Washington D. C. – U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) is raising awareness about Social Security scams on the fourth annual National Slam the Scam Day.
Scammers prey on unsuspecting individuals by using deceptive tactics and persuasive techniques. In a government imposter scam, someone claims to be a representative of the Social Security Administration (SSA) or another government employee, and that imposter may ask for personal information, demand payment, or make threats. These scams primarily use the telephone, but scammers also use email, text messages, social media, or U.S. mail.
“I will always work tirelessly to protect hardworking Alabama families and retirees,” said Senator Britt. “In addition to holding accountable the criminals who prey upon our most vulnerable, raising public awareness of their tactics is a key part of this equation. On National Slam the Scam Day, I encourage everyone to be alert of the potential scams of which you could be a victim, assist us in spreading awareness, and utilize available federal resources. If you think anything is suspicious, immediately hang up or delete the text.”
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Social Security-related imposter scams are still the number one government imposter scam in the United States. In 2022, consumers reported losing more than $104.5 million to Social Security-related imposter scams.
“National Slam the Scam Day helps protect consumers from these predators. Slamming the scam begins with consumers quickly taking a step to hang up the phone, or delete suspicious texts and emails, without responding to the scammers,” said Gail S. Ennis, SSA Inspector General. “That simple action remains the easiest and most effective method to avoid falling prey to these vicious scams.”
National Slam the Scam Day is an initiative created in 2020 to raise public awareness to combat Social Security-related scams. Social Security and its Office of the Inspector General partner with Congress, other government agencies, non-profits, and the private sector to increase awareness about how to spot government imposter scams and stop scammers from stealing money and personal information.
Visit ssa.gov/scam for more information on Social Security-related scams. The public is encouraged to report Social Security-related scams and fraud online at https://oig.ssa.gov/espanol. Other government imposter scams may be reported to the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftc.gov/scams.
