Better Business Bureau’s Scam Tracker has seen a distinct rise in phony Social Security calls hitting Idaho. BBB's Rebecca Barr says their office has also received numerous calls and visitors who are concerned.
Scammers are using a variety of tactics to try and scare consumers into giving them personal information, like their Social Security numbers. Barr says the scammers often claim a Social Security number has expired or will be revoked, then make threats of jail time or legal action if the consumer doesn’t respond.
Barr listed these Scam Tracker reports from Idaho in January 2019:
- “I received a voicemail claiming that there were numerous security alerts on my SSN that have been identified as illegal activities and they were going to suspend my SSN.”
- “I was told to call a number and talk to someone about my Social Security number before it would become unusable.”
- "They told me the purpose of this call is regarding enforcement action, which has been executed by the U.S. Treasury against your SSN. Ignoring this would be an intentional attempt to avoid initial appearances before the magistrate judge or exempt jury for a federal criminal offense. So, before this matter goes to federal claims court house or you get arrested, kindly call us back on our number."
Barr says your Social Security number is not about to be suspended.
"You don’t have to verify your number to anyone who calls out of the blue. And your bank accounts are not about to be seized. The Social Security Administration will not threaten you. Real SSA employees will never threaten your benefits in exchange for money. They also won’t promise to increase your benefits in exchange for information. If they do, it’s a scam," Barr said.
For more information and resources visit www.bbb.org.
