SOCIAL SECURITY 101: Avoid the Scam
Carla Christian
SOCIAL SECURITY IS AN ESSENTIAL SAFETY net for over 70 million Americans. Unfortunately, it’s also a target for scammers who try to exploit recipients. There is a wide range of Social Security scams — following are a few to watch out for.
A caller might contact you posing as a SSA official, saying there’s a problem with your benefits. They may even say your benefits will be suspended due to criminal activity or account problems.
Scammers may also claim they can boost your Social Security benefits with exciting investment opportunities, or tell you they need personal information or a payment in order to activate an increase. Some scams claim you received extra Social Security benefits which you must repay immediately.
If you need to replace your SS card, fake sites may claim they can help you speed up the process for a fee, but they’ll keep your money and you’ll never receive your card. A replacement card should always be free.
Since your benefits are so important to you, how can you know when a caller is official and when it’s a scammer?
How to recognize a scam
Most scammers use a few basic tactics. They might pretend to be from an organization you trust, pressure you to act immediately, or tell you to pay in a specific way, such as a pre-paid debit card or a wire transfer. They may tell you there is a problem or that you’ve won a prize.
Social Security will never threaten to suspend your Social Security number or seize your bank account. They won’t threaten to arrest you or demand a payment immediately, and they won’t ask for personal information or payment by phone or email.
If a caller claiming to be from Social Security demands secrecy, offers to move your money to a “protected” bank account, or messages you on social media, you can be sure it’s a scam.
Scammers may use legitimate names of government employees or “spoof” official phone numbers. They may also send official-looking documents by US mail, email, text, or social media.
If you think someone claiming to be from Social Security is trying to scam you, stay calm and don’t respond. Never click on links or attachments; this could allow them to access your accounts. Never send money or share your personal information.
Social Security does occasionally contact people by phone. If you’ve recently applied for benefits, need to update your record, or requested a phone call from the agency, you may receive a call. If there is a problem with your Social Security record, they’ll usually mail a letter.
Always go directly to the SSA website ssa.gov (make sure the web address ends with “dot gov”) or the office for services on your account. If you aren’t sure whether someone contacting you is a scam, verify by contacting the SSA directly. You can report a suspected scam at oig.ssa.gov/report.
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