National Slam the Scam Day
National Slam the Scam Day is a public awareness initiative designed to educate people about government imposter scams, particularly those involving Social Security and other federal agencies.
Quick Facts
- When is it: First Thursday of March annually
- Tagged as: Consumer protection awareness day
- What’s the hashtag: #SlamTheScamChat #NCPW2024
- When was it founded: 2020
- Who founded it: Social Security Administration (SSA) and Office of Inspector General (OIG)
History
The day emerged in response to the rising threat of government imposter scams. The Social Security Administration created this initiative to combat the growing number of scams where criminals impersonate government officials to steal money and personal information from unsuspecting victims.
Timeline
- 2020: First National Slam the Scam Day launched
- 2021: Expanded to include other government imposter scams
- 2022: Partnered with FTC’s National Consumer Protection Week
- 2024: Celebrating 5th anniversary with expanded digital outreach
Future Dates
| Year | Month | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | March | 6 | Thursday |
| 2026 | March | 5 | Thursday |
| 2027 | March | 4 | Thursday |
| 2028 | March | 2 | Thursday |
| 2029 | March | 1 | Thursday |
| 2030 | March | 7 | Thursday |
How It’s Observed
Organizations conduct webinars, social media campaigns, and educational events to teach people how to identify and avoid scams. The day features Twitter chats, online workshops, and public awareness campaigns in multiple languages.
Fun Facts About Scam Prevention
- The FTC reported over 2.4 million fraud reports in 2023
- The average loss in imposter scams is $995 per person
- Social Security impersonation scams are among the most common government imposter frauds
Quiz
- What should you do if you receive a suspicious call claiming to be from Social Security?
- Can government officials demand gift card payments?
- Should you trust caller ID showing a government agency?
(Answers: 1. Hang up immediately, 2. No, never, 3. No, scammers can fake caller ID)
FAQs
- Government agencies never threaten arrest for immediate payment
- Official communications come through mail, not unsolicited calls
- Never share personal information with unexpected callers
- Report all scam attempts to the OIG website
Related Days
- National Consumer Protection Week
- Cybersecurity Awareness Month
- World Consumer Rights Day
- Identity Theft Awareness Week