Social Security Scams Target Polk County Residents: Sheriff

WINTER HAVEN, FL — There is an increase in social security scams in Polk County, said law enforcement officials with the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

Deputies said scammers will use a phone call, email or mail a letter in an effort to obtain personal information from victims.

"We want to remind residents to treat any communications {such as} telephone calls, emails, or letters, where someone threatens you or demands money as suspicious, and to immediately report it to the appropriate agency," said Sheriff Grady Judd. "If you have elderly relatives, ensure they are aware of scams like these. Never send money to someone or give personal information to someone you do not know."

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has created a page specific to scam awareness.

The administration requests that victims report the incident on the site, so they can investigate it. The website is https://oig.ssa.gov/scam.

According to the PCSO, characteristics of these scams can include:

• Scammers use fake names and SSA badge numbers. They generally use common names and surnames to identify themselves.
• Scammers may be able to recite the last four digits of a victim’s Social Security Number.
• Scammers “spoof” or imitate the SSA toll-free number on caller ID to make it appear that it’s the SSA calling.
• Scammers sometimes send bogus SSA emails to some victims to support their bogus calls.
• Victims hear background noise of other calls being conducted to mimic a call site.

Scammers may even demand payment via a prepaid debit card or wire transfer, officials said.

Scam tricks

The SSA doesn’t ask for either of these payment methods, nor will they ask for credit card numbers; rig caller ID information to appear as if the SSA is calling; send fake emails or mail that looks like legitimate SSA correspondence; make a second call claiming to be the police or department of motor vehicles, rigging the caller ID information.

Police say a scare tactic the scammers use is when they threaten jail time or a driver’s license revocation. After they make the threat, they hang up and have someone else call back who imitates a local police officer or DMV, and the caller ID shows the number of a local police station or DMV.

Another scam targets “Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance” benefits where the victim receives a letter in the mail that says the SSA will deduct monies from the victim’s monthly payment for outstanding medical premiums. When the victim calls the number on the letter to contest the fake deduction, the scammer asks for the victim’s personal information.

How to protect yourself

• Do not give out your personal information. If it really is the SSA, they will already have your information on file. Call your local SSA office directly to confirm any changes to your benefits.

To report suspicious activity, please call the Office of Inspector General Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call the OIG TTY number at 1-866-501-2101.)

A Public Fraud Reporting form is also available online at OIG's website here https://secure.ssa.gov/pfrf/home.

You can find more information on how to protect yourself from scams and other fraud on the PCSO website here https://www.polksheriff.org/news-investigations/scam-reporting.