One of the most popular ways for criminals to steal money and sensitive information is by impersonating a trusted source – often a government agency. According to the Federal Trade Commission, victims of government impostor scams reported nearly $509 million stolen from them in 2022.  

March 7 is National Slam the Scam Day and the focus this year is stopping Social Security impostor scams. Here are three tips to help you do just that. 

Beware of unexpected calls, texts or emails claiming there is a problem with your Social Security number. One example is a warning that your number has been linked to criminal activity and suspended. The goal of the scammer is to get you in a heightened emotional state, and this is one common way they do that. Second, the Social Security Administration will only call you if you are already engaged in conversations with the agency. Finally, you can access your account securely at ssa.gov/myaccount.  This will give you a safe and reliable place to check on your account if you ever have questions. 

Be a fraud fighter!  If you can spot a scam, you can stop a scam.  

Report scams to local law enforcement. For help from AARP, call 1-877-908-3360 or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at www.aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork.