If you haven’t got it yet … you probably will.

Recently, people are receiving calls where individuals posing as Social Security employees call and ask for personal information like your name, Social Security number and bank account information. The caller alleges that this information is needed because of an issue regarding fraud, or cancellation of your social security account or additional funds/rebates or they allege that because of a computer glitch your personal information has been lost.

Another scam used an email that was designed to look like it came from Social Security. It provided information about the annual cost-of-living-adjustment and directed readers to a website designed to look like Social Security’s site so people could “update their information” — valuable information to identity thieves and criminals.

In an effort to combat such scams, the SS Office wants to make one thing perfectly clear: Social Security will not send you an email asking you to give your personal information, such as your Social Security number, date of birth, or other private information. If someone saying they are from Social Security does email you requesting information, don’t respond to the message. Instead, contact your local Social Security office or call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to see whether we really need any information from you.

Whatever you do, don’t fall victim to a scam. Don’t give out your personal information.

Social Security and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) take these scams very seriously and do everything they can to stop the perpetrators and educate the public. To report suspicious activity, please call the OIG Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call the OIG TTY number at 1-866-501-2101.) A Public Fraud Reporting form is also available online at OIG’s website: https://www.socialsecurity.gov/fraudreport/oig/public_fraud_reporting/form.htm.

You will always receive prior notification from SS by mail or telephone before a personal visit is made. When in doubt, contact them at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and they can verify the identity of the Social Security employee who has contacted you.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation offers a great deal of information on Scams and Safety. Their website is http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety.