Social Security and the Office of Inspector General work together to protect you from scams that use Social Security as bait.

Jack Myers with Social Security indicates The Social Security Act allows OIG to impose penalties against anyone who engages in misleading Social Security-related advertising or imposter communications.

Social Security may impose a penalty against anyone who mails misleading solicitations that appear to be from or otherwise authorized by Social Security, operates an imposter website or social media account designed to look official, sends emails or text messages or makes telephone calls claiming to be from Social Security.

If you receive misleading or suspicious Social Security-related advertisement or communication, please let the OIG know at oig.ssa.gov. Myers points out it helps if you can gather as much info as possible for a suspicious website or social media accounts, take a screenshot of the page. Note the website address or social media link- and how you came across it. For e-mails and text messages, please capture the entire message and any message links.

The OIG can impose civil monetary penalties against those who violate section 1140. The penalty rate is adjusted each year for inflation and is currently set at $12,397 for each violative communication.  If the violation is in the form of a generally aired broadcast the penalty rate is $61,982 per airing. Myers points out if the violation is in the form of a postal mailing or a website each piece of mail or each website view is subject to a separate $12,397 penalty.

Once again, to report this type of activity visit https://oig.ssa.gov or call 1-800-269-0271.

To learn more, check out the publication called 'What You Need To Know About Misleading Advertising'.