Protect Yourself from Scams (En español)

What Are Social Security-Related Scams?

Criminals continue to impersonate SSA and other government agencies to obtain personal information or money.

A scammer might call, email, text, write letters, or send messages on social media claiming to be from SSA or OIG. A scammer might use the name of a person who really works there and might send a picture or attachment as proof.

Recognizing the signs of a scam gives you the power to ignore criminals and report the scam.

Four Signs of a Scam

Scams come in many varieties, but they all work the same way:

1. Scammers pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain your trust.
2. Scammers say there is a problem or a prize.
3. Scammers pressure you to act immediately.
4. Scammers tell you to pay in a specific way.

Common Scam Tactics

If you receive an unexpected call, text message, email, letter, or message on social media, asking for personal information or payment, be skeptical.

Scammers are experts of manipulation and deception. Scammers will:

• Pressure you to make quick decisions.
• Ask you to pay with gift cards, precious metals (gold or silver), prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency, or by mailing cash.
• Spoof official government phone numbers, or even numbers for local police departments.
• Say they are transferring your call to a law enforcement agent or government official who can help protect your money or help you avoid arrest.
• Use the real names of government employees.
• Threaten arrest or legal action unless you immediately pay.
• Threaten to suspend your Social Security number or account.
• Claim to need personal information or payment to activate a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) or other benefit increase.
• Threaten to seize your bank account.
• Tell you to move your money to a protected bank account to keep it safe.
• Meet you in-person to pick up cash, gold bars, or other assets.
• Demand secrecy.
• Email attachments or text pictures of badges, credentials, or official-looking documents.
• Direct message you on social media, asking for personal information or money.
• Build a relationship (friendship or love) over time before eventually offering to help trade or invest money.

These are red flags.

Scammers frequently change their approach with new tactics. Stay up to date on the latest news and advisories by following SSA OIG on LinkedIn, X, and Facebook or subscribing to receive email alerts.

Fake Social Media Accounts

Scammers create fake social media accounts using SSA images, colors, and jargon. This helps them appear as if they are associated with or endorsed by Social Security. The imposter accounts could look like an official SSA or OIG account or claim to be a government official.

Social Security will never ask for sensitive or personal information through social media, email, or text message.

Here are some ways to spot a government imposter on social media:

• Number of followers is low.
• Incorrect punctuation or spelling.
• Links to websites that do not end in “.gov”.
• Requiring payment for government forms or documents that are typically free. For example, charging a fee for a replacement Social Security number card.
• Incorrect social media handle.

Visit www.ssa.gov/socialmedia for links to SSA’s official social media accounts.

Advice to Avoid Scams

Protect yourself, friends, and family — If you receive a suspicious call, text, email, social media message, or letter from someone claiming to be from Social Security:

1. Pause. If you receive a communication that causes a strong emotional response or if you feel rushed, pause. Take a deep breath and talk to someone you trust.
2. Hang up or ignore the message. Do not click on links or attachments.
3. Protect your money. Scammers will insist that you pay with a gift card, gold bars or other precious metals, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, money transfer, or cash. Scammers use these forms of payment because they are hard to trace.
4. Protect your personal information. Be cautious of any contact claiming to be from a government agency or law enforcement telling you about a problem you don't recognize, even if the caller has some of your personal information.
5. Spread the word to protect your community from scammers.
6. Report the scam to the Office of the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report.

How to Report

When you report a Social Security-related scam, you are providing us with powerful data that we use to inform others, identify trends, refine strategies, and take legal action against the criminals behind these scam activities.

Report a scam

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) provides assistance to report scams in multiple languages. Call the FTC at (877) 382-4357 and press 3 to speak to an interpreter.