The New York State Division of Consumer Protection has issued a
consumer alert regarding scammers impersonating employees from the
Social Security Administration to steal personal information from
unsuspecting victims.
In most cases, the caller requests personal information such as a
Social Security Number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, and/or bank
account information. As an excuse to ask for the information, the
impersonator may claim that the Social Security Administration (SSA) “computers are down," or they may discuss enrollment in a Medicare prescription drug program.
“Scam artists are using official-sounding calls to try and scare
individuals into sharing their personal information,” said New York
State Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, who oversees the Division of
Consumer Protection. “Government agencies do not typically call people
with little or no warning asking for sensitive information or trying to
get a payment over the phone. We urge New Yorkers: Do not give any
sensitive information to unsolicited callers. Do not play their game.”
Consumers should not provide any information to these individuals as
the purpose of the call is to steal identities and/or money from
unsuspecting victims.
The scam employs two methodologies: live individuals posing as SSA
employees or automated recordings stating, “Your Social Security Number
has been ‘suspended’ for suspicion of illegal activity. Call this number
immediately.”
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection, the Federal Trade
Commission and Social Security Administration warn consumers to be
suspicious of any calls requesting personal information and to take note
of the following tips:
Confirm the caller. If an individual wants to check if there are any
issues related to a Social Security Number, call the Social Security
Administration directly at 1-800-772-1213 or go online at ssa.gov.
Don’t give the caller any information. Consumers should never give
out or confirm sensitive information, including bank account, credit
card, or Social Security Numbers over the phone unless they are
completely sure they know who they are dealing with. If an individual
gets such a call and is concerned, they should hang up and contact the
government agency or company they are claiming to call from.
Don’t trust a name or number. Con artists will use official sounding
names to try to seem legitimate. To make their call seem proper,
scammers use technology to “spoof” their area code and phone number, so
while it may seem to a consumer that they are getting a call from the
Social Security Agency in Washington, DC, the call could very well be
from anywhere in the world.
Government agencies do not ask for payment via gift cards. Gift
cards allow scammers to get money without trace. Once an individual
gives up a gift card number, the scam artist can take the full value
without anyone knowing who they are. If someone on the phone asks an
individual to buy a gift card and call them back with the number, it is
likely a scam.
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection investigates Do
Not Call violations and provides voluntary mediation between a consumer
and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a
resolution on their own.
The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220
is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State
Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection.
Source: The New York State Division of Consumer Protection
