Scammers Prey On Wisconsin Social Security Recipients

10-26-2006
Contact: Glen Loyd
608-224-5007

“At least 15 Wisconsin social security recipients have reported scam calls in the past few days,” says Jim Rabbitt, director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

The criminals say the Social Security Administration is sending out replacement Social Security and Medicare cards and need to verify the person’s information and direct deposit information.
“When I resisted giving out my bank account information,” says a Social Security recipient in Wausau, “the criminals threatened to put a stop on my monthly social security checks. They got angry at me."

“Whether by online website or phone, the Social Security Administration will never ask you for your banking and credit card information or your PIN number,” says Rabbitt. 

“You should never provide your Social Security number or other personal information over the telephone unless you initiated the contact, or are confident of the person to whom you are speaking.  If in doubt, do not release information without first verifying the validity of the call.”
If there is any doubt at all about someone who claims to be a Social Security representative, contact your local Social Security office or call Social Security’s toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 to verify the legitimacy of the call. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call Social Security's TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.)

For more information, call the toll free hotline of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection:  1-800-422-7128.

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