Financial institutions and government agencies like Social Security, never (as far as I know) instigate transactions through phone calls, email, or texts. Anyone contacting you in in that way, no matter how urgent, should be rejected. Do not click links or call them back on any phone number they give you. Do NOT give them ANY information. YOU should have contact information for all people you do business with and YOU should initiate contact using methods (ex. publicly available phone numbers for the bank or SS) you are SURE are the correct ones. If possible, you should connect with people you know, even if you have to drop in the physical place of business.
Most legitimate agencies will send you a letter. If such a letter arrives with a phone number, email, or web site, VERIFY it belongs to the agency they claim to be by, again, working through connections you KNOW are the correct ones.
Remember, the bad people are deliberately trying to scare you into doing something stupid. Don't panic. You can ask then to identify themselves and then blow them off. If there is a problem, no legitimate agency is going to threaten you or take precipitous action against you. If someone is persistently threatening, call the police.
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