An automated call claiming to be from social security worried Jean.
It said she had a benefits hearing and for more information she should dial in her social security number.

Jean doesn’t want her last named used but says, “It dawned on me, why did I do that and then I thought maybe they do that now.”

However John Garlinger from the Social Security Administration says, “I am not aware of any calls being made by anyone in social security.” He says Social Security doesn’t use automated calls and won’t ask for your social security number unless you call them.

Postal Inspector Dave Margritz has investigated scams for 15 years and he’s not surprised scam artists are using automated call systems. Margrtiz says, “When it’s automated you don’t have someone with a foreign accent or someone you can ask questions of.”

Margritz suggests anyone who punched in their social security number check with a website called annualcreditreport.org to make sure their identity hasn’t been misused.