Officer of Inspector General Warns of New Social Security Scam

If you're receiving senior benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA), you might be a target for scammers. According to the Office of the Inspector General, they have developed a new high-pressure tactic that tricks individuals into sharing their personal information.

The new scam involves sending warning letters to Social Security recipients, threatening them into doing what they're asked. Below, we take an in-depth look at this scam and discuss how to protect yourself.

The new Social Security scam

According to the Office of the Inspector General, scammers are now sending official-looking warning letters to Social Security recipients. These letters threaten to suspend retirees' Social Security benefits and cards if they don't follow their instructions.

The goal is to trick retirees into sharing their private information. With enough personal details, scammers might be able to steal your identity and money.

How the scam works

Scammers create fabricated warning letters, complete with what looks like a real SSA letterhead. The letters ask retirees to call a toll-free number to activate their SSA benefit increases. They also threaten benefits suspension, with some going so far as to cite Social Security-related Supreme Court cases to scare recipients into doing what they're asked.

This scam is targeting people for personal information and money. Some scammers even ask recipients for direct payments.

What to look out for

Despite attempts to replicate the SSA's letterhead and language, these letters have some telltale signs of a scam. Some of the red flags to watch out for include:

• Urgent language like, "Right away!"
• Requests for personal information like your date of birth or bank credentials.
• Threats of benefits suspension, lawsuits, or arrest.
• Requests to make payments through unusual means, such as Internet currency, gift cards, or prepaid debit cards.
• Promises to activate SSA benefit increases like the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) — this typically happens automatically, so there's no need for activation.

How to protect yourself from this scam

Avoid doing anything that gives scammers access to your personal information or money. If you identify any sign of a scam in a supposed SSA letter, don't follow its instructions — at least not before you confirm its legitimacy.

If scammers contact you via social media or email (which might happen if you don't follow their instructions), avoid responding or clicking any links.

To protect yourself from future incidents, report any suspected scam to the Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report.

How to identify official communication from the SSA

Not all letters claiming to be from the SSA are fraudulent; some are actually from the agency. A legitimate letter typically:

• Has a heading that contains the agency's name, the name of a specific Social Security program, and its purpose.
• Contains the address of your local SSA office.
• Features the SSA's toll-free telephone number (1-800-772-1213) and official internet link (http://www.ssa.gov/).
• Lets you know which actions to take without using threatening or overly urgent language.

Other Social Security scams to watch out for

The Office of the Inspector General has warned individuals about various other Social Security scams. One of them is phony emails. Fraudulent parties sometimes send emails with urgent subject lines like, "Claim Benefits Now!" The emails contain fraudulent links that direct users to malicious websites that collect their information.

Another is fraudulent texts purporting to be from Social Security. According to the agency, you can receive texts only if you opt in or as a security measure when accessing your personal SSA account. If neither is the case, any text you receive is most likely a scam.

What to do if you fall victim to a Social Security scam

If you fall for a Social Security scam, stop any further communication with the scammer. Then, report them at oig.ssa.gov/report and file a report with local law enforcement.

If you reveal your banking details or lose money, notify your financial institution as soon as possible so they can safeguard your account. Also, report the incident to the Federal Bureau of Investigation Internet Crime Complaint Center.

Pro tip: Keep all records of your communication or financial transfers with scammers to help with investigations.

Bottom line

With Social Security-related scams on the rise, you need to make the right moves to protect your retirement benefits. If you receive any communication purporting to be from Social Security, confirm its legitimacy before taking any action.

Look out for threats, unusual payment method requests, and urgent language. If any of them are present, don't respond to the correspondence. Instead, report it to SSA OIG.

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