LINCOLN -
The Nebraska Attorney General's Office has warned consumers against paying for services that otherwise are offered free of charge by the U.S. Government.
If you have recently announced your engagement or marriage in your local newspaper or if you are the proud parent of a new baby, you may be receiving a very "official" looking offer in the mail. This offer may be to notify Social Security of your new married name, or to obtain a Social Security number for your newborn baby - - - for a fee. Another advertisement may offer to obtain your personal earnings and benefit estimate statements for you from the Social Security Administration - - - again for a fee.
Offers of these types are often presented to look as if they came directly from an official governmental agency. They may have a return address such as
"Federal Service Record Agency," or some other name with
"federal" in the title. The envelope may be marked
"Official Notification," or something similar, to make you think it is an
official mailing from the federal government.
Consumers should be aware that all of these services offered for a fee are available AT NO COST from the U.S. Government. In addition to paying for a service that is available free of charge, you may be providing unscrupulous people with highly personal and confidential information that could be used to obtain phony identifications or tap into your credit
file.
According to the Social Security Administration, many county clerks will provide you with a change of name form for Social Security when you apply for a marriage license, and hospitals will submit the application for a Social Security number for your new baby if you request it. Of course, forms are also available from your local Social Security Administration office.
Legitimate marketers use public information regarding marriages, births, and death records to market everything from insurance policies to lawn services. However, scam artists also use this
information.
For
more information about this or any other consumer issue,
contact:
Attorney
General's Office
Consumer Protection Division
2115 State Capitol Building
Lincoln, NE 68509
(402) 471-2682
Consumer Protection Line: 800-727-6432