Slam the Scam

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The federal government is working to combat Social Security imposter scams, the Social Security Administration (SSA) alongside its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has announced the fifth annual 'Slam the Scam' Day, which took place on March 7, 2024. This initiative aims to heighten public awareness about the deceptive practices employed by scammers, which have consistently targeted Americans, particularly seniors and veterans, by impersonating government officials. Martin O’Malley, the Commissioner of Social Security, emphasized the importance of the day, saying, 'As public servants, we must use every tool at our disposal to raise awareness and protect the American people against Social Security imposter scams. Scammers use fear and deception to scare people out of their critical benefits.' He urged everyone to remain vigilant, protect personal information, avoid giving money, and report any scam attempts to the official website, oig.ssa.gov.

Social Security scams often involve fraudsters misleading victims into making cash, gift card, or wire transfer payments under the guise of rectifying alleged issues with their Social Security number or to prevent arrest. These schemes have become one of the most prevalent forms of government imposter fraud, as reported to the Federal Trade Commission.

Scammers employ sophisticated methods to deceive potential victims, including spoofed caller IDs – fake caller IDs, sending fake documents, and creating imposter social media pages. They often rely on tactics such as pretending to be from Social Security and claiming there's an issue with the victim's Social Security number.

Gail S. Ennis, Inspector General for SSA, reaffirmed the commitment to the initiative, saying in a statement, 'The scammers have not stopped, and we will not stop in our commitment to increase public awareness of these pervasive scams.' The day is a culmination of efforts from numerous partnerships aimed at slamming the scam through increased public education and awareness.

The SSA and OIG have clarified that Social Security will never suspend numbers, demand immediate payment over the phone, threaten arrest, ask for credit/debit card numbers, request gift cards or cash, or promise benefits in exchange for money or information. Typically, legitimate contact from Social Security comes via mail or through scheduled phone calls for those who have ongoing business with the agency.

National Slam the Scam Day is part of National Consumer Protection Week and holds particular significance for the veteran community, which has been increasingly targeted by scammers. According to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, veterans, often due to their steady income and access to benefits, faced over $257 million in fraudulent losses in 2021 alone. The day serves as a reminder for veterans to stay informed, verify the identities of those requesting information, safeguard personal data, and report any suspicious activity to authorities like VA’s Office of Inspector General or the FTC Report Fraud website.

In a statement, the Social Security Administration and Veterans Affairs wrote that the observance of National Slam the Scam Day represents a unified effort to educate and protect the most vulnerable segments of the population from financial predators. By staying informed and vigilant, seniors and veterans can significantly reduce the risk of falling victim to these malicious scams.