Today, on National Slam the Scam Day, Sen. Katie Britt is helping to raise awareness about Social Security scams.

Scammers typically target individuals by using deceptive tactics and techniques designed to persuade, her office said. In a government imposter scam, an individual will say that they are a representative of the Social Security Administration or another government agency. They will then request personal information and begin making threats and/or asking for payment.

“I will always work tirelessly to protect hardworking Alabama families and retirees,” said Britt (R-Montgomery). “In addition to holding accountable the criminals who prey upon our most vulnerable, raising public awareness of their tactics is a key part of this equation.

“On National Slam the Scam Day, I encourage everyone to be alert of the potential scams of which you could be a victim, assist us in spreading awareness, and utilize available federal resources. If you think anything is suspicious, immediately hang up or delete the text.”

National Slam the Scam Day is an initiative created in 2020 to raise public awareness to combat Social Security-related scams. Social Security and its Office of the Inspector General partner with Congress, other government agencies, non-profits, and the private sector to increase awareness about how to spot government imposter scams and stop scammers from stealing money and personal information.

“National Slam the Scam Day helps protect consumers from these predators,” said Social Security Inspector General Gail S. Ennis. “Slamming the scam begins with consumers quickly taking a step to hang up the phone, or delete suspicious texts and emails, without responding to the scammers.

“That simple action remains the easiest and most effective method to avoid falling prey to these vicious scams.”

Data from the Federal Trade Commission shows Social Security-related imposter scams are the number one government imposter scam in the United States. In 2022 alone, consumers lost more than $104.5 million to Social Security-related imposter scams.

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.