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More people reporting Social Security scam calls

Posted at 11:41 AM, Dec 28, 2018
and last updated 2018-12-28 14:41:49-05

Be on the lookout for scammers pretending to be from the Social Security Administration. They’re out to get your Social Security number or money.

So far this year, more than 35,000 people have reported the scam, compared to just over 3,000 last year.

The scammers will often say your Social Security number is about to be suspended because of suspicious activity, but don’t fall for this.

Scam calls increase around the holidays

Your Social Security number will never be suspended and you do not have to verify your number to anyone who calls.

Additionally, the Social Security Administration will never call to threaten your benefits or tell you to wire money or send cash.

If you receive a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from the SSA, you should report that information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at https://oig.ssa.gov/report.

To report phone scams, you can also contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP or ftc.gov/complaint.

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