Impostor scams have long been among the most lucrative for scammers.  While there are many variations of this scam, the most common variations have involved scammers contacting their intended victims on the telephone, email or text message posing as some governmental agency such as the, FBI, IRS or the Social Security Administration.  The scammer then, under a wide variety of pretenses, demands an immediate payment by gift cards, cryptocurrencies,  credit card or wired funds.   Alternatively, the scammer may ask you for personal information such as your Social Security number which can be used for purposes of identity theft.  Being asked to pay by gift cards or cryptocurrencies is a definite indication that the call is a scam since no governmental agency requests or accepts payments by gift cards or cryptocurrencies.

Copied below is an email received recently by a Scamicide reader that purports to be from the Social Security Administration threatening action against the recipient of the email unless the targeted victim calls to straighten the matter out.  In this instance, if you call the number provided you will be lured into giving your Social Security number which would lead to identity theft.  I have blocked the email address of the sender as well as the recipient for privacy purposes.

Social Security Administration
Address: 6401 Security Blvd, Woodlawn, Baltimore MD 21207,USA

Attention Citizen,    Case no: SSA-10378762597

Due to Fraudulent activity, Your Social Security Number will be suspended within the next 24 hours

We take a zero tolerance approach to any violations of our terms and conditions, which you have violated by using a false Identity

If you have received this by email, it is because we have exhausted all other means of contacting you, if you are innocent of the allegations, the truth will emerge during the legal proceedings.

Simply reach us, and we’ll assist you with any issues you are facing at +1-831-287-6427

The Case ID and Reference number are provided below for your reference

The Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General has independent oversight of SSA’s programs and operations.

SSA OIG is responsible for conducting audits, evaluations, and investigations and reporting on and providing recommendations for programs, operations, and management improvements.

You can call our National number at +1-831-287-6427 between 8.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m. EST Monday to Friday. Wait time to speak to the representative are typically shorter early in the day (between 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. EST. We also offer many automated telephone services available 24 hours a day, so you do not need to speak to any representative.

We Sincerely Apologize for any inconvenience and we appreciate your patience while we work towards a new & more modern upgraded Technology at your service.”

TIPS

So how can you tell if an email is really from the Social Security Administration (SSA)?   Fortunately, the answer to that question is easy.  The SSA does not initiate contact with taxpayers by phone, email or text messages.  Anyone contacting you by these methods of communication who claims to be an SSA employee is a scammer.

In addition, there are numerous red flags to indicate that this is a scam.  First and foremost, the email address of the sender has no relation to the SSA, but was most likely the email address of someone whose email account has been hacked and made a part of a botnet to send out vast amounts of phishing emails.  In addition, nowhere in the email does the name of the recipient appear.  Instead the email refers to “Attention Citizen.”  In addition the grammar and punctuation in the letter is poor.

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