Last year, over 65 million Americans received their monthly security checks. This amounted to more than $1 trillion paid out over the course of the year. With such a large amount being paid each month, it’s no surprise that social security scams are common.
Let’s look at a few reasons why Americans are at risk for Social Security scams.
Many people who receive social security benefits are elderly. This makes them more vulnerable to scams as they may not be as tech-savvy as younger generations and may be more trusting of strangers. Also, social security scams are relatively easy to commit. All the scammer needs are your social security number and some personal information
Now that we know why social security scams are common, let’s look at a few examples of what these scams entail.
Fraudulent Threatening Phone Calls
One of the most common types of social security scams is a fraudulent threatening phone call.
In this type of scam, the scammer will call you and pretend to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They’ll say that your social security number has been suspended or that there’s been suspicious activity on your account. You may also receive a text with the same type of message, where they will insist you call them.
They’ll then threaten to arrest you unless you make a payment or provide them with personal information.
What to look out for:
It’s usually the tone of such calls that gives the scam away. An SSA employee will never threaten you for more information. If you receive a call where someone with an aggressive tone state that you’ll be imprisoned if you don’t give them information, then it’s definitely a scam.
On the text message, Social Security will only send you a text if there has been some form of opt-in to receive correspondence from the agency. You’ll only receive a text in limited situations, and the tone certainly won’t be aggressive.
Fraudulent Friendly Service Phone Calls
In this type of scam, the fraudster will again pretend to be from the Social Security Administration. But this time, they’ll take on a friendlier demeanor as they try to trick you into giving them personal information.
They may say that your social security number has been selected for a government program or that you’re eligible for benefits increase. They may also claim that there’s been suspicious activity on your account and that they need to verify your identity. Also, they might offer you a new Social Security card or want to give you the expected future income that your contributions will yield.
What to look out for:
While it’s not impossible for the SSA to contact you by phone, it’s very unlikely that they’ll do so unsolicited. If someone calls you out of the blue asking for personal information, then it’s almost certainly a scam.
Even if the call seems legitimate, never give out your personal information over the phone. The SSA will never ask for your social security number, credit card number, or bank account number over the phone. If someone asks for any of this information, then hang up.
Fake Emails And Phishing
Another common type of social security scam is fake emails and phishing.
In this type of scam, you’ll receive an email that looks like it’s from the SSA. The email may say that there’s been suspicious activity on your account or that you need to update your personal information. They may also try to trick you into clicking on a link that will download malware onto your computer.
What to look out for:
The SSA will never send you an email asking you to update your personal information. If you receive an email like this, do not click on any links and do not reply.
Social security fraud can also happen through the mail. In this type of scam, you’ll receive a letter that looks like it’s from the SSA. The letter may say that there’s been suspicious activity on your account or that you need to update your personal information. They may also try to trick you into sending them money or personal information.
What to look out for:
The SSA will never send you a letter asking you to update your personal information. If you receive a letter like this, do not respond and do not send them any money.
Let’s take a look at how you can report a Social Security scam.
If you receive a call, text, email, or letter that you think is a scam, you can report it to the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General. You can do this by calling 1-800-269-0271 or by visiting their website.
You can also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission. You can do this by visiting their website or by calling 1-877-382-4357.
Reporting social security scams can help protect yourself and others from becoming victims of fraud. It’s important to be aware of these scams so that you can avoid them. If you think you’ve been a victim of social security fraud, you should contact the SSA and the Federal Trade Commission.
Have you ever been a victim of Social Security fraud?
If you would like to find out more information on this type of fraud or other scams that fraudsters use, take a look at our other blogs. We cover a wide variety of scams that will equip you with the knowledge so that you don’t become a victim. You can find more information on the latest scams on our Anti-Fraud Blog.