Tips to Avoid Social Security Scams

The Social Security Administration is reminding everyone that the agency will never do any of the following:

• 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.

• 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 the Social Security Administration 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. Scammers ask for payment this way because it is very difficult to trace and recover.

What Should You Do if You Receive a Suspicious Email or Call?

If you receive a call or email that you believe to be suspicious that claims to be about a problem with your Social Security number or account, hang up or do not respond.

You should also report Social Security scams using SSA’s dedicated online form.

Additional information about how to stay protected from scams and the latest warnings from SSA about recent scams is available at https://oig.ssa.gov/scam.