The Better Business Bureau receives numerous consumer
inquiries and complaints about direct mailings that use the words
“Social Security” or other government-like symbols as come-ons to get
consumers’ attention – and sometimes their money. One type of mailing offers to provide, for a fee, various
services which are available for the Social Security Administration at
no charge, such as, obtaining a Social Security number for a newborn,
notifying Social Security of name changes for newly married persons, or
obtaining personal earnings and benefit estimate statements. Consumers
can obtain this information for free by calling the Social Security
Administration. You can find their number in the blue pages of your
telephone directory, or visit their Web site at
www.ssa.gov.
Another type of solicitation allegedly offers an extra social
security check to senior citizens who send back money or provide their
bank account or social security numbers. Recipients are asked to send a
“filing fee” of varying amounts or to fill out a form including their
Social Security and bank account numbers so the fee could be
“automatically deducted.” Social Security recipients usually do get
letters from the government when their benefits increase or the
government may send out a statement on taxes paid and future benefits
due. But, the federal government never asks for someone’s Social
Security number – they already know it.
Consumers who fill out applications for these fraudulent
companies are providing enough confidential information to permit use
of their identity to establish credit, apply for a loan, buy a car, or
conduct many other transactions in their name.
If you receive misleading information about a “Social
Security” service from someone seeking payment for the service, send
the solicitation to the Social Security Administration. If you have a
complaint about a company you believe have defrauded you, contact the
Better Business Bureau.
