Who calls from (978) 797-4734? Reported 14 times from Massachusetts

About (978) 797-4734

'We've been trying to reach you about your Social Security number, it's been suspended due to suspicious activity,' the voice on the other end of the line says, trying to sound as official as possible. You might feel a surge of worry at this point, wondering what's going on and how to fix it. Before you know it, the caller is asking you to verify your Social Security number and then to pay a fine using gift cards to avoid arrest.

This is where you need to step back and take a deep breath. The caller is trying to create a sense of urgency and fear to get you to act without thinking. They might claim that your Social Security number has been used in a crime or that there's a warrant out for your arrest. The goal is to get you to pay them money or give them your personal information.

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Let's work backward to understand how the scammer built up to this point. The call often starts with a recorded message or a live person claiming to be from the Social Security Administration or the IRS. They might say that your Social Security number has been compromised or that you owe back taxes. The message is designed to be alarming and to get you to call them back or press a number to speak to an agent.

Once you're on the line with the scammer, they'll try to verify your identity by asking for your Social Security number, date of birth, or other personal information. They might also ask you to pay a fine or fee using gift cards, wire transfers, or other prepaid cards. The scammer will tell you that this is the only way to resolve the issue and that you need to act quickly to avoid consequences.

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Understanding the Scam

The key to this scam is the sense of urgency and fear that the caller creates. They're trying to get you to act without thinking, to pay them money or give them your personal information without verifying who they are or what they're doing. The scammer might also use high-pressure tactics, telling you that you need to pay immediately or that the offer will expire soon.

It's also important to understand that the Social Security Administration and the IRS will never call you and ask for your Social Security number or payment over the phone. They'll also never threaten to arrest you or suspend your Social Security number if you don't pay a fine.

• The caller is trying to create a sense of urgency and fear
• The scammer will ask for your personal information or payment
• The Social Security Administration and the IRS will never call you and ask for payment over the phone

So, what can you do to protect yourself from this scam? First, never give out your personal information or payment to someone who calls you out of the blue. Always verify who the caller is and what they're doing before you provide any information. You can also hang up the phone and call the Social Security Administration or the IRS directly to see if there's an issue with your account.

Next time your phone rings with a call like this, don't panic and don't give out any information - simply hang up and report the number to the authorities.