New scheme seems to use deceptive phone line to get personal information

The phone number of a hotline being utilized by the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services apparently is being used by scammers to get personal information from people who consider they are talking to OIG staff. New scheme seems to use deceptive phone line to get personal information.

The OIG hotline accepts tips and complaints about potential scam and mismanagement including HHS programs, which OIG inquires.

Although, HHS now is warning clients that scammers are altering the numbers that appear on caller ID devices; when the criminals call, devices display the HHS hotline phone number (1-800-HHS-TIPS). Victims who receive the calls are at risk for offering the scammers personal information that can be used to raid a bank account or perform other fraudulent activity.

New scheme seems to use deceptive phone line to get personal information.

The OIG affirms that it doesn’t use the hotline number to make outgoing calls; the organization is advising consumers not to answer phone calls that purportedly come from HHS. The agency further is asserting that it remains safe to call the hotline to report fraud or mismanagement, and it specifically motivates those who might have been victimized by the phone call hoax to contact the agency by straightly calling the hotline.

The agency counsels consumers to not provide data over the phone to a person posing as from HHS, like Social Security numbers, dates of birth, credit card numbers, driver license numbers, bank account numbers or mother’s maiden names.

When calling HHS to report fraud, involve date and time you got the phone call and details about the call. People also can file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission.