Fraud in oig.ssa.gov. Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Currency Disclosure Agent Controller Suite 3E-218 Mail Stop 6W-11 Washington, DC 20219 Or you might be led to think that your Social Security number is disappearing as the calls claim: “In case we haven`t heard from you, your social media will be permanently blocked.” Passionate consumer advocate, mother of 3, addicted to coffee, lacquer and pastries. We`ve worked with the SSA and FTC to create a fraud prevention placemat to help you detect and prevent Social Security scams. You can order free copies of the placemat, in English and Spanish, to use during a meal or to share with friends and family. Threatening calls that make you believe your Social Security number and benefits are at risk are on the rise. An ABC7 eyewitness news producer received a dozen in a single day. To obtain a paper copy of an order, agreement or direction, you can submit an application electronically on the OCC`s FOIA online website.