A phone scam featuring phony Social Security officials demanding personal information has been reported in Laramie and Sweetwater counties.

Sweetwater County Sheriff Mike Lowell says the swindlers are contacting people by phone, leaving a message if no one answers. They claim the intended victim's Social Security numbers have been used in illegal activity, and that the person needs to return a call to one of two phone numbers as soon as possible.

The caller threatens the intended victim with the cancellation of their Social Security number and the seizure of their bank accounts if the call is not returned.

Those who fall for the scheme and call one of the two numbers are asked for their actual Social Security number as well as a variety of other personal and financial information.

But the truth is that Social security officials do not make these kinds of phone calls, including asking you for a Social Security number and other such information.

Anyone who receives such a call is being asked to call their local Social Security office or the toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213.

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