Have You Heard the New Twist in Social Security Phone Scams?

The Inspector General of Social Security recently sent out a public warning about telephone scammers sending faked documents by email to convince people to comply with their demands. Recent reports to their office include people who have received emails with attached letters and documents that appeared to be from Social Security or Social Security OIG. The letters often use an official letterhead and government “jargon” to convince people that they are legitimate, but they also usually contain multiple misspellings and grammar mistakes.

According to a recent alert from Social Security’s OIG:

This is the latest variation on Social Security phone scams, which continue to be widespread throughout the United States. Using robocalls or live callers, fraudsters pretend to be government employees and claim there is identity theft or another problem with one’s Social Security number, account, or benefits. They may threaten arrest or other legal action, or may offer to increase benefits, protect assets, or resolve identity theft. They often demand payment via retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency such as Bitcoin, or pre-paid debit card.

Inspector General Ennis urges continued vigilance against all types of phone scams no matter what “proof” callers may offer. As we continue to increase public awareness of phone scams, criminals will come up with new ways to convince people of their legitimacy. Social Security will never:

threaten you with arrest or other legal action unless you immediately pay a fine or fee;

promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment;

require payment by retail gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency, or prepaid debit card; or

send official letters or reports containing personally identifiable information via email.

If there is ever a problem with your Social Security number or record, in most cases Social Security will mail you a letter. If you do need to submit payments to Social Security, the agency will send a letter with instructions and payment options. You should never pay a government fee or fine using retail gift cards, cash, internet currency, wire transfers, or pre-paid debit cards. The scammers ask for payment this way because it is very difficult to trace and recover.

If you receive a call or email that you believe to be suspicious, about a problem with your Social Security number or account, hang up or do not respond. We encourage the public to report Social Security phone scams using our dedicated online form, at https://oig.ssa.gov. Please share this information with your friends and family, to help spread awareness about phone scams. For more information, please visit https://oig.ssa.gov/scam.