Today (Thursday) is national 'Slam the Scam' Day.

Scams are an ever-evolving topic as fraudsters become more and more creative in ways to rip off the public. Jack Myers at Social Security says this is part of the Federal Trade Commission’s National Consumer Protection Week March 6-12, 2022. Slam the Scam day began in 2020 by Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to combat Social Security-related imposter scams, but is now expanded to include other government imposter scams as well.

Myers reminds in a government imposter scam, someone claims to be a Social Security or other government employee, and may ask for personal information, demand payment, or make threats. These scams primarily use the telephone but could also come through e-mail, text messages, social media, or U.S. mail.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, from January through September 2021, consumers lost more than $331 million to government imposter scams.

Myers points out the Office of the Inspector General urges everyone to be cautious of any contact supposedly from a government agency telling you about a problem you don’t recognize. They remind real government officials will never threaten arrest or legal action against you unless you immediately send money.

Additionally, government officials will never promise to increase your benefits or resolve a problem if you pay a fee or move your money into a protected account, nor require payment with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfer, internet currency, or by mailing cash. Myers notes Social Security will never try to gain your trust by e-mailing fake “documentation”  or “evidence”.

You are encouraged to report Social Security imposter scams to https://oig.ssa.gov or https://www.ftc.gov/scams.