Protecting Yourself from Government Impersonation Scams
I’m hearing more about telephone scams where the scammer is pretending to be a government employee. Scammers will try to scare and trick people into giving them their personal information and money. The scammers may threaten victims or their families and may demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or other legal action.
What should I do if I think a scammer is trying to contact me?
I suggest that my clients not answer calls from any numbers they don’t recognize. Wait for the caller to leave a message. Many times you can delete the message because it’s an obvious sales pitch.
If they claim to be from Social Security, make a note of the matter they address, then call Social Security directly at 800-772-1213 to check it out. Do not return the call to any number left on your voice mail. By dialing directly into Social Security, you can be confident you are truly speaking with the U.S. Social Security Administration. You can ask them about the status of your account and any matter mentioned in the voice mail message.
What if I answer the call and it’s a Social Security scam?
1. Hang up.
2. Do not give them money or personal information.
3. Report the scam at OIG.SSA.GOV.
Social Security may call you in some situations but will never:
- Threaten you
- Suspend your Social Security number
- Demand immediate payment from you
- Require payment by cash, gift card, pre-paid debit card or wire transfer
- Ask for gift card numbers over the phone or to wire or mail cash
How can I tell that it’s not Social Security calling me?
- The call or email says there is a problem with your Social Security Number or account.Do notreply to any message. Call Social Security directly at 800-772-1213. This way you are sure you have reached the legitimate Social Security Administration.
- Someone is asking you to pay a fine or debt with retail gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or by mailing cash. None of these are routine and legitimate payment methods. Call Social Security to verify.
- Scammers pretend they’re from Social Security or another government agency. Caller ID or documents sent by email may look official, but they are not. Always call Social Security directly at 800-772-1213 to verify any matters that come to you via phone message or e-mail.
Callers threaten you with arrest or other legal action. The Social Security Administration does not operate this way. Always call Social Security directly at 800-772-1213 to verify.
If you receive a questionable call, hang up and report it at oig.ssa.gov
Don’t be embarrassed to report if you shared personal information or suffered a financial loss. The quicker you seek help, the faster you can resolve the matter.
Learn more at oig.ssa.gov/scam
Many of my clients depend on Social Security income as an important part of their retirement income plan. As an advisor, I work in our clients’ best interest to help my clients maximize the Social Security benefits to which they are entitled. Do not let a scammer cheat you out of benefits you have earned.
Rich is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. I have extensive experience, training and expertise to advise families on all aspects of their financial life. I provide recommendations based on your financial goals and needs. And yes, I'm still taking on a few great families to be part of my financial planning practice.
If this article has you thinking about your own circumstances, contact my office. I am always happy to meet with people who are working on their retirement plans.
Dunncreek Advisors does not provide legal or tax advice, nor is this article intended to do so.
Frequently Asked Questions
1) How can I quickly tell if a “Social Security” call is a scam?
If the caller creates urgency or fear (“you’ll be arrested,” “your number will be suspended,” “pay immediately”), treat it as a red flag. Also be suspicious if they request unusual payment methods such as gift cards, wire transfers, pre-paid debit cards, or mailing cash. When in doubt, hang up and verify by calling Social Security directly at 800-772-1213.
2) What should I do if I answered the phone and shared some information?
End the call immediately and don’t provide more details or send any money. Then take action quickly:
- Report the incident to the Social Security Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.
- If you shared sensitive personal or financial information, consider placing a fraud alert and monitoring your accounts.
- If money was sent, contact your bank or card provider right away—speed matters.
3) Why shouldn’t I call back the number left in a voicemail or email?
Scammers often use “spoofed” caller ID or leave callback numbers that sound official but route directly to the fraudster. The safest approach is to use a trusted number you look up independently (not the number provided in the message). If the caller claims to be from Social Security, contact the agency directly at 800-772-1213 to confirm whether there’s any legitimate issue.