Slam the Scam! How to Spot Government Imposters

From the Vermont Social Security Administration Office's monthly newsletter:

Do you know how to spot a government imposter scam?  Knowing how to identify potential scammers will help safeguard your personal information.

There are common elements to many of these scams.  Scammers often exploit fears and threaten you with arrest or legal action.  Scammers also pose as Social Security or other government employees and claim there’s a problem with your Social Security number (SSN) or your benefits.  They may even claim your SSN is linked to a crime.

When you identify a potential scammer:

• Hang up right away or ignore the message.
• Never give personal information or money.
• Report the scam immediately to our Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/scam-awareness/report-the-scam.