Last Thursday was 'Slam the Scam Day' and Social Security took a particularly heavy interest in promoting scams involving Social Security imposters.

According to Jack Myers at Social Security, scammers pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain your trust and claim there is a problem or a prize. He reminds Social Security will never threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don’t agree to pay money immediately.

If you owe money to Social Security, they will mail you a letter with payment options and appeal information. Myers adds they also only accept payments electronically through Pay.gov, Online Bill Pay from your bank, or by check or money order. 

Scammers are turning to tactics like offering a badge number impersonating being from an agency or just a badge number absent of identifying with an agency. Myers says Social Security will never do that and will not offer to send proof of their identification of being with Social Security.

If you fall victim to an SSA imposter scam you should report it immediately at www.ssa.gov/scam. Report other scams to www.reportfraud.ftc.gov.