The Administration is encouraging others to spread the word about Social Security-related scams and how to avoid them. Keller & Keller is happy to cooperate and provide this list of red flags. In the spirit of spreading the word, please share this information with friends and loved ones who may be particularly vulnerable to these scams, especially the elderly and those with mental disabilities who may be receiving Social Security benefits. But of course, keep in mind that anyone could be scammed. Watch out for these red flags:
Red Flag #1 – Immediacy
Scammers will always want you to act fast. You will likely be able to hear this in their tone of voice and manner of speaking. They may speak rapidly and loudly. They may interrupt you. Scammers will portray an urgency and tell you that if something is not done immediately you will face severe consequences. This is probably the biggest indicator of a scam, especially one involving Social Security.
For better or worse, things do not tend to move quickly with Social Security. The Administration will give you a reasonable amount of time to respond to its inquiries and requests for action. During this time, you can consider the request that is supposedly coming from Social Security and talk it over with someone you trust. You can even call a lawyer. If you have any doubts about whether you are actually talking to someone from Social Security, you can ask if you can call them back to be sure it’s them. Then, call the publicly listed number for the Social Security office. This way, you know who you are talking to. Don’t worry about offending the person who called. Social Security employees know how important it is to avoid scams and would always prefer that its customers take a “better safe than sorry” approach.
Red Flag #2 – Not Accepting Standard Methods of Payment
The Social Security administration is not going to want you to pay them with a gift card or prepaid debit card. They do not accept Bitcoin or any kind of cryptocurrency. They will not ask for a wire transfer or ask you to mail cash.
If you are asked for payment and are told that a personal check will not be accepted, this is absolutely a red flag. Scammers want to use methods of payment that are untraceable and do not allow you to get a refund.
Red Flag #3 – Strange Websites or E-mail Addresses
In general, you should scrutinize any e-mail you receive from someone you don’t know – especially if they are asking for money. Scroll over the name of the sender to see the e-mail actual address. If the suffix (the part of the address following the @ symbol) is not an official site for the organization the sender is supposedly associated with, this is a major red flag. Poor spelling or grammar also warrant suspicion.
All Social Security websites will use ssa.gov. It’s possible for a scammer to obtain a website domain name which may seem to indicate that it is an official Social Security site but is actually fraudulent. Merely having “Social Security” in the domain name does not make the website official.
Social Security representatives will not send photos of federal credentials or badges. An e-mail with anything like this is suspicious. Again, you can look up the phone number listed for a Social Security office and call that number if you have any doubts. Or even go into a Social Security office. Just do not feel rushed and fail to take the necessary steps to verify the authenticity of any communication purporting to be from Social Security.
Red Flag #4 – Scary Threats
Scammers thrive on creating anxiety in their victims which will make the victims more likely to take the hurried steps the scammers demand. They may even threaten arrest if someone does not take immediate action like mailing them a gift card or providing personal information. Do not rush. If anyone threatens you with arrest, you have every right to contact a lawyer.
And use your common sense. While defrauding the Social Security administration is indeed punishable, Social Security does not go about arresting people for things like forgetting to return forms or respond to phone calls. Absent criminal activity, they cannot arrest someone who owes them money. Any threat of arrest would be highly likely to be a scam attempt and would justify a call to a lawyer.
Red Flag #5 – Demand for Secrecy
Scammers do not want you to contact someone you trust, a lawyer, or the Social Security Administration when they are trying to get money or personal information from you. Therefore, they may come up with some reason why their demands need to be kept secret. Social Security will not discourage you from seeking guidance from a professional, friend, or family member.
Finally, beware of how technology may help scammers. They may have used online sources to obtain some of your personal information, including names of relatives, to make themselves seem more legitimate. Artificial intelligence may now be readily available to scammers which can help them impersonate others with voice or even video.
You can report fraud at ReportFraud.ftc.gov or ssa.gov/scam. But most importantly, don’t rush, seek guidance from others, and use your common sense.
