AUSTIN, Ind.–A scammer that has called at least one person in southern Indiana, is going through some trouble to seem like a state police detective, to try and get peoples personal info.
The victim told police they got a phone call from someone claiming to be from the Social Security Administration. The caller said they were alerting them that their Social Security was being suspended due to fraudulent activity in Texas and that they would soon get a phone call from the Indiana State Police.
LISTEN: Sgt. Carey Hulls warns about technology and phone scams.
The would-be scammer also provided the number that would call, with the proper 765 area code.
When that phone call came it actually showed up as Indiana State Police.
“With computer technology and the way phone systems work now, they can call and basically make the Caller Id say whatever they want it to say,” said Sgt. Carey Hulls, with the State Police Sellersburg post. “Just because Caller ID says one thing does not mean that’s actually who’s calling or where they’re calling from.”
The state police say neither the Social Security Administration, the IRS, nor the Indiana State Police will ever call requesting personal information over the phone, text, or email. If you get a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security, or any federal or state agency who asks for personal or financial information, hang-up.
The Social Security Administration advises reporting suspected fraudulent calls to the Office of the Inspector General at OIG.SSA.GOV.
State Police say never provide information over the phone about your personal identity, social security number, bank account(s), or credit card number(s) to an unknown caller.
