Tips on how to spot and avoid them.
March 6, 2025, is National Slam the Scam Day, sponsored by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The goal of this day is to raise awareness that bad actors exist and they use multiple tactics to try to steal money, obtain personal information from individuals, or infect devices with malware.
For more information on the scams specifically identified by the Social Security Administration, please visit the SSA website. There you will find not only the types of scams currently in use, but also how to identify a scam, protect yourself from becoming a victim, and report the incident directly to the SSA.
In the meantime, here are some examples of what common Social Security scams look like.
These phone calls/texts may be actual people or “robots” alleging to be from the SSA calling/texting you to alert you to an issue with your account. The incoming number may be “spoofed” to appear like they are contacting you from the actual agency. The messages can be intimidating, threatening you with arrest, fines or other legal action unless you call another number to resolve an issue, provide sensitive information including your SSN, or make some sort of payment. If you receive such a call or text, do not engage. Hang up or ignore the message and report the incident.
Scammers send emails that appear to be from the SSA, often containing eye-catching subject lines to entice you to open the email. These emails may be similar to the phone call/text scams claiming there is an issue with your account and threaten you with legal action or penalty unless action is taken immediately.
Alternatively, the email may offer and encourage you to take advantage of some new feature, benefit or prize by clicking on a link. While the email may look legitimate at first glance, closer inspection often reveals subtle signs of fraud, such as slight variations in the sender’s email address (e.g., “Social Administration” rather than “Social Security Administration”) or a non-government domain. The link in the email is disguised as “www.ssa.gov” or what looks like an official website; however, the link behind the official-looking text goes to a fraudulent website designed to trick you into entering personal information. Or, in some cases, clicking on the “offer” link may enable the scammer to install malware (viruses and spyware) on your computer, not only compromising your device, but also your sensitive information.
Always hover over the email address to determine if it is from an actual government agency or sender and never click on links inside unsolicited emails.
While not as common, there are scammers who target victims, usually older adults, via direct mail, too. The scheme may involve an official-looking letter, allegedly from the SSA, that asks the recipient to call a toll-free number to activate an increase in benefits, such as a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The scam, in this example, is that COLA is applied automatically and requires no such action on your part. Additionally, the toll-free number in the letter is not the number for the SSA, rather a fake organization hoping to obtain your personal information from you when you call. In the event the SSA does send you a letter, it will not request personal information or ask you to act in this manner.
The Social Security Administration will never:
If you suspect you or a loved one have been the target or victim of a Social Security scam, report the incident immediately. You can file a report by calling the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at the Social Security website.
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