Office of the Inspector General

Slam the Scam: Keep Your Personal Information Safe

March 16, 2023 • By

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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 […]

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Social Security and OIG Hold Annual Slam the Scam Day

March 8, 2023 • By

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Social Security scams are an ongoing government imposter fraud scheme. We continue to raise public awareness about Social Security imposter scams during the fourth annual “Slam the Scam” Day on March 9. For several years, Social Security impersonation scams have been one of the most common government imposter scams reported to the Federal Trade Commission. […]

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How We Protect You from Misleading Advertising and Communications

February 23, 2023 • By

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At the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), we work together with Social Security to protect you from scams that use Social Security as bait. Section 1140 of the Social Security Act allows OIG to impose penalties against anyone who engages in misleading Social Security-related advertising or imposter communications. For example, we may impose a […]

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Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Warn of Impersonation Scam Involving Credentials and Badges

June 7, 2022 • By

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New reports show that scammers are reviving an old tactic to gain your trust. Scammers are emailing and texting pictures of real and doctored law enforcement credentials and badges in an attempt to ‘prove’ they are legitimate to scam people out of money. Scammers may change the picture or use a different name, agency, or […]

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Use These Scam Tools to Spot Fraud

March 17, 2022 • By

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On March 10, we held our annual National Slam the Scam Day to raise awareness of Social Security-related scams and other government imposter scams. In case you missed it, here are our top tools and resources for this year: Check out our Fraud Prevention and Reporting page to learn about Social Security fraud – and […]

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Slam the Scam: How to Spot Government Imposters

March 9, 2022 • By

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Do you know how to spot a government imposter scam? That’s the question we’re asking as part of our annual Slam the Scam Day on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Scammers continue to evolve and find new ways to steal your money and personal information. On Slam the Scam Day and throughout the year, we raise […]

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National Slam the Scam Day Approaching on March 10

March 3, 2022 • By

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Chances are someone you know has received a call or message from someone pretending to be a government employee. These calls often allege that your information has been compromised or they demand immediate payment. Ignore it. This is just one of the tips that Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG) is sharing […]

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WEAAD 2021: Building Strong Support for Older Americans

June 8, 2021 • By

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On June 15, we come together again to commemorate World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). We continue to advocate for the rights and dignity of older adults—especially during the pandemic. We remain committed to addressing challenges—and working together with our state and federal partners to break down barriers of injustice or inequality for older adults. […]

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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day: What We Have Learned

June 3, 2021 • By

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World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD) on June 15 raises awareness of the cultural, social, economic, and demographic processes affecting elder abuse and neglect. This is more important than ever as cases of elder abuse have increased significantly during the pandemic. Abuser tactics—isolation, manipulation, and systemic barriers (such as ageism and racism)—put older adults at […]

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SSA Inspector General: New Tactics for Government Imposters

April 27, 2021 • By

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Last month, we partnered with our Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the annual National “Slam the Scam” Day to help you learn how to identify and avoid government imposter scams. These scams are widespread across the United States and often involve Social Security number-related issues. Scammers’ tactics continue to evolve. Most recently, the OIG […]

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