3 Common Social Security Scams And How to Avoid Them

Scammers do anything to obtain the personal information of Social Security beneficiaries. In this article, read and find out what are 3 of the most common Social Security scams and how to avoid them!

It is no surprise that scammers do anything to obtain the personal information of Social Security beneficiaries— from fake emails, text messages, calls, and letters. In 2022, over 35,752 incidents, which totaled to more than $1.04 million in losses, were reported as Social Security fraud.

Phishing Emails

According to Nesbit, one of the most common Social Security scams is receiving emails that appear to come from the Social Security Administration (SSA). Through phishing, scammers attempt to steal the beneficiary’s personal information such as their Social Security number, account numbers, or passwords. This is because, with these pieces of information, scammers can have access to the beneficiary’s bank, email, or other accounts.

These phishing emails may make demands on the beneficiaries. These may also appear to have the same font style that the SSA uses and the agency’s seal. However, legitimate emails from the SSA will never make demands on the beneficiaries and ask for the beneficiaries’ personal information.

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Phony Calls

According to Beers, another one of the most common Social Security scams is receiving calls from scammers that pretend to be government employees. These phony calls usually claim that there is a problem with the beneficiary’s Social Security number, account, or benefits. These calls often demand payment from the beneficiary. Otherwise, beneficiaries are threatened to be arrested or face legal actions.

These phony calls may also sound approachable and offer Social Security services. These services may include enrolling a family member or providing expected future income upon joining the Social Security. However, the SSA states that the agency will only call the beneficiary when they request for a call. They reportedly do not accept payments through mailing cash, internet currency, debit, or gift cards.