Social Security scams are becoming a bigger problem in the United States, especially as millions of retirees receive their checks. The Social Security Administration (SSA) has given some tips to protect people from these scams. Scammers often pretend to be from the SSA to steal personal information or money. This article will help you understand how to recognize and avoid these scams.
Understanding Social Security Scams
How Scammers Operate
Scammers may contact you by phone, email, text message, or social media, pretending to be from the Social Security Administration or the Office of the Inspector General. They might say they need your personal information or money.
When the SSA Contacts You
The SSA does make phone calls for business purposes. They usually call people who have asked for a call, are receiving payments and need to update their records, or have recently applied for benefits. If there is an issue with your Social Security number (SSN) or record, the SSA will usually send a letter.
Common Scammer Tactics
Warning Signs of Scams
Scammers often change their tactics to trick people. Here are some signs that the contact is not from the SSA:
Threatening Language: They threaten to have you arrested or take legal action if you don’t pay right away.
SSN Suspension: They say your SSN will be suspended.
COLA Scams: They claim you need to provide personal information or payment to receive a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) or benefit increase.
Urgent Demands: They pressure you to share personal information and take urgent action.
Unusual Payment Requests: They ask for payment using gift cards, wire transfers, prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency, or cash by mail.
Fake Protection Offers: They offer to transfer your funds to a “protected” bank account.
Confidentiality Requests: They ask you to keep the contact secret.
Social Media Messages: They send direct messages on social media.
Fake Social Media Accounts
Scammers also create fake social media pages that look like they are from the SSA. These pages may use the names and pictures of SSA officials and ask for financial information or your SSN. The SSA will never ask for sensitive information through social media. Here’s how to spot a fake site:
Followers: The number of followers may be low.
- Errors: Incorrect punctuation and spelling are common.
- Fake Links: Links might lead to pages not found on ssa.gov.
- Advertisements: There may be ads for SSA documents.
- Incorrect Handles: The social media handle might not match the official SSA list. Visit SSA’s official social media page to verify.
Protecting Yourself from Scams
How to Avoid Scams
To protect yourself and others from Social Security scams, follow these steps:
Stay Calm: If a message causes a strong emotional response, take a moment to breathe and think.
Ignore Suspicious Messages: Don’t respond to or engage with suspicious messages or phone calls.
Protect Your Money: Be cautious if asked to pay with gift cards, prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, money orders, or cash.
Guard Your Information: Be careful with your personal information. If someone claims to be from a government agency or law enforcement and you don’t recognize the issue they mention, be skeptical even if they have some of your personal details.
Spread Awareness: Share information about scams with your community to help protect others.
Social Security scams are a serious problem, but you can protect yourself by staying informed and cautious. Know the signs of scams, guard your personal information, and share this information with others. By doing this, you can help keep your community safe from fraud.
FAQs
How do scammers contact victims?
Scammers contact victims by phone, email, text message, or social media, pretending to be from the SSA or other government agencies.
How can you tell if a call from SSA is real?
The SSA usually sends a letter if there is an issue. They call people who have requested a call, need to update their records, or have recently applied for benefits.
What should you do if you receive a suspicious message?
Stay calm, ignore the message, and don’t click on any links or attachments. Talk to someone you trust about it.
What payment methods do scammers use?
Scammers often ask for payment using gift cards, prepaid debit cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, money orders, or cash by mail.
How can you spot a fake social media account?
Check for low follower numbers, spelling and punctuation errors, fake links, ads for SSA documents, and incorrect social media handles.