Empowering people
to thrive as they age.

Join us on March 6th

for National Slam the Scam Day 

On March 6, 2025, the Social Security Administration (SSA) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG) will hold the 6th National Slam the Scam Day to keep you informed of the ongoing schemes scammers use. In 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) reported that consumers lost over $10 billion to scams; and of that $617.9 million to government imposter scams.

SSA is still the top government agency targeted by scammers. As of November 2024, government imposter scam losses for 2024 exceeded $577 million, indicating that the scammers are still succeeding in their ruses. 

Scammers use your well-earned money to help fuel their criminal enterprises, which according to FTC and FBI reports, may often involve organized crimes such as drug and human trafficking. Moreover, scammers will also draw unsuspecting persons into their crimes to help transfer and move funds stolen from others.

SSA and OIG partner with other government agencies, non-profit organizations, and the private sector to increase awareness about how to spot government imposter scams and keep money and personal information safe. 

Although the tactics vary, there are some consistent red flags to help you to spot scams.

Always remember the four P’s to assist you in identifying scammers more quickly:

1) Scammers will pretend to be from a legitimate, reputable agency or business to gain your trust.

2) Scammers will then often present a prize, such as an offer to increase your benefits, or make you aware of an unknown problem with your account or with an agency, such as SSA.

3) Scammers will pressure you to act immediately.
4) Scammers will ask for hard-to-trace payments, such as with a gift card, cryptocurrency, gold bars, wire transfers, or by mailing cash.

Knowing the 4Ps will give you the confidence to speedily slam the scam.

“Slam the Scam is one of our most effective anti-fraud measures and we are excited to spearhead the 6th National Slam the Scam Day. This campaign is just as significant as our first one because the losses are still too high and the number of consumers being scammed is still very concerning,” said Assistant Inspector General for Audit performing the duties of the Inspector General, Michelle L. Anderson. 

Consumer awareness is the most effective method of deterring these crimes, therefore, the annual National Slam the Scam Day is part of the Federal Trade Commission’s National Consumer Protection Week, (NCPW), March 2-8, 2025.

If you or someone you know has been a potential victim of Medicare fraud, please call 1-800-699-9043. You can also visit www.illinoissmp.org for more information on how to help prevent, detect, and report Medicare fraud.

March 4, 2025, at 7:00 pm - SMP Presentation and Bingo  

Prairie Trails Public Library (8449 S. Moody Avenue Burbank, IL 60459) 

March 5, 2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation 

Blue Island Public Library (2433 York Street Blue Island, IL  60406) 

March 10, 2025, at 10:00 am – SMP Presentation and Bingo

Oak Lawn Public Library (9427 Raymond Ave. Oak Lawn, IL 60453) 

March 12, 2025, from 9:30 am until 2:00 pm – Active Senior Expo

Lorena’s Banquets (543 W. Lake Street Addison, IL 60101) 

March 12, 2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation 

Tinley Park Public Library (7851 Timber Drive Tinley Park, IL  60477) 

March 12, 2025, at 2:00 pm – SMP presentation (Closed Invite)

Evergreen Senior Living (10820 183rd St. Orland Park, IL 60467) 

March 14, 2025, from 11:30 am until 12:30 pm – SMP Presentation and Bingo

(Closed Invite)

Lake Vista Apartments (1440 South Indiana Avenue Chicago, IL 60605) 

March 15, 2025, at 10:00 am. – Calumet City Senior Fair  

Calumet City Public Library (660 Manistee Ave. Calumet City, IL  60409) 

March 17, 2025, at 12:30 pm – SMP Presentation and Bingo

Markham Public Library (16640 Kedzie Ave. Markham, IL 60428) 

March 18, 2025, from 10:30 am until 11:30 am – SMP Presentation 

Hamdard Health (1542 W Devon Ave. Chicago, IL 60660) 

March 19, 2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation 

Blue Island Public Library (2433 York St. Blue Island, IL  60406)

March 19, 2025, at 12:00 pm – SMP Presentation and Bingo 

Quinn Center of St. Eulalia (815 Lexington St. Maywood, IL, 60153) 

March 21, 2025, at 10:00 am – Senior Fair  

Pav YMCA (2947 S. Oak Park Avenue Berwyn, IL  60402) 

March 24, 2025, at 11:30 am – SMP Presentation and Bingo 

Brookfield Colgrass Cafe (9022 31st St. Brookfield, Il 60513) 

March 25, 2025, at 11:00 am – Mexican Consulate – Spanish SMP Presentation

Consulate General of Mexico (204 S Ashland Ave. Chicago, IL  60607) 

March 25, 2025, from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm – SMP Presentation and Bingo 

Flossmoor Public Library (1000 Sterling Ave. Flossmoor, IL 60422) 

March 27,2025, at 1:00 pm – SMP Presentation 

Centennial Park (100 S Western Ave. Park Ridge, IL  60068-3872) 

March 28, 2025, from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm SMP Presentation for TRIAD Event (Closed Invite)

Hanover Township Senior Services (240 Illinois Rte. 59 Bartlett, IL 60103) 

March 31, 2025, from 10:30 am until 11:30 am – SMP Presentation

Hamdard Health (1542 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60660) 

March 4, 2025

Empowering people to thrive as they age.