WV ATTORNEY GENERAL ISSUES SCAM WARNING!

Posted: December 9, 2019, 2:44PM

WV Attorney General Patrick Morrisey is warning of a new twist on an old scam.

Callers are contacting consumers and impersonating representatives of the Attorney General's (AG) office. They are intimidating callers with threats of suspension of Social Security numbers or benefits due to "fraudulent activity" or "illegal activity", saying that the numbers and/or benefits will be suspended by the AG's office.

Attorney General Morrisey tells consumers to "...take a deep breath, hang up the phone, and report the call to authorities".

These scammers hit a nerve in that they threaten a compromised SS number or a frozen account as this threatens monthly benefits. Consumers certainly want to resolve this "problem" (a problem that doesn't exist) and may be quick to share information. DON'T DO IT!

Do NOT give out personal information or identifying numbers (Social Security, Medicare, Medicare Supplements, Medicaid, etc.) If you believe there is a problem with your Social Security account, call the Social Security Administration at 1 800 772-1213 or visit the web site at https://www.ssa.gov/agency/contact. They also have a FAQ page that will direct you to fraud information.

AG Morrisey also warns consumers of the ability of scammers to 'spoof' phone numbers so the number appears legitimate but it is not. Keep in mind - Social Security will NOT ask you for your SSN or Medicare number. They know those numbers!! They have that information!!

Anyone who receives one of these calls should report it to the Social Security Administration's Office of the Inspector General at 1 800 269-0271 or online at https://www.oig.ssa.gov/report.

Anyone who believes they have been a victim of fraud is urged to contact the WV AG's Consumer Protection Division at 1 800 368-8808 or visit the office online at www.wvago.gov.

These scams occur across the country. For more information on your state's consumer protection, contact your Attorney General or contact me for resource information.

Source: WV AG Patrick Morrisey, "Attorney General Warns of New Twist on Social Security Scam", Press Release, December 6, 2019