A united effort to protect consumers from fast‑growing scams
The Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) are leading a nationwide coalition of federal, state, and local agencies, non‑profit organizations, and private companies for National Slam the Scam Day on March 5, 2026. The initiative aims to help consumers recognize, avoid, and report scams as losses continue to rise across the country.
Scams have grown in scale and sophistication. According to the Federal Trade Commission, consumers lost more than $12.5 billion to scams in 2024, a 25% increase from the previous year. Investment scams accounted for over $5.7 billion, while imposter scams resulted in nearly $2.95 billion in losses.
SSA and OIG warn that everyone is a target
Scammers frequently impersonate trusted agencies or organizations, claim there is a problem with your account or benefits, or promise a prize or financial increase. The SSA’s national advisory highlights that scammers often “Pretend to be from an agency or organization you know” and “pressure you to act immediately.”
One of the most alarming trends is the push for hard‑to‑trace payments. The SSA/OIG alert cautions that criminals may insist on payment using gift cards, prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, money transfers, gold bars, or by mailing cash, noting that these methods make it difficult to recover stolen funds.
The agencies urge the public to stay calm, talk to someone they trust, and disengage from suspicious contact. As the advisory states: “Do not give scammers money or personal information – Ignore them!”
People should hang up on unexpected calls, delete suspicious messages, and avoid clicking links or opening attachments.
Community awareness is a key defense. Residents are encouraged to share scam‑prevention information with friends, family, and neighbors and to follow #SlamTheScam on social media. Additional resources are available at reportfraud.ftc.gov, ftc.gov/scams, and ssa.gov/scam.
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