On Thursday the Clarkstown Police Department took to social media to warn residents of a social security scam targeting the area.

** Fraud Alert ** In the past 2 hours we have received many calls from residents notifying us that they received calls from suspects threatening to suspend social security numbers if they don’t pay money.

Social Security numbers Do Not get suspended. This is just a scam that’s after your SSN, bank account number, or money.

Please hang up if anyone calls about your social security number.

Here are a few tips to protect yourself:

-Never give out or confirm personal information over the phone, via email or on a website until you’ve checked out whoever is asking you for it.

-Do not trust a name, phone number, or email address just because it seems to be connected with the government. Con artists use official-sounding names and may fake caller ID or email address information to make you trust them. Besides, the government normally contacts people by postal mail.

-Contact government agencies directly, using telephone numbers and website addresses you know to be legitimate.