On National Slam the Scam Day and throughout the year, SSA offers you the tools to recognize Social Security-related scams and stop scammers from stealing your money and personal information. Be on the lookout for fake calls, texts, emails, websites, messages on social media, or letters in the mail. Listed below are red flags; you can trust that Social Security will never:
- Threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don’t agree to pay money immediately.
- Suspend your Social Security number.
- Claim to need personal information or payment to activate a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) or other benefit increase.
- Pressure you to take immediate action, including sharing personal information.
- Ask you to pay with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or by mailing cash.
- Threaten to seize your bank account.
- Offer to move your money to a “protected” bank account.
- Demand secrecy.
- Direct message you on social media.
- More info: Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams | SSA
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