Scams are a popular topic on the blog, and this year, National Slam the Scam Day occurs on March 5, 2026, during National Consumer Protection Week. The initiative was created by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to educate the public about these scams and reduce fraud.

Help the SSA Slam the Scam

National Slam the Scam Day is an annual awareness campaign focused on helping people recognize, avoid, and report scams, particularly those involving criminals who impersonate government agencies such as the Social Security Administration.

You can take part by learning how to recognize scams, spreading the word, and reporting suspicious activity.

Learn How to Recognize a Scam

Learn about common tactics and how to recognize the signs. These are some common tactics used by scammers:

An unexpected problem or offer of a prize or government benefit increase.
Scammers often claim there is an issue with your Social Security number, benefits, or taxes—or they may say you qualify for a sudden bonus, refund, or payment you did not apply for.

Pressure to act immediately.
They insist that you must respond right away to avoid penalties, arrest, or losing benefits, hoping you will act before thinking it through.

Requests for unusual payments such as cryptocurrency, gift cards, gold bars, cash, or wire transfers.
Fraudsters prefer payment methods that are difficult to trace or reverse and may claim this is the safest way to “protect” your money.

Threats of arrest, lawsuits, or law enforcement involvement.
Government agencies do not call demanding payment under threat of immediate arrest.

Requests to “verify” your full Social Security number.
They often ask you to confirm personal information they claim is already on file.

Emails or texts with suspicious links.
Messages may direct you to fake websites that closely resemble official government pages.

Requests for remote access to your computer or phone.
Scammers may ask you to download software so they can “help,” which actually gives them control of your device.

Unexpected checks or overpayment schemes.
They may send a fake payment and ask you to return part of it, leaving you responsible when the check bounces.

If you notice even one of these red flags, pause and verify independently through official government contact information before responding.

How to Avoid a Scam

Look out for yourself and the people around you. If you get a phone call, text, email, social media message, or letter from someone claiming to represent Social Security and something feels off, take a step back before doing anything.

Stay steady. Messages that spark fear, panic, or sudden excitement are designed to cloud judgment. Pause, breathe, and consider discussing it with someone you trust before responding.

End the contact. If it is a call, hang up. If it is a message, do not reply. Avoid clicking on links, downloading attachments, or engaging in further conversation.

Guard your finances. Fraudsters often demand payment through methods that are difficult to track, such as gift cards, prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, money transfer services, or mailed cash. Legitimate government agencies do not require payment in these forms.

Keep your personal details private. Be wary of anyone claiming to be from a government office or law enforcement agency who contacts you about an unfamiliar issue. Even if they appear to know some of your information, that does not confirm their identity.

Share what you know. Talking openly about scam tactics helps protect friends, family members, and neighbors. Awareness is one of the most effective tools in stopping fraud before it spreads.

How Report a Suspected Scam

You can report suspicious activity and suspected scams to SSA OIG oig.ssa.gov/report for Social Security related scams and all others to the FTC reportfraud.ftc.gov.

Origins of Slam the Scam Day

The initiative began in 2020 when the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General created a dedicated day to address the growing number of Social Security–related scams. Reports of fraud involving fake calls and messages claiming to be from Social Security were rising quickly at the time.

Criminals were using fear-based tactics, threatening arrest or benefit suspension, to pressure people into sharing personal information or sending money. As scam losses continued to increase nationwide, the campaign expanded to highlight other types of government imposter scams as well.

As a result, National Slam the Scam Day was created to educate the public and reduce fraud. Scammers often contact potential victims through phone calls, text messages, emails, and social media. They typically manufacture urgency, claiming there is a problem with benefits, a legal issue, or a special opportunity that requires immediate action.

Their objective is to trick individuals into providing sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, banking details, or payment through gift cards and wire transfers. Raising awareness about these tactics helps people recognize warning signs before damage is done.

What Happens on National Slam the Scam Day

On this day, government agencies and consumer protection organizations share educational materials, safety guidance, and clear instructions on how to report scams. Social media campaigns encourage the public to share tips and discuss common fraud tactics. Communities are urged to talk with family members and friends, particularly older adults who are often targeted.

National Slam the Scam Day serves as a nationwide reminder to stay alert, verify unexpected communications, and safeguard personal information. By increasing awareness and encouraging open conversations, the campaign aims to reduce financial losses and strengthen consumer confidence in spotting and stopping scams.

On this blog, you can find many scams exposed, mostly relating to Internet scams. Just search “scam” and they will all pop up. You might be surprised how many there are!