FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Friday, December 21, 2018

CONTACT:  Sara Rabern (605) 773-3215

PIERRE, S.D. –  Attorney General Marty Jackley confirms that his Consumer Protection Division is receiving calls about individuals pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) who are actively trying to get Social Security numbers and money.

“The Social Security Administration will never call and ask to confirm your Social Security number and will never require a fee,” said Jackley. “Never give our personal identifying information to unsolicited callers. This approach is always a scam.”

The scam takes on different approaches, but one includes the caller telling consumers that their Social Security number has been linked to a crime involving drugs or sending money out of the country illegally. The caller then confirms that the Social is blocked and to reactivate a fee will be required. The caller then asks the consumer to confirm the Social Security number.

For more information on this scam you can contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at 800-300-1986 or: consumerhelp@state.sd.us. The SSA can be reached at 1-800-772-1213.

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