How Can You Recognize a Social Security Scam?

Tens of millions of Americans receive Social Security benefits. They’re also prime targets for scammers and con artists. In fact, Social Security scams are increasingly common, with tens of thousands of attempts each year and many unfortunate victims tricked into having their money or even their entire identities stolen.

This guide looks at how Social Security scams work and some warning signs to watch for.

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How Do Social Security Scams Work?

In most Social Security scams, the scammer contacts the victim pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They use mediums like text, phone, or email to reach out and make false claims about the victim’s account or status.

They might say, for example, that your benefits are going to be cut off unless you provide them with personal details, which may include your bank account info. Alternatively, they sometimes claim that you’ve been “overpaid” in benefits and that you need to pay them back. Or, they’ll try phishing attacks, where they text or email you a fake link that’s designed to steal your personal data.

There are even some social security scams where the victim gets a call from someone who pretends to be a law enforcement official or even an FBI agent. The caller claims that the victim’s Social Security number has been linked to criminal activity and threatens to arrest them or send officers to their home if they fail to provide personal details.

There are several reasons why these scams tend to work:

Convincing: Scammers can use spoofing techniques to make it look like they’re calling or emailing from official SSA numbers or accounts. On the phone, they also have detailed scripts and pre-written responses to questions the victim might ask to trick them into believing the scam.
Vulnerable Victims: The targets of Social Security scams are elderly people who may not always be comfortable or savvy with technology. Many rely on Social Security benefits to help with living costs, so they can quickly feel panicked and frightened at the prospect of losing those benefits. This can make them easier to dupe.

Red Flags You Shouldn’t Ignore

Demands for Personal Information

Almost all Social Security scams involve the scammer demanding the victim to give them personal information. They might ask you to tell them your name, address, full Social Security number, and bank details. The SSA won’t ask for these details over the phone, by text, or in emails.

Aggressive or Threatening Behavior

Scammers often use threats or aggressive language to pressure their victims into giving up money or details. This, again, is not at all what a real SSA agent or other government worker would do. If you have someone on the phone or by email pressuring you or claiming you’ll be arrested if you fail to comply with their demands, it’s almost surely a scammer.

Inconsistent or Obscure Stories

Often, Social Security scam stories don’t stand up to scrutiny. Some of them can sound quite bizarre or nonsensical when you take the time to think about them. The scammers may say your account has been involved in a series of massive crimes, for example, or claim that they’ve “lost” your data or accidentally sent you far more money than they should have.

Requests for Payment (Often by Strange Means, Like Gift Cards)

It’s also a huge red flag if the person you’re talking to demands payment. Especially if they ask you to pay in an unconventional way, such as with cryptocurrencies, mailing physical cash to an address, or by buying them gift cards for digital stores like Google Play. The SSA won’t do this, under any circumstances.

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Don’t automatically trust caller IDs or email addresses that look official.
Never feel pressured into giving someone your personal info over the phone or by email.
Do not comply with immediate demands for payment.
Don’t click any strange links you get via email or text.
Call the SSA’s official number to confirm any possible problems with your account, rather than accepting any stories you hear from someone who calls you.