The Inspector General of Social Security is warning the public about a new variation of increasingly common government impersonation scams.   The Social Security Advisory Board has reported that individuals are receiving scam phone calls displaying either a Court’s phone number or the Social Security Advisory Board’s number.  At the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, spoofers have used the Court’s main phone number to scam people.

The callers may use a variety of false scenarios or threats to obtain personal information or payments, often requested through gift cards or prepaid debit cards.  Government employees will never threaten you to obtain personal information or payments.  In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up.

You should not provide sensitive information over the phone or internet unless you are certain of who is receiving it.  Never wire money or add money to a prepaid debit card to pay for any official government service.

Federal Trade Commission Article: Social Security is not trying to take your benefits