Social Security scam targets local senior citizens
Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said he has learned of a scam in which a male caller who pretends to be from the Social Security Administration attempts to glean Social Security numbers so he can steal the identities of local residents.
Another variation is a scam artist making phone calls and scaring people with the objective of stealing money.
Vittone said he learned of the latest con by talking to senior citizen groups.
In one version of the scam, a phony caller tells the resident his or her Social Security number has been linked to a crime, often purported to have taken place in Texas.
The alleged crime has to do with drugs or illegally sending money out of the country.
鈥淗e then says your Social Security number is blocked 鈥� but he might ask you for a fee to reactivate it, or to get a new number,鈥� Vittone said.
鈥淎nd he will ask you to confirm your Social Security number. In other variations, he says somebody used your Social Security number to apply for credit cards, and threatens to cut off benefits.鈥�
Another similar scam is to warn the person who takes the phone call that a bank account is about to be seized unless the money is withdrawn. The caller then describes how to 鈥渒eep it safe.鈥�
鈥淪ome calls are originating overseas,鈥� he said. 鈥淯nfortunately, they鈥檙e very difficult to investigate and prosecute.
鈥淭he policy is, don鈥檛 interact with them. These guys are good. That蘑菇视频 what they do for a living. They鈥檙e con men.鈥�
One particular set of circumstances fraught with danger he recalled occurred a few years ago, when a con arranged to meet an elderly person at an abandoned building in Charleroi.
Area Agency on Aging protective services learned of the scam, and when police intervened, there was no one in the building.
鈥淭he one I hear all the time is the grandson in jail who wrecked his car,鈥� Vittone said. Although the story might vary, it always revolves around some crisis.
Vittone reminds those who may be victimized that the Social Security Administration will never call and ask for a Social Security number. Neither will it ask people for payment, or threaten to cut off Social Security benefits.
Caller ID might show an actual Social Security Administration phone number, 1-800-772-1213, but computers make it easy to display any phone number on caller ID. 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 trust what you see there,鈥� Vittone said.
The district attorney said to never give a Social Security number to anyone who initiates contact. Neither should the holder of the number confirm the last four digits. He also warned against divulging bank account or credit card numbers to anyone who calls and asks for them.
鈥淩emember that anyone who tells you to wire money, pay with a gift card or send cash is a scammer. Always,鈥� Vittone said. 鈥淣o matter who they say they are.鈥�
If someone who claims to be from the Social Security Administration raises suspicion, 鈥淕et off the phone,鈥� Vittone said.
Someone who is targeted can call the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778.)
The intended target of a scam can report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ft.gov/complaint.