Social Security Phone Scam

National “Slam the Scam” Day

March 4, 2021

Please join the Social Security Administration for the 2^nd National “Slam the Scam” Day on March 4, 2021!

A National Consumer Protection Week initiative, “Slam the Scam” brings together Federal, state, and local government agencies with nonprofits and the private sector, to warn the public of government imposter phone scams.

FTC received reports totaling over $174 million lost to these scams in 2020. Help us protect your readers or viewers. How You Can Help

• Register for a press teleconference with the Commissioner of Social Security and the Inspector General at 1:00pm on

March 3, 2021, by emailing press.office@ssa.gov. Only those associated with recognized online, print, radio, and TV media outlets will be allowed to join this call.

• Tell your audience about National Consumer Protection Week and National “Slam the Scam” Day on March 4, 2021; share our key scam awareness messages:

o Hang up on suspicious calls from “government officials” calling about a problem o NEVER make payments with gift cards, wire transfers, or by mailing cash o Report Social Security scams to OIG.SSA.GOV o Report other scams to reportfraud.ftc.gov

• Share and repost our social media content using the hashtag #SlamTheScam.

• Promote social media events that will be held on March 4:

o 1pm EST Spanish-language #OjoConLasEstafas hosted by @USAgov o 3pm EST English-language #SlamTheScamChat hosted by @USAgovespanol o 7pm EST Facebook Live hosted by SSA Office of the Inspector General

• Share our most recent fraud advisory with your audience: SSA IG Updates Warning for Social Security Phone Scams

Notable Social Security Scam Press Coverage

• New York Times: How Not to Become a Victim of Social Security Fraud Calls

• Wall Street Journal: Where Robocallers Hide – The House Next Door

• AARP: Social Security Imposters Take Scams to the Next Level

• Forbes: Social Security Issues Warning on New Texting Scam

• ABC 7 Chicago: Social Security scam calls use false claims to steal money

Last year’s National “Slam the Scam” Day was a success and we want to spread the message even further this year!

Members of the press may make inquiries to Social Security OIG at oig.dcom@ssa.gov or (410) 965-2671.

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE https://oig.ssa.g o v February 5, 2021 Media Inquiries: (410) 965-2671

Inspector General Announces 2^nd National “Slam the Scam” Day

The Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, Gail S. Ennis, is designating Thursday, March 4, 2021 as the second annual National “Slam the Scam” Day, to raise public awareness of government imposter telephone scams, which continue to be widespread across the United States. This is part of National Consumer Protection Week , February 28 – March 6.

Last year, the SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) received over 718,000 reports of Social Security-related telephone scams—with a total of $44.8 million reported lost. Victims who lost money reported an average loss of $5,800. On National “Slam the Scam” Day, we will work to spread the word far and wide about these insidious scams, and encourage people to warn their friends and family to just hang up.

On the first National “Slam the Scam” Day, we partnered with SSA, other Federal agencies, Members of Congress, and nonprofit and retail organizations to help promote scam awareness on this day and throughout the year. This year, we will expand our efforts, partnering with more agencies and organizations, and seeking opportunities to work with local and national media outlets to amplify our message.

On March 3, 2021, Inspector General Ennis and Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security, will hold a press call to discuss scam awareness and answer questions. On March 4, 2021, USA.gov will host a “Slam the Scam” Twitter chat about all types of consumer scams, and SSA will host a Facebook Live event to share what we are doing to combat Social Security-related phone scams, and what the public can do. As we plan these events, we will share more details.

Inspector General Ennis urges Americans to be very cautious of calls from a government agency telling you about a problem you don’t recognize. Real government officials will NEVER:

• threaten arrest or legal action against you unless you immediately send money;

• promise to increase your benefits or resolve identity theft if you pay a fee or move your money into a protected account;

• require payment with retail gift card, wire transfer, internet currency, or by mailing cash; or

• text or email you messages containing your personal information.

If you ever owe money to Social Security, the agency will mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. Social Security does not suspend Social Security numbers or demand secrecy from you in resolving a problem—ever.

Visit oig.ssa.gov/scam for more information about National “Slam the Scam” Day and Social Security-related phone scams. This March 4, we hope you will help us “slam the scam”!

Members of the press may make inquiries to Social Security OIG at oig.dcom@ssa.gov or (410) 965-2671.

GAIL S. ENNIS

Inspector General

Social Security Administration

Gail S. Ennis currently serves as the fourth Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA), having been appointed to that position on January 24, 2019. Under her direction, the SSA Office of the Inspector General inspires public confidence in the integrity and security of SSA’s programs and operations by conducting independent and objective audits, evaluations, and investigations.

Ms. Ennis began her legal career in 1998 as an associate at WilmerHale in the firm’s Securities Department. In 2007, Ms. Ennis became a Partner in the firm’s Securities Litigation and Enforcement

practice and later also joined the firm’s Bank Regulation and Enforcement practice. Ms. Ennis’ practice focused on advising companies, boards of directors, audit committees, and special committees of large, multi-national corporations or financial institutions in connection with government and independent investigations related to the federal securities laws, as well as consumer protection laws.

Ms. Ennis holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School.

ANDREW SAUL Commissioner of Social Security

Andrew Saul was sworn in as Commissioner of Social Security on June

17, 2019, for a six-year term that expires on January 19, 2025. The Social Security Administration is an independent federal agency headquartered in suburban Baltimore with over 63,000 employees nationwide.

From 2002 to 2011, Mr. Saul served as the Chair of the Federal Thrift Investment Board (FTIB). He was nominated by President Bush and confirmed by the Senate, and also served under President Obama. The Board administers the Thrift Savings Plan, which provides military and federal employees the opportunity to save for additional retirement security. During his chairmanship, the FTIB introduced the popular life cycle funds and increased TSP participation while substantially reducing participant costs.

In addition to his federal service, Mr. Saul has also served in state and local government, and in non-profit organizations. He has worked as Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Finance Committee of the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority. He also has served as

Vice Chairman of the Mount Sinai Health System, and Chairman of its Audit and Compliance

Committee. In addition, he was a Trustee and Chairman of the Audit Committee of the National Gallery of Art. He formerly served as a board member of the United Jewish Appeal Federation of New York.

Mr. Saul also has substantial experience in the private sector. For twenty years, he managed two large publicly traded retail apparel chains. These chains grew into national retailers, including hundreds of stores and employing thousands of workers. Mr. Saul is a graduate of the Wharton School of Finance at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Saul is from New York. He and his wife Denise have been married 50 years; they have two adult children, and 3 grandchildren.