ATLANTA, Ga. — The Social Security Administration is warning people about callers who threaten them with arrest.
Channel 2′s Tom Jones spoke with a deputy who received one of the scam calls and started investigating.
Commander Vivian Bradford with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office stayed on the line when a scammer called her to expose how the process works.
“It’s sad how people will come up with all kinds of scams,” Bradford said.
Someone called Bradford on her work phone saying there was a warrant for her arrest after her Social Security information was used in a serious crime.
The scammer wanted her bank information and then asked Bradford to buy $5,000 worth of gift cards.
Bradford then told the caller she was law enforcement.
“When I said that, quite naturally, I got the dial tone,” Bradford said.
Clayton County Sheriff Victor Hill says someone called him claiming there was a warrant for his arrest after someone used his Social Security number in a murder.
Hill played along and traced the call.
Now Clayton County deputies are searching for Anthony Clark Jr., who formerly resided in Henry County.
Bradford wants people to be careful and share this information with family members.
“Make them aware not to give out any information over the phone if someone were to call requesting their social security number,” Bradford said.
The Social Security Administration says it will never call you and threaten arrest or a legal action.
They will also not request payment via gift cards.
The Social Security Administration says the best practice is to hang up if you receive this type of call and to be very cautious of unsolicited calls from the government.