Scam Targets Ulster County Residents’ Social Security Benefits

Your Social Security benefits could be in jeopardy with this nationwide scam. 

The Ulster County District Attorney’s Division of Consumer Affairs, is warning Hudson Valley residents about a nationwide scam.

The  Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have received reports from citizens all across the country about receiving phone calls from individuals posing as SSA employees.

The caller indicates that citizens are due a 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase of their Social Security benefits. The caller goes on to ask citizens to verify personal information including, name, date of birth, social security number, etc.

If the impersonator is successful in acquiring the information, they use it to contact SSA and request changes to the victim’s direct deposit, address and telephone information.

What can you do?

Be cautious of unsolicited calls or other communications from people claiming to be from SSA or other government agencies.

Avoid providing personal information such as your SSN or bank account numbers to unknown persons over the phone or internet unless you are certain of who is receiving it.

If you receive a suspicious call from someone allegedly from SSA, you can report it to the Office of the Inspector General's website. You can also call 1-800-269-0271.