SSA impersonation scam

An SSA impersonation scam, or SSA scam, is a class of telecommunications scam targeting citizens of the United States by impersonating Social Security Administration employees. SSA scams are typically initiated through pre-recorded messages, or robocalls, that use social engineering to make victims panic and ensure they follow instructions given to them. In 2018, over 35,000 instances of SSA scam robocalls were reported to the Better Business Bureau with over $10 million lost by victims.[1] Approximately 47% of Americans were subject to an SSA scam robocall during a three-month period between mid- to late 2020, and 21% of seniors were subject to at least three robocalls during the same time period.[2][3]

  1. ^ "This is what a Social Security scam sounds like". Consumer Information. Federal Trade Commission. December 27, 2018. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  2. ^ "How to Tell If Calls From Social Security Are Scams". AARP. Archived from the original on November 28, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  3. ^ "Press Release: Mayor Bowser Urges Residents to be Vigilant Against Increasing Telephone Scams Targeting Social Security Numbers". TheDCLine.org. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.