Jeri Fields: Safety from deceptive promoting – The Tribune

Social Safety works with the Workplace of the Inspector Basic to guard you from scams that use Social Safety as bait.  

Part 1140 of the Social Safety Act permits OIG to impose extreme penalties in opposition to anybody who engages in deceptive Social Safety-related promoting or imposter communications.  You’ll be able to overview Part 1140 at www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title11/1140.htm.

For instance, the OIG might impose a penalty in opposition to anybody who:

• Mails deceptive solicitations that seem like from or approved by Social Safety.

• Operates an imposter web web site or social media account designed to appear to be it belongs to or is allowed by Social Safety.

• Sends emails or textual content messages or makes phone calls claiming to be from Social Safety. 

• Sells Social Safety’s free types, functions, and publications with out our written approval.

• Prices a price for a service that Social Safety offers freed from cost with out offering a clearly seen discover that Social Safety offers the service without spending a dime.

In case you obtain a deceptive or suspicious Social Safety-related commercial or imposter communication, please tell us instantly.  Attempt to seize as a lot details about the communication as you possibly can.  

Right here’s what you are able to do:

• For suspicious web sites or social media accounts, please take a screenshot of the web page. Please word the web site deal with or social media hyperlink – and the way you got here throughout it.  

• For emails and textual content messages, please seize the whole message and any message hyperlinks.

• For U.S. mail solicitations, please retain the entire communication, together with the skin envelope and all inserts.

• For phone solicitations, please word the caller identification telephone quantity and any firm title or name again quantity that the caller or recorded message offers.

You’ll be able to assist us cease deceptive promoting and communications.  We encourage you to report potential scams to the OIG at oig.ssa.gov.  It’s also possible to name our fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or ship an e mail to [email protected].

This info will assist OIG find the supply of the suspicious solicitation or communication.  It’s also possible to take a look at our publication, What You Have to Know About Deceptive Promoting, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10005.pdf.

Please share this info with family and friends and assist us unfold the phrase on social media!

Jeri Fields is the supervisor of the district Social Safety workplace in Ironton.