Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley issued a scam alert Thursday, warning Missouri residents about a new telephone scam.
The Missouri Attorney General's Office has received numerous complaints this week from Missouri residents after being contacted by would-be scammers claiming to represent the Social Security Administration, according to a news release.
Those who have received these calls report someone telling them their Social Security benefits have been suspended and they must call back to fix the problem. When consumers return the call, they are asked to provide personal information the scammer could use to commit identity theft or other fraud.
Examples of the types of information these scammers might request include Social Security number, date of birth and address.
The Attorney General's Office warns citizens not to provide personal information over the telephone unless absolutely certain about who is on the other end of the line. When the Social Security Administration calls individuals, the agency has typically contacted the person previously via mail, according to the news release.
Anyone who receives a call from someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration should hang up and contact the agency using their real telephone number, 800-772-1213.
If you receive a suspicious call from someone claiming to be from the SSA, you can report that information to the Office of Inspector General at 800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov/report.
If you have questions about a phone call or any other type of communication claiming to be from the SSA, you can contact any SSA office or call SSA's toll-free customer service number at 800-772-1213 to make sure it is legitimate. You also may contact the Missouri Attorney General's Office at 866-289-9633.
If you become a victim of this scam, report it to any FBI field office or the Missouri Attorney General's Office at 800-392-8222.