The NARSSA Team
March 5, 2026 In the News
March 5, 2026, is National “Slam the Scam” Day.
Designated by the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration, this outreach campaign raises awareness about Social Security scams and other government imposter schemes. Slam the Scam Day is part of National Consumer Protection Week (March 1–7, 2026).
Scams continue to grow in scale and sophistication, affecting individuals and families across the country. In 2025, the Federal Trade Commission received more than 330,000 complaints related to government impersonation fraud, a 25% increase over the previous year. Social Security remains one of the most frequently impersonated agencies.
Scammers often attempt to create urgency and fear to pressure individuals into acting quickly. Anyone can be targeted.
Common Red Flags
Scammers may:
-Pretend to be from a trusted government agency
-Claim there is a problem
-Pressure you to act immediately
-Demand payment through gift cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, mailed cash, or other hard-to-trace methods
Government agencies will not threaten you, demand immediate payment, or require payment using gift cards or cryptocurrency.
What You Should Do
If you receive a suspicious call, text, email, or message:
-Hang up or ignore it.
-Do not provide personal information.
-Do not send money.
Be sure to report scams to the appropriate agency. Social Security-related scams can be reported to ssa.gov/scam and other government imposter scams can be reporter to reportfraud.ftc.gov.
Awareness is one of the most effective tools in preventing fraud. Recognizing the warning signs can help protect your personal information, your finances, and your peace of mind.
For additional educational materials and official resources related to Slam the Scam Day, click here.
On Slam the Scam Day, take a moment to review the red flags and share this information with friends and family. Staying informed helps protect our communities from government imposter scams.
Photo by rupixen on Unsplash
