ATTORNEY GENERAL PAXTON WARNS AGAINST SOCIAL SECURITY SCAMS

  

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton recently warned citizens to be wary of Social Security scams.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has received a large number of complaints from consumers targeted by the Social Security Scam.

Scammers tell the victim that their Social Security number has been used in a crime, and they must pay a fee to reactivate it or to get a new number. In other instances, people are told their bank accounts have been seized and they should transfer their money to the caller for safe keeping, otherwise they could lose their Social Security benefits.

Paxton’s Consumer Protection Division reminds people that the Social Security Administration (SSA) will never call and ask for someone’s Social Security number, request money, or threaten someone’s benefits.

The FTC reminds you to never give out your Social Security number to anyone who contacts you, confirm your last four digits, or give out a bank account or credit card number to anyone who contacts you asking for it.

In addition, the FTC says to not be fooled by caller ID that shows the SSA’s real phone number, 1-800-772-1213. The FTC also reminds people that anyone that calls and tells you to wire money, pay with a gift card or send cash is a scammer, no matter who they say they are.

If you get an unwanted call from someone claiming to be from the SSA, get off the phone, then call the real SSA. If you’ve detected a scam, file an online complaint with the FTC at www.ftc.gov/complaint, or with the attorney general’s office at https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/cpd/file-a-consumer-complaint.