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Department of Human Services Warns Consumers of Government Imposter Scam

The Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) want you to know about a current government imposter scam in which callers posing as federal employees are trying to get or verify personal information. Sometimes, the caller asks you to verify your name and then just hangs up. Other times, the caller might ask for detailed information, such as the last digits of your Social Security or bank account number. Imposters might say they need this information to help you or a family member. But their real reason is to steal from you or sell your information to other crooks.

Scammers know how to change their caller IDs to show false information. Your caller ID might read “HHS Tips” or “Federal Government” when they call. The phone number could have the area code “202” for Washington, D.C., the headquarters of many federal agencies. The phone number may even be for a real government agency. But don’t be fooled by this phone call. How can you tell the caller is an imposter?

What should you do if you receive one of these phone calls?