Protect Yourself Against Fraud and Help “Slam the Scam”
The Board partnered with SSA and OIG to raise awareness of government imposter scams and help the public protect themselves from fraud. The National “Slam the Scam” Day was designated by Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General to raise awareness of government imposter scams, which continue to spread across the United States. The 5th annual Slam the Scam Day was Thursday, March 7, 2024, as part of National Consumer Protection Week. Our efforts are to educate the public to be on the lookout for fake calls, texts, emails, messages on social media, or letters in the mail.
Scammers are Impersonating Government Employees
There are several ongoing government impersonation scams. Scammers pretend to be from an agency you know, say there’s a problem, pressure you to act immediately, and tell you to pay in a specific way. They include these scenarios:
- “We’re from SSA, and your benefits will end unless you pay.”
- “We’re from the IRS, and you owe taxes.”
- “We need you to give your Medicare number to get a new card.”
Hang Up or Ignore Suspicious Calls, Texts, or Emails
Government employees will never threaten you or demand immediate payment. They may even threaten you’ll be arrested if you don’t pay. If you receive a suspicious call:
- Hang up
- Don’t believe them
- Don’t trust your caller ID
- Don’t give them money
- Don’t give them personal information
Report Scams to the Appropriate Agency
If you receive a suspicious call, text, or email, ignore it, and report it!
- If it mentions Social Security, report it to ssa.gov/report.
- If it is a different government imposter scam, report it to ftc.gov.
Additional Resources
- Social Security Administration, “Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams.”
- Federal Trade Commission, “How to Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam.”
- Federal Trade Commission, “What to Do if You Were Scammed.”