Keep your information and money secure by staying aware of possible telephone scams involving people who falsely identify themselves as a Health and Human Services employee. Scammers might talk in a rude or rushed manner to trick you into giving information out quickly. They might ask you to verify or give personal information such as your name, address, birth date and Social Security number. Using a method called “caller ID spoofing,” scammers can even call from what looks like a trustworthy number. Keep in mind HHS employees will never say you’ve been selected to receive large sums of money, and they won’t ask you for money. HHS offers the following tips to protect yourself from these scams:
If a suspicious caller asks for personal information or money, don’t provide it. Hang up immediately.
If you think the call may have been legitimate, call HHS back using a number you trust such as 2-1-1 or an official HHS number listed here.
Report suspected scams to local law enforcement, the Federal Trade Commission through their online form and the Texas Attorney General through the Consumer Complaint Form. If you think the scam could involve fraud, waste or abuse by clients or providers of health and human services programs, report it to the HHS Office of Inspector General through the reporting form or by calling 800-436-6184. To learn more about identifying scams and joining the National and Texas Do Not Call List, visit the FTC website and the Texas Attorney General website.
