Mower County Sheriff’s Office gives notice of scam call to a rural Dexter resident involving the Social Security Office

The Mower County Sheriff’s Office is reminding the public to never give out personal information over the phone, such as social security numbers and bank information after receiving a report of a rural Dexter resident being targeted by someone claiming to be from the Social Security Office.

Mower County Sheriff Steve Sandvik reported that the resident received the call on his cell phone at approximately 9:00 a.m. Wednesday morning.  The call was from a 786 area code, and when the caller answered the phone, the line disconnected. Sandvik stated that the victim later called the number back on a land line and the person who answered the call claimed to be an agent from the Social Security Office.  The person advised the victim that his social security number had been used in the commission of a crime in Texas. Sheriff Sandvik stated that the alleged agent asked the victim for his name, date of birth and his social security number to confirm that information. The victim gave the person the requested information, and the person then asked the victim for his banking information, at which point the victim hung up the phone.  

Sheriff Sandvik stated that the victim was advised that the call was indeed a scam, and he was advised to go directly to the social security office to make sure measures will be taken to protect his identity.  Sandvik went on to state that the Social Security Office would never contact anyone over the phone in such a manner, and he added that if anyone else has received such a call, they are urged to notify both the Mower County Sheriff’s Office and the Social Security Office.