In association with the Federal Trade Commission’s National Consumer Protection Week, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has designated March 5 as National “Slam the Scam” Day to educate Americans about telephone scammers impersonating government employees. These scammers aim to gain potential victims’ trust and steal their money and personally identifiable information.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) reminds consumers:
- Government agencies will never call or text you unsolicited and demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or other legal action;
- Government agencies will never ask you to pay fines or fees with retail gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, internet currency, or by mailing cash; and
- If you receive these calls or texts, hang up or ignore them, and talk to friends and family to make sure they do the same.
CISA encourages all Americans to visit the SSA’s Slam the Scam webpage, review CISA’s Tip on Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks, and participate in the online events scheduled throughout the day.