National Slam the Scam Day is an initiative created in 2020 to raise public awareness about Social Security-related scams and other government imposter scams. Consumer awareness is the most effective method of deterring these crimes. As such, Slam the Scam Day is held annually as part of the Federal Trade Commission’s National Consumer Protection Week.

We need your help to #SlamTheScam on government imposters. Learn how to spot scams, identify red flags, and report suspicious activity. Produced at U.S. taxpayer expense.

Don’t let scammers catch you unaware of their malicious tricks and schemes. Scammers are counting on you being uninformed of their deceptive tactics so that you will fall prey to their ruses. Don’t let it happen.

Real government officials will NEVER:

  • threaten arrest or legal action against you unless you immediately send money;
  • promise to increase your benefits or resolve a problem if you pay a fee or move your money into a protected account;
  • require payment with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfer, Internet currency, or by mailing cash; or
  • try to gain your trust by providing fake “documentation,” false “evidence,” or the name of a real government official.

Additional resources for the press and public can be found at https://www.ssa.gov/scam/resources.html. The public is encouraged to report Social Security-related scams and fraud online at https://secure.ssa.gov/ipff/home. Other government imposter scams may be reported to the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftc.gov/scams.