Posted In: General Retirement
The Federal
Communication Commission and the United States Attorney General’s office has
issued a new warning concerning a growing wave of Social Security
Administration telephone scam calls. Ambassador Advisors wants to share this
information to help protect our clients and their families.
This newest scam involves
a fake SSA agent calling to tell you that your social security number has been
suspended because of suspicious activity that is connected to a serious crime.
In most instances, that serious crime involves drug trafficking linked to bank
accounts opened with your Social Security number.
That call may sound like this:
That call may sound like this:
Audio Player
In this latest version
of this fraudulent phone call, the caller claims to be an agent for the Social
Security Administration who is investigating multiple crimes committed
connected to accounts created using your social security number. The scariest
of these accusations is that these accounts have been connected to a major drug
cartel or many drugs that have been seized by the DEA.
These scammers are very
good at what they do. Scammers can create an atmosphere of fear over the phone
and quickly make you believe that you are facing prosecution. They then gather
some basic information from you and quickly become your friend, saying that you
only need to provide your social security number and bank account information
to avoid arrest. It all happens so fast that the average consumer often doesn’t
know what hit them.
These scams are not new,
but the frequency of them is on the rise.
This scam is reminiscent
of the IRS imposter wave that began around 2013 when scammers began
impersonating IRS officials warning people that they would not get a tax refund
unless they verified their social security number.
In 2017 close to 3200
people reported Social Security Administration imposter scams with a loss of
nearly $210,000. So far in 2019, there were over 76,000 reports filed regarding
Social Security imposters with losses close to 10 million dollars. The graph
below shows how this latest scam is on the rise as the IRS scam that was
popular a few years ago is in decline.
Here are some things you
should remember:
·
The real phone number to the Social Security Administration number
office is one 800-772-1213. Knowing this number may not protect you, as the
scammers have learned how to spoof the real SSA number on your caller ID.
·
Never give away your social security number or other personal
information unless you have made the call yourself.
·
Always feel free to call the Social Security Administration at
800-772-1213 to find out any information on your social security number.
·
Talk about this with your friends. You may learn new things, and
you will help others by making them aware of your experiences.
·
The Social Security Administration will never call to threaten
your benefits or tell you to wire money or send cash. Anyone who does this is a
scammer.
·
Never give any part of your Social Security number to anyone who
contacts you. This also goes for your bank account and any credit card number
that you may have.
Always trust your
instincts and err on the side of caution when dealing with personal
information. If you do receive a Social Security Administration scam call, hang
up immediately and dial the Social Security Administration at 800-772-1213 and
speak to someone in the fraud department. Whatever you do, never give out
personal information over the phone and always question anyone who asks for any
information that seems unnecessary. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
These criminals are targeting younger victims as well as seniors. Please
discuss this with your family so everyone knows what to look for if a scammer
calls.
If you have questions or
if you think you’ve been compromised, contact Ambassador Advisors today to
discuss next steps.
Any opinions expressed in this forum are not the opinion or view
of American Portfolios Financial Services, Inc. (APFS) or American Portfolios
Advisors, Inc.(APA) and have not been reviewed by the firm for completeness or
accuracy. These opinions are subject to change at any time without notice. Any comments
or postings are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute
an offer or a recommendation to buy or sell securities or other financial
instruments. Readers should conduct their own review and exercise judgment
prior to investing. Investments are not guaranteed, involve risk and may result
in a loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
Investments are not suitable for all types of investors. To the extent
that this material concerns tax matters, it is not intended or written to be
used, and cannot be used, by a taxpayer for the purposes of avoiding penalties
that may be imposed by law. Each tax payer should seek tax, legal or accounting
advice from a tax professional based on his/her individual circumstances.
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