Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has warned Texans a second time this year about scammers sending fraudulent emails using his name, signature, and official Office of the Attorney General Seal to obtain, steal and misuse personal information.
The Office of Attorney General issued a similar warning in April about a similar scam. Similar warnings were also issued in 2019 and 2022.
Scammers are using the official OAG seal while purporting to be from the U.S. Social Security Board. The emails warn Texans that their Social Security number will be suspended because they are being charged with a crime like drug trafficking, money laundering, theft or tax evasion. The fraudulent emails sent also instruct recipients to call a toll-free phone number and provide personal information.
The AG’s office is instructing anyone and anyone they know who has received a letter or email that sounds like this to not call the number in the letter but to instead report the suspected fraud to the AG’s Consumer Protection Division. Reports can be made by calling 1-800-621-0508, or online.
The U.S. Inspector General and Social Security Administration have also issued similar warnings. “Recognizing the signs of a scam can help you avoid falling victim to one,” it has warned. It has also listed the types of scams being used including scammers who:
threaten to suspend your Social Security number;warn of arrest or legal action;demand immediate payment;require payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, Internet currency, or by mailing cash;pressure you for personal information (date of birth, SSN or bank account number);request secrecy;threaten to seize your bank account;promise to increase your Social Security benefit;try to gain your trust by providing fake “documentation” or false “evidence”;make demands and threats, or requests immediate action.
The OIG is also encouraging everyone to report such scams here.
The Social Security Administration has also published extensive information and toolkits about scams using the agency’s letterhead or calls made by individuals falsely claiming to be SSA officials.
For those who may have fallen prey to such scams, the FTC published information, “What To Do if You Were Scammed.” It was produced to help consumers who might have paid money to a possible scammer or gave them access to their personal information, computer or phone.
