The New York State Division of Consumer Protection has issued a consumer alert regarding scammers impersonating employees from the Social Security Administration to steal personal information from unsuspecting victims.

In most cases, the caller requests personal information such as a Social Security Number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, and/or bank account information. As an excuse to ask for the information, the impersonator may claim that the Social Security Administration (SSA) “
“computers are down," or they may discuss enrollment in a Medicare prescription drug program.

“Scam artists are using official-sounding calls to try and scare individuals into sharing their personal information,” said New York State Secretary of State Rossana Rosado, who oversees the Division of Consumer Protection. “Government agencies do not typically call people with little or no warning asking for sensitive information or trying to get a payment over the phone. We urge New Yorkers: Do not give any sensitive information to unsolicited callers. Do not play their game.”

Consumers should not provide any information to these individuals as the purpose of the call is to steal identities and/or money from unsuspecting victims.

The scam employs two methodologies: live individuals posing as SSA employees or automated recordings stating, “Your Social Security Number has been ‘suspended’ for suspicion of illegal activity. Call this number immediately.”

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection, the Federal Trade Commission and Social Security Administration warn consumers to be suspicious of any calls requesting personal information and to take note of the following tips:

• Confirm the caller. If an individual wants to check if there are any issues related to a Social Security Number, call the Social Security Administration directly at 1-800-772-1213 or go online at ssa.gov.

• Don’t give the caller any information. Consumers should never give out or confirm sensitive information, including bank account, credit card, or Social Security Numbers over the phone unless they are completely sure they know who they are dealing with. If an individual gets such a call and is concerned, they should hang up and contact the government agency or company they are claiming to call from.

• Don’t trust a name or number. Con artists will use official sounding names to try to seem legitimate. To make their call seem proper, scammers use technology to “spoof” their area code and phone number, so while it may seem to a consumer that they are getting a call from the Social Security Agency in Washington, DC, the call could very well be from anywhere in the world.

• Government agencies do not ask for payment via gift cards. Gift cards allow scammers to get money without trace. Once an individual gives up a gift card number, the scam artist can take the full value without anyone knowing who they are. If someone on the phone asks an individual to buy a gift card and call them back with the number, it is likely a scam.

The New York State Division of Consumer Protection investigates Do Not Call violations and provides voluntary mediation between a consumer and a business when a consumer has been unsuccessful at reaching a resolution on their own. The Consumer Assistance Helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm, excluding State Holidays, and consumer complaints can be filed at any time at www.dos.ny.gov/consumerprotection. The Division can also be reached via Twitter at @NYSConsumer or Facebook at www.facebook.com/nysconsumer.