attorney general

Attorney General Josh Shapiro is alerting Pennsylvania consumers to a new twist on an old scam involving Social Security numbers.

Callers are telling consumers their number has been compromised or suspended, rather than the usual tactic of saying it was stolen or demanding certain action to receive benefits.

Some scam artists are impersonating government agencies and threatening arrest, saying they must make an immediate payment in order to avoid jail time.

These deceptive callers tell consumers that someone is using their Social Security number and scare them into making quick decisions that can be devastatingly costly.

Consumers who feel that they have been victimized or received a call similar to this may file a complaint with the Office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection by visiting www.attorneygeneral.gov, or by calling the office at 800-441-2555.