SOCIAL SECURITY
News Release
Public Warned about Identity
Theft E-mail Scam
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friendly version) 
Jo Anne Barnhart, Commissioner of Social Security, and Patrick
O’Carroll, Jr., Inspector General of Social Security, issued
a warning today about a new email scam that has surfaced recently.
The Agency has received several reports of an email message being
circulated addressed to “Dear Social Security Number
And Card owner” and purporting to be from the Social
Security Administration. The message informs the reader “that
someone illegally is using your Social Security number and assuming
your identity” and directs the reader to a website designed
to look like Social Security’s Internet website.
“I am outraged that someone would target an unsuspecting
public in this manner,” said Commissioner Barnhart. “I
have asked the Inspector General to use all the resources at his
command to find and prosecute whoever is perpetrating this fraud.”
Once directed to the phony website, the individual is asked to
confirm their identity with “Social Security and bank
information.” Specific information about the individual’s
credit card number, expiration date and PIN number is then requested. “Whether
on our online website or by phone, Social Security will never ask
you for your credit card information or your PIN number,” Commissioner
Barnhart said.
Inspector General O’Carroll recommends people always take
precautions when giving out personal information. “You should
never provide your Social Security number or other personal information
over the Internet or by telephone unless you are extremely confident
of the source to whom you are providing the information,” O’Carroll
said.
To report receipt of this email message or other suspicious activity
to Social Security’s Office of Inspector General, please call
the OIG Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing,
call the OIG TTY number at 1-866-501-2101). A Public Fraud Reporting
form is also available online at OIG’s website www.socialsecurity.gov/oig.
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