Community
Social Security Scam Warning
Date: 11/27/2024
Location: Bear Valley Police Department
The Bear Valley Police Department has received reports of attempted social security scams in our area. These typically involve attempts to get your personal information by claiming to be with the Social Security Administration.
If you receive a call, text, email, letter, or message on social media that:
Scammers may use legitimate names and phone numbers of Social Security Administration (SSA) or SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) employees. Do not rely on names or caller ID to verify that the caller is a government employee. Many scam calls “spoof” official government phone numbers, or even numbers for local police departments. It is a scam!
Phone scammers may send official-looking letters or reports by U.S. mail, email, text, or social media message to convince you they are legitimate. The letters may appear to be from SSA or SSA OIG, with official letterhead and government jargon. They may also contain misspellings and typos. It is a scam!
Generally, SSA mainly calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and requires an update to their record, or a person who has requested a phone call from the agency. If a person is not in one of these situations, they normally would not receive a call from the agency.
If you aren’t sure if something is a scam, contact the Bear Valley Police Department at 661-861-3110.
Social Security Scam Warning 
Social Security Scam Warning
Dain Hurst
Acting Chief of Police
Bear Valley Police Department
Bear Valley Police Department
Date: 11/27/2024
Location: Bear Valley Police Department
The Bear Valley Police Department has received reports of attempted social security scams in our area. These typically involve attempts to get your personal information by claiming to be with the Social Security Administration.
If you receive a call, text, email, letter, or message on social media that:
- Threatens to suspend your Social Security number, even if they have part or all of your Social Security number
- Warns of arrest or legal action
- Demands or requests immediate payment
- Requires payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, Internet currency, or by mailing cash
- Pressures you for personal information
- Requests secrecy
- Threatens to seize your bank account
- Promises to increase your Social Security benefit
- Tries to gain your trust by providing fake “documentation,” false “evidence,” or the name of a real government official
Scammers may use legitimate names and phone numbers of Social Security Administration (SSA) or SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) employees. Do not rely on names or caller ID to verify that the caller is a government employee. Many scam calls “spoof” official government phone numbers, or even numbers for local police departments. It is a scam!
Phone scammers may send official-looking letters or reports by U.S. mail, email, text, or social media message to convince you they are legitimate. The letters may appear to be from SSA or SSA OIG, with official letterhead and government jargon. They may also contain misspellings and typos. It is a scam!
Generally, SSA mainly calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and requires an update to their record, or a person who has requested a phone call from the agency. If a person is not in one of these situations, they normally would not receive a call from the agency.
If you aren’t sure if something is a scam, contact the Bear Valley Police Department at 661-861-3110.
Address/Location
Bear Valley Community Services District
28999 S. Rd
Tehachapi, CA 93561
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 661-821-3239