If you are a Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Insurance recipient, you need to be on the lookout for phishing schemes.
Earlier this month the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued a press release saying that SSDI applicants and beneficiaries should be aware that schemes have been reported in the Greater St. Louis area and Michigan.
According to the OIG, recipients have “received suspicious text messages, requesting them to call a telephone number for information about their Social Security Disability benefit claims.”
Remember, giving out personal details to a scammer could result in identity theft. The text recipients received reportedly says “Disability Alert: Please call 253-xxx-xxxx regarding your recent disability benefits application.”
Patrick P. O’Carroll, Jr., Inspector General for the Social Security Administration said in a statement that people should never provide their details to unknown entities:
“You should never provide your Social Security number, bank account numbers, or other personal information unless you are extremely confident about the identity of the person asking for it. Social Security representatives may call to follow up on a benefit application—but they will not send text messages—and they generally will not ask for personal identifiers or financial information.”
Do I Need to Speak to an Attorney about Social Security Disability?
If you have questions about your benefits, you can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit its website. Additionally, if you feel like you may have been a fraud target, you should check your credit reports for discrepancies.
We suggest visiting our Social Security FAQ page if you have questions about SSA benefits. Additionally, you can call our office today for a free evaluation of your case. Remember, if you are unable to work because of disabilities, you may be entitled to SSDI.
Troutman & Troutman, P.C. – Tulsa Social Security Disability lawyers
Troutman Touts: The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires credit-reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report each year.
Source: http://oig.ssa.gov/newsroom/news-releases/nov3-advisory