Social Security Calling? It’s a Scam
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News from the Area VI Agency on Aging
New warnings have been issued by the Federal Trade Commission about the recent round of calls faking Social Security. They can even make the caller ID look like it’s really Social Security, and they have been calling people in Montana.
Your caller ID shows that the SSA is calling from 1-800-772-1213. The caller says he or she works for the Social Security Administration and needs your personal information – like your Social Security number – to increase your benefits in 2019. Or they threaten to cut off your benefits if you don’t give the information. That is the number for Social Security but the call is not really from them. Social Security will not call to ask for information and they will certainly never threaten you over the phone.
You can report the call to the SSA by calling the 1-800-772-1213 number yourself (you’ll get the real one) or by calling the SSA Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271.
Don’t’ give any personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call and know who you’re talking to for sure. That goes for Social Security or Medicare numbers, birthdate, and banking information.
Medicare Open Enrollment continues through Dec.7. If you want to make any changes to your Prescription Drug Plan or Medicare Advantage Plan for 2019, it must be done by Dec. 7. Call us for an appointment in Polson, or to contact one of our certified SHIP counselors in Lake, Lincoln, Mineral or Sanders counties. Our phone number is 406-883-7284 or 1-800-266-4188. We are located at 110 Main, Suite 5 in Polson, on the second floor of the Salish building by the bridge.
