Beware of Phone Scammers

The Key West Police Department wants to remind residents and visitors to be wary of scam phone calls warning that a social security number has been compromised. If you get such a call, do not give out any personal information, including your social security number.

The Social Security Administration warns that, if you get such a call, hang up and dial 800-772-1213 to confirm whether a communication purporting to be from SSA is real. If you get an impostor call or email, report it to SSA using their detailed online form at oig.ssa.gov. You can also call Social Security’s Fraud Hotline at 800-269-0271.

Over the past several years, other versions of this scam have been perpetrated locally. Scammers sometimes impersonate law enforcement and demand payment in order to avoid arrest. Please know that no law enforcement officer will ever call someone and solicit money – ever.

As convincing as the scammer’s story is, never give out critical personal information over the phone. And if someone insists you wire or transfer money, check to find out if the caller is legitimate. They are most likely attempting to steal from you.

Scammers will often use personal information about you to convince you they are legitimate – they might have your address, phone number, names and addresses of relatives. They will try to rush you into action – they don’t want you to have time to consult anyone. They use high pressure tactics and, if you are on the phone with you they will try to keep you on the phone until the scam is complete.

Many scams incorporate some type of cash cards – green dot cards, gift cards – because that is a quick way for you to send them cash and, once they have the card number, the money is theirs and is virtually untraceable.