A local woman told the I-Team the emotional story of how she was convinced to hand over her life savings of $80,000. She lost her money to what's being called one of the top scams.
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"It hurts very bad, sometimes I cry when I am by myself," Zenaida told the I-Team. She asked that we not show her full face or use her full name, but she wanted to tell us how she fell for the social security scam.
Zenaida came to the U.S. 50 years ago from the Philippines with $80 in her pocket. Now, she's out $80,000.
"I came from a poor family when I came here in United States," she explained.
"Your social security number has been suspended," was the recording left on Zenaida's phone. When she called the number back, Zenaida said: "She hypnotized me. I just follow what she's telling me."
That scammer told her to wire money or her Social Security benefits would be cut off because her Social Security number was attached to a criminal warrant in Texas.
Zenaida emptied her checking, savings and CDs: "And I put it together, $80,000."
The Federal Trade Commission said the scam is No. 1 when it comes to all government imposter schemes. The Social Security Office of the Inspector General says numbers from 2020 show 718,000 complaints and almost $45 million dollars in losses.
"When they see their caller ID, it says the Social Security Administration, so they might believe it," said Andrew Boockmeier, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the Social Security Office of the Inspector General's Chicago Field Office.
ABC7 I-Team Consumer Reporter Jason Knowles was able to record one of those scam calls.
WATCH: Social Security scammers call the I-Team
Scam Social Security calls steal money by claiming SSN theft
Fake Social Security: "Social Security how can I help you?"
Jason Knowles: "Yes, I'm recording you, is this Social Security?"
Fake Social Security: "Yes, this is Social Security. OK, OK, keep quiet and listen to me. Mr. Jason Robert, I have your file in front of me and I can see someone is misusing your Social Security Number and opening 77 accounts. Seventy-seven bank accounts in the state of Texas. Are you aware about this sir?"
Knowles: "No, are you serious?"
Victims are instructed to wire money to "re-activate" or "clear" a Social Security Number from alleged "criminal activity." Knowles was told that his number was being "misused and that I needed to send gift cards or bitcoin."
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Fake Social Security: "OK, do you have any nearby Target, any Walmart, any grocery store? Any bitcoin store?"
Jason: "Um yeah, I have Target, I have Walmart."
Fake Social Security: "OK, just do one thing. Get your debit card and go to the Target, go to the Walmart right now."
The man claiming to be from Social Security somehow had access to all of Knowles' information, including full name, address, and even his family's information.
Knowles: "What do I need to do? You said I have 77 account attempts in my name in Texas?"
Fake Social Security: "Yes, 77 bank accounts under your name in Texas and he's using your families information also, Allison, James, Jason, Jeffrey. So sir, listen to me very carefully you just tell me one thing, do you want to fight this case inside of the court house with a criminal attorney or can I forward your call to the ADR department or connect you to the ADR department?"
He didn't say what the ADR department was. The call continues after he connected Knowles.
Knowles: "Hello?"
Woman's voice: "Hi, is this (inaudible) With whom that I'm speaking with?"
Knowles: "Yes, I'm recording for my records because I'm terrified."
Woman hangs up.
That call was similar to the one Zenaida received on her answering machine.
Zenaida shared her Cook County Sheriff's report, her bank withdrawals and the trail of money she wired, likely overseas. The I-Team called the scam contact number back too and it was disconnected. So the I-Team brought her case to the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General in Chicago.
"Once the money travels, whether it's through wire or cash, there is little we can do on our side or in anybody's case to retrieve those funds," said Boockmeier.
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However, investigators said they strongly encourage people to report all calls.
"They are slowly putting the puzzle together as part of the larger investigation," Boockmeier said. "There is hope. We are working on it every day. It's our number one priority right now."
To prevent yourself from becoming a victim, hang up on any suspicious call that says it's coming from Social Security.
"We don't freeze Social Security numbers," Boockmeier said. "The Social Security Administration doesn't call and threaten you."
And Bookmeier said that if there is a legitimate issue with your Social Security number, Social Security doesn't call you but, "Victims of identity theft could get a letter."
If you get a letter from Social Security ,it would come in the mail, not by e mail. Social Security investigators say they're also informing people about these e mails with fake, social security letters attached. Those fake letters have the same scam story that fooled Zenaida.
If you have received a fake call that says it's from Social Security you should report it even if you didn't lose money. Remember Social Security will never ask you to wire money or send gift card codes.
Resources to protect you from the Social Security scam
Social Security Administration Scam Information
Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General
Federal Trade Commission Consumer Information
Create a My Social Security account to help you keep track of your records and identify any suspicious activity
Visit If You Want Extra Security to get information regarding extra security.