SS Fraud Here - BEWARE!

[dillywho]

Just returned from Leesburg SS Office. I received two letters from the SS Administration. One stated that I had set up an online account which I did not. The other letter I received Saturday said that I had successfully changed by direct deposit to another account. I did not.

At the office in Leesburg, Ms. Johnson told me that there had been several instances in this area. I caught it in time and she placed a block on both our accounts, even though mine was the only one targeted so far. My next check had been redirected to The Bankcard Corp., and that is who the inspector general (I think she said it is) is currently investigating. They suspect that it is a prepaid debit card operation.

Should you get anything from the SS Administration, check it out ASAP. The Leesburg office is located at 118 E. Main St. in Leesburg. You can call 866-836-3623 to set up an appointment which is much faster. Very pleasant people to work with, too.

[ugotme]

FYI - Same EXACT thing happened to my wife about a month or so ago down here by Ft. Lauderdale.

Was told it mostly happens to people who don't set up an account - which is really a profile. Scammers come in got to your account and try to set up their own profile and try to change your DD bank.

Needless to say when I got home I immediately set up my own profile.

[CaptJohn]

FYI - Same EXACT thing happened to my wife about a month or so ago down here by Ft. Lauderdale.

Was told it mostly happens to people who don't set up an account - which is really a profile. Scammers come in got to your account and try to set up their own profile and try to change your DD bank.

Needless to say when I got home I immediately set up my own profile.

I just started SS last year and don't know what a profile is, where it is or how to access it. I must have some kind of account or I wouldn't be getting DD. I'm missing something here. Please elaborate. Thanks.

[KayakerNC]

I just started SS last year and don't know what a profile is, where it is or how to access it. I must have some kind of account or I wouldn't be getting DD. I'm missing something here. Please elaborate. Thanks.

What You Can Do Online (http://www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices/#a0=5)

Go to the "If you get SS benefits" link, from there you can create your SS account. Very safe and secure. Do it sooner rather than later.

[CaptJohn]

Thanks KNC. I'll check that out.

[TrudyM]

This was in the SPEEA (aerospace engineers union) newsletter awhile back. It said to go online and set up an account even if you are not yet applying for social security.
It said a lot of people are finding that crooks are applying for social security benefits for people who have turned 62 and as they use a different address and deposit info than yours you may never know about it until you try to apply at 65 or 69.

I find it really irritating that the Social Security Admin doesn't send a notice to the address listed on your tax return. The article said they don't share that kind of info and if you have never applied or set up an account they assume the info entered online is correct and that the person entering the info is you. There is also a problem with people filing bogus tax returns to get your refund. Their only suggestion for that was to adjust your withholding or quarterly tax payments so you aren't getting a refund.

[jblum315]

I set up an account. It took maybe 5 minutes. I'm not sure how that makes you safer, but good if it does.

[TrudyM]

I set up an account. It took maybe 5 minutes. I'm not sure how that makes you safer, but good if it does.

Because they don't have your password.