Slam the Scam Day: Protect Yourself from Social Security and Government Imposter Scams

March 6, 2025, marks Slam the Scam Day, a national initiative to raise awareness about the growing threat of Social Security and other government imposter scams. These scams are designed to steal your personal information and money by pretending to be from legitimate government agencies. Here’s what you need to know to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Understanding Social Security Scams

Social Security scams are one of the most common types of fraud. Scammers often impersonate officials from the Social Security Administration (SSA) to trick you into providing your Social Security number (SSN) or other personal information. They may contact you via phone calls, emails, texts, or social media messages, claiming there is an issue with your SSN or benefits

Here are some common tactics they use:

• Threatening legal action: Scammers may claim you will be arrested or face legal consequences if you do not provide your SSN or make a payment immediately.

• Suspending your SSN: They might say your SSN has been suspended due to suspicious activity and needs to be reactivated.

• Offering benefit increases: Fraudsters may promise to increase your benefits if you provide personal information or make a payment.

To avoid falling victim to these scams, remember that the SSA will never threaten you with arrest, suspend your SSN, or ask for payment via gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency

Recognizing Government Imposter Scams

Government imposter scams involve criminals pretending to be from various government agencies, such as the IRS, Medicare, or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). These scammers use similar tactics to Social Security scammers, including:

• Claiming you owe money: They might say you owe taxes or other fees and threaten legal action if you do not pay immediately.

• Promising government benefits: Scammers may offer to help you obtain government benefits or services in exchange for personal information or payment.

• Using official-sounding language: They often provide fake employee ID numbers or use spoofed caller IDs to appear legitimate

To protect yourself, never wire money, use gift cards, or provide personal information to someone claiming to be from a government agency. If you receive a suspicious call or message, hang up and contact the agency directly using a verified phone number

Reporting Scams

If you encounter a Social Security or government imposter scam, report it immediately. You can file a report with the SSA Office of the Inspector General, the FTC, or your local authorities

By reporting these scams, you help protect others from falling victim to fraud.

On Slam the Scam Day, take the time to educate yourself and your loved ones about these scams. Stay vigilant and remember that government agencies will never ask for personal information or payment in the ways scammers do. Together, we can slam the scam and keep our communities safe. Visit ssa.gov/scam for more information.

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