Scam Alert: Social Security Number “Suspended”

A few folks have been reporting what appears to be scammers calling and trying to get your social security number. These callers are going so far as to leave voicemails as part of this phishing scam. They are doing it under the guise of your social security number being suspended and needs to be "reactivated."

The call sounds very professional, and it's a gentleman calling saying he is from the government. He starts explaining that your Social Security number has been suspended. Something that is actually impossible. Hang up the phone, and don't give out your SS# under any circumstances that you are not completely certain of.

Remember, if you have to give that information to verify who you are, YOU are the one one that initiated the phone call.

Here are a few tips to protect yourself:

• Never give out or confirm personal information over the phone, via email or on a website until you’ve checked out whoever is asking you for it.
• Do not trust a name, phone number, or email address just because it seems to be connected with the government. Con artists use official-sounding names and may fake caller ID or email address information to make you trust them. Besides, the government normally contacts people by postal mail.
• Contact government agencies directly, using telephone numbers and website addresses you know to be legitimate.