BBB of Greater Houston & South Texas

News Release: For Immediate Release

The Better Business Bureau Serving:
Brazoria, Ft. Bend, Galveston, Harris, Matagorda, Montgomery, & Wharton Counties. (Texas)

Better Business Bureau Tips:
Editorial Ideas From Your Better Business Bureau

Contacts:
Brent Rogers:
Office: 713-341-6122, e-mail: brogers@bbbhou.org

www.bbbhou.org * bbbinfo@bbbhou.org * Council of BBBs: www.bbb.org *
24-Hour Information: 713-868-9500, (800) 275-3626 (from area code 409 only)

Beware of Phony Social Security Scams

The Better Business Bureau receives numerous consumer inquiries and complaints about direct mailings that use the words "Social Security" or other government-like symbols as come-ons to get consumers attention - and sometimes their money.

One type of mailing offers to provide, for a fee, various services which are available from the Social Security Administration at no charge, such as, obtaining a Social Security number for a newborn, notifying Social Security of name changes for newly married persons, or obtaining personal earnings and benefit estimate statements. Consumers can obtain this information for free by calling the Social Security Administration.

Another type of solicitation offers an extra Social Security check to senior citizens who send back money or provide their bank account or Social Security numbers. Recipients are being asked to send a "filing fee" of varying amounts or to fill out a form including their Social Security and bank account numbers so the fee could be "automatically deducted." Social Security recipients usually do get letters from the government when their benefits increase or the government may send out a statement of taxes paid and future benefits due. The federal government will never ask for money for a processing fee. Also, government employees normally will not ask for someone's Social Security number - they already know it.

Consumers who fill out applications for these fraudulent companies, are providing them with enough confidential information about yourself to let them use your identity to establish credit, apply for a loan, buy a car, or conduct many other transactions in your name.

If you receive misleading information about a "Social Security" service from someone seeking payment for the service, send the entire solicitation to the Social Security Administration. If you have a complaint, contact your Better Business Bureau (BBB).

The BBB operates the Silver Sleuths volunteer program to assist older adults with specialized problems such as Social Security scams. If you are a senior citizen with a consumer question, call 713-341-6188 for personalized assistance.

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