Hazelwood Police Warn Residents of Social Security Benefits Scam

Hazelwood police want all residents to be wary of a scam involving Social Security benefits tied to online accounts.

A number of Hazelwood residents and others in the area have complained about letters received pertaining to the set up of an online account for their Social Security benefits, but those people hadn’t signed up for one.

According to the warning statement, scammers have attempted to change the direct deposit information for monthly Social Security checks to another bank account, and the Office of the Inspector General has confirmed a number of these cases throughout the country.

The warning further states that the Social Security Administration said, "We are unable to provide specific information at this time. But it appears some people's personal information may been compromised by identity thieves sometime in their past. However, it is important to note when we receive reports of possible fraudulent activity, we immediately refer those allegations to the Social Security Office of the Inspector General for further investigation.”

If you or someone you know has been contacted about the opening of an online activity, and you haven’t registered for one, you can visit the local Social Security Administration office or or call the toll free number at 1-800-772-1213.

According to the Office of Inspector General website, it recommends in this kind of fraud, you should:

• never provide your personal information when receiving unsolicited calls or contacts