The IRS has issued a consumer alert regarding a new phone scam in which a recording pretends to be calling from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The recording threatens to suspend your social security number if you do not respond. The scammers are so advanced that the caller ID can sometimes display the Social Security Advisory Board’s telephone number, or may try to spoof numbers with your local area code to hide their location.
What to do if You Receive a Call from the “Social Security Administration”
It’s important to beware of these types of calls and recognize that they are scams and to hang up the phone or don’t pick up the call.
Here are some important facts to know and share:
— Your Social Security number cannot be suspended, revoked, frozen, or blocked. It anyone tells you that, hang up immediately.
— Government agencies, including the IRS, SSA or Medicare will NEVER ask you to wire money, send cash or buy gift cards as a form of payment.
— SSA employees would never threaten to have you arrested or send the police to your home.
— You never have to verify your Social Security number to someone who makes an unsolicited call to you.
— The SSA will only call you if you’re working with the agency on an issue or claim. To make sure it’s truly the SSA calling you, hang up and call SSA’s main number at (800) 772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
The IRS reminds taxpayers to guard against all sorts of scams that continually change. Visit Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts on IRS.gov to stay updated on tax scams.
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