Local Social Security Scam Calls Reported

Darren Doyle, story:
Another series of scam calls are making their way through the Edmonson County area from those claiming there are problems with your social security number. We have recently received multiple reports of these ​calls and we have also received the calls in our own office.

The numbers appear to be coming from a local prefix with area 270 and common local cell prefixes, but the calls are anything but local. 

We received our latest report from local resident Donna Bagshaw, who did her due diligence with the phone calls.

"In the last two days, I’ve received calls, both with 270-246 prefixes, stating that they are with the Social Security Administration," Mrs. Bagshaw said. "The call begins with a pre-recorded message telling you they’ve received notice that there’s suspicious information regarding your social security number."

Mrs. Bagshaw and others reported that the call asks you to select “1” to speak with a person. This is the same call we received as well.

"Both times I was connected to someone with a very strong accent," she added. "Each caller stated their name and their ID # which begins with “SSA”. They asked if I was given a case number and when I said no, they asked for my date of birth. At that point, I asked for their contact information and then ended the call. I know most elderly people are terrified of any implied interruption in their social security benefits and the inability to hear and understand what the caller is saying just adds to the insecurity."

Mrs. Bagshaw said she asked for their contact info and she was given 10160 Technology Blvd E, Dallas, Texas and phone number 214-366-6900. She said when she tried to verify the info, she found the contact belongs to the DEA office in Dallas.

"I called and spoke to an agent that confirmed these scam calls are going out all across the country."

Sheriff Shane Doyle said if you receive a phone call like this to automatically assume it's a scam call and hang up.

"You can always look up the official phone number on an organization or agency's website, look on a statement you may have at home and call them," said the Sheriff. Verify if they need something from you because that's relatively safe. These organizations don't call citizens at home and ask for personal information. It's also important to check on the elderly and discuss these scenarios with them, as they're sometimes the most susceptible to these types of scams."