Social Security numbers are essential to identity theft, and there is no better way to get someone’s Social Security number than by pretending to be from the Social Security Administration.
In this article, we’ll discuss what a Social Security scam is, how to spot one, and how to keep yourself safe.
You worked hard – let us fight for you.
Key Takeaways
- The SSA will never threaten, pressure, or demand unusual payment methods. If someone claims to be from the Social Security Administration and threatens arrest, benefit suspension, or demands payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or mailed cash, it’s a scam.
- Scammers rely on fear, urgency, and official-looking messages. Many scams targeting Social Security recipients use spoofed phone numbers, government logos, official-sounding language, and convincing emails or letters. The goal is to create panic so you act before verifying the message.
- When in doubt, pause and verify. Never click suspicious links, download attachments, or share personal information. Hang up, ignore the message, and contact the SSA directly through official channels. Reporting scams helps protect you and others.
In this article about Social Security scams:
- What is a Social Security scam?
- Warning signs of a Social Security scam
- Social Security email scams
- Social Security scam text messages
- Social Security scam calls
- Social Security scams by mail
- How to avoid a Social Security scam
- What to do if you’ve been scammed
- How to report a Social Security scam
- How to recover from a scam
- How Woods & Woods can help
- Frequently asked questions
What is a Social Security scam?
A Social Security scam is a fraudulent scheme where criminals pose as employees of the Social Security Administration (SSA) or other government agencies to trick people into giving up sensitive information or money.
Often, scams targeting Social Security recipients are designed to create confusion and fear, often pressuring someone to act quickly before they have time to think things through.
According to the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General, they are seeing a sharp increase in fraudulent emails that are carefully crafted to look like official SSA communications.
It’s important to trust your instincts. If a message claiming to be from the SSA feels suspicious, it’s worth taking a closer look or taking additional steps to verify it’s real.
Understanding what these scams look like is the first step toward protecting yourself. Here are some of the ways you can spot a Social Security scam before it causes any harm.
Warning signs of a Social Security scam
There is a wide variety of scams targeting Social Security recipients to steal personal information or money, but they typically work the same way. Being able to recognize the basic signs of a scam can give you the power to protect yourself.
Scammers will:
- Pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain your trust
- Say there is a problem or a prize
- Pressure you to act immediately
- Instruct you to pay in a specific way, such as with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or by mailing cash
These scam emails will often use official-looking language, logos, colors, and familiar formatting to mislead people into downloading attachments that may install a type of harmful software called malware onto their device. They may also include links that, if clicked, could direct someone to a fake website intended to steal personal and financial information.
Scammers will frequently change their approach with new tactics and messages to trick people. But there are red flags you should keep an eye out for. The SSA will never:
- Threaten you with arrest or legal action because you don’t agree to pay money immediately
- Suspend your Social Security number
- Claim to need personal information or a payment to activate a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) or any other benefit increase
- Pressure you to take immediate action
- Ask you to pay with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or by mailing cash
- Threaten to seize your bank account
- Offer to move your money to a “protected” bank account
- Direct message you on social media
- Demand secrecy
If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Scammers will go to great lengths to gain your trust. If you receive a suspicious call, text, email, letter, or message on social media, be aware that scammers have also been known to:
- Use legitimate names of SSA employees
- “Spoof” official government or local police department phone numbers
- Send official-looking documents by mail or attachments through email, text, or social media
Social Security email scams
You should always use caution when clicking links in unsolicited emails that appear to be from the SSA.
The SSA’s Office of the Inspector General has warned the public about Social Security email scams that appear to be from the SSA and include a link to download their Social Security statement.
These messages are not actually from the SSA. Instead, they are designed to lure recipients to fake websites that have no connection to the agency.
Many of these emails look remarkably convincing. They often mimic official SSA branding, language, and formatting to appear legitimate.
However, there is an important detail scammers cannot replicate: official government email addresses end in “.gov.” Emails that come from addresses that do not end in “.gov” are not from a legitimate government agency.
Another clear sign that an email is fake is that the email contains misspellings and typos.
If you receive one of these emails, do not click the link or download any attachments. You should delete the email and then report it.
Social Security scam text messages
In recent years, a new scam targeting Social Security recipients has been on the rise: scam text messages.
These texts often warn the recipient about a problem with their Social Security number and request that they call back to resolve the issue, or the agency will take legal action.
The SSA will never send a text message asking for a return call. You should only get a text message from the SSA in limited situations, such as:
- When you have subscribed to the SSA to receive updates and notifications by text
- For added security when logging into your personal my Social Security account
Social Security scam calls
The SSA will rarely call you out of the blue, but occasionally, Social Security employees will contact you by phone for business purposes only. If there’s a problem with your Social Security number or record, the SSA will usually mail you a letter, but they may call you if you:
- Have recently applied for Social Security benefits
- Are currently receiving payments and need to update your record
- Have specifically requested a phone call from the SSA
If you’re not in one of the above situations, it may be a Social Security scam call.
You can’t always rely on names or caller ID to verify the call is from the SSA or another government agency. Scammers may use real names and phone numbers of SSA employees to gain your trust. Phone scammers may also send official-looking letters or reports by mail or email to make themselves look more convincing.
Social Security scams by mail
Although many scams today are carried out through email, text, or phone calls, fraudsters still use traditional mail to target Social Security recipients, especially older adults and seniors.
In these cases, a letter that appears to be from the SSA may arrive with what looks like an official SSA letterhead. The letter often asks the recipient to call a toll-free number to “activate” an increase in benefits, like an annual COLA.
This is a major red flag you should be aware of. COLA increases are automatic and do not require any action from you.
If the SSA does send you a letter, such as when your benefits increase, they will never ask you for any personal information or ask you to take any action to receive a COLA.
How to avoid a Social Security scam
If you received a suspicious call, text, email, social media message, or letter from someone claiming to be from the SSA, you should:
- Keep calm. If you get a communication that causes a strong emotional response, take a deep breath and talk to someone you trust. These scams are designed to get people to act quickly out of fear or anxiety.
- Hang up or ignore the message and don’t click on any links or attachments.
- Protect your money. Scammers will insist that you pay them with a gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, money transfer, or by mailing cash because these forms of payment are hard to trace and recover.
- Protect your personal information, even if the caller or sender has some of your personal information. Do not give them more information than what they already have.
- Report the scam.
What to do if you’ve been scammed
Scammers can be very convincing, and they’re very good at what they do. Recovering from a scam can be a long and difficult process, but there are immediate steps you can take to help fix the situation:
- Stop all contact with the scammer and do not respond to their communications
- Notify the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, to add a fraud alert to your credit report
- Protect your Social Security number
- Request a replacement Social Security number or a new Social Security number, if necessary
- Contact local law enforcement and file a police report
- File a complaint with the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Spread the word to protect others from scammers.
- Report the scam.
If you paid a scammer, your money might very well be gone. But, no matter how you paid, it’s always worth asking the company you used to send the money if there’s a way to get it back.
For more information about what to do if you paid someone you believe is a scammer, gave a scammer your personal information, or gave a scammer access to your computer or phone, please read the Federal Trade Commission’s “What To Do if You Were Scammed” article for more information and next steps.
How to report a Social Security scam
Reporting a Social Security scam is easy, and it helps the SSA inform others, identify trends, refine strategies, and take legal action against the criminals behind the scams.
You can report a scam directly to the SSA, the Office of the Inspector General, or the Federal Trade Commission.
If you’re unsure about the kind of scam you received, you can visit USA.gov and use their Where To Report a Scam tool to help you find the right place to report a scam.
How to recover from a scam
Experiencing a scam can be overwhelming and confusing. If this has happened to you, it’s important to remember that you aren’t to blame. Scammers are skilled at manipulating emotions and creating a sense of urgency – being targeted doesn’t mean you were careless.
If you believe you have been scammed, help and resources are available to help you. The Better Business Bureau offers a Scam Recovery Toolkit that includes step-by-step guidance and support to help victims protect their information, report the fraud, and begin recovering from the experience.
How Woods & Woods can help
Having a disability shouldn’t mean losing your peace of mind. At Woods & Woods, we help individuals with disabilities connect with legal help. If you’re seeking SSDI benefits, call us today for a free case evaluation.
Don’t face Social Security alone.
Frequently asked questions
Scammers often pretend to be the SSA by using official logos, phone numbers, or email addresses. The SSA will never threaten arrest, suspend your Social Security number, or demand payment through gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other unusual methods. Official emails always end in “.gov.”
If you’ve shared your Social Security number with a scammer, act immediately to protect yourself. Place a fraud alert with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, monitor your financial accounts, and report the scam to the SSA, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or your local authorities. Quick action can help prevent identity theft and limit potential damage.
Lori Underwood
Lori Underwood received her law degree from Northern Kentucky University. She previously practiced Social Security disability and personal injury law and was a juvenile court attorney.
She has been an attorney at
Woods & Woods since 2014.
