SSA employees will never threaten you for information or promise benefits in exchange for information. In those cases, the call is fraudulent. Just hang up. If you suspect you've been contacted by an SSA scammer call the Social Security Fraud Hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
An SSA impersonation scam, or SSA scam, is a class of telecommunications fraud and scam which targets citizens of the United States by impersonating personnel of the Social Security Administration.
Unlike private insurance companies the SSA does not generally conduct surveillance investigations, but that doesn't mean that they can't or never will. Once you file a disability claim, the SSA looks for proof of your disability.
Remember that the SSA will almost never contact you out of the blue. It will only text you if you've opted to receive notifications that way, or to verify your identity when you access your online My Social Security account. It will never threaten or pressure you to take immediate action.
As long as a hacker or scammer has access to other personal information such as your name and address, they can use the last four digits of your SSN (in most cases) to open accounts in your name, steal your money and government benefits, or even get healthcare and tax refunds in your name.
If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or other abuses involving taxes, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490. You can order free credit reports annually from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion).
Making Statements That Can Hurt Your Claim – Unless you are specifically asked pertinent questions, do not talk about alcohol or drug use, criminal history, family members getting disability or unemployment, or similar topics. However, if you are asked directly about any of those topics, answer them truthfully.
What Conditions Automatically Qualify You for Disability?Musculoskeletal disorders (e.g., bone, joint injuries, skeletal spine injuries)Special senses and speech (e.g., visual disorders, blindness)Respiratory disorders (e.g., chronic bronchitis, emphysema, asthma)More items...
What Are Some Common Hidden Disabilities?Psychiatric Disabilities—Examples include major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, etc.Traumatic Brain Injury.Epilepsy.HIV/AIDS.Diabetes.Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.Cystic Fibrosis.More items...
Call you to demand an immediate payment. Demand that you pay a debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe. Require a specific means of payment, such as requiring you to pay with a prepaid debit card. Ask you for your personal information or credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
Basically, they are checking to see how poor you are. They also ask about your household, living situation, and rent, to help decide how much SSI you will get. This interview only happens for SSI. It does not happen for SSDI.
Scammers use phone calls and email messages to impersonate Social Security personnel and trick people into giving up personal information. Common tactics include threatening to cut off Social Security benefits or charging for services the Social Security Administration provides for free.
The agency warns that callers sometimes use “ spoofing ” techniques to make the genuine Social Security hotline number (1-800-772-1213) appear on the recipient’s caller ID screen. 4 The caller may also identify themselves using the name of an actual SSA official.
The emails may have attachments that resemble actual letters from the SSA, complete with the agency's seal and similar font styles. The email messages may also direct readers to a fake web page designed to look like the real SSA website. 7
It's also worth checking your credit reports on a regular basis to make sure no one has compromised your financial information. A paid credit monitoring service might also be helpful. Finally, try to keep up to date with the latest Social Security scams.
In a relatively new spin on this scam, criminals are now sending threatening text messages purporting to be from Social Security. But, according to the Office of the Inspector General at SSA, "Social Security will never send a text asking for a return call to an unknown number.
While the rise of scams perpetrated electronically, and thus cheaply, has reduced the volume of Social Security fraud by mail, the practice has not entirely vanished. One such scheme is a direct mail scam that primarily targets older people.
Educate yourself about the newest SSA scams by checking out the articles below, all having videos included. September 17, 2020. September 17, 2020.
Terms of Use. Social Security Scams. Social Security scams are some of the most notorious schemes out there. They happen in the U.S. daily, in all the States from East to West. In Canada are known as the Social Insurance number scams. Getting into detail, the Social Security scams come in different ways: as threats about your social security number ...
We are committed to preventing, detecting, and eliminating fraud in our programs.
Fraud involves obtaining something of value through willful misrepresentation. In the context of our programs, fraud exists when a person with intent to defraud makes, or causes to be made, a false statement, or misrepresents, conceals, or fails to disclose a material fact for use in determining rights under the Social Security Act.
We use emails, text messages, and social media to provide information on our programs and services. However, we will not request personal or financial information through these methods. Sometimes, we send emails with information that are particular to your needs, usually after a discussion with you in person or over the phone.
Social Security has zero tolerance for fraud. We diligently work at the national, regional, and local level to combat fraud that undermines our mission to serve the American public.
Read OIG's Protecting Personal Information for their 10 Tips to Protect Personal Information and several actions to take if you suspect identity theft.
Do you suspect someone of committing fraud, waste, or abuse against Social Security? You can contact the OIG’s fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or submit a report online at https://oig.ssa.gov/.
Social Security fraud, in general, involves obtaining something valuable through willful misrepresentation. In terms of Social Security, fraud occurs when an individual with the intent to defraud makes, or causes to be made, a false statement, or conceals, misrepresents, or files to disclose a material fact for use in a determination ...
There are steps an individual can take to reduce their risk of becoming a victim of Social Security fraud. An individual should: Only provide their your Social Security number when absolutely necessary; Pay special attention to their Social Security Personal Earnings and Benefits Estimate Statement; and. Check their credit report annually.
An individual can place a credit freeze on their SSN. This means credit reporting companies cannot release an individual’s information to a third party.
The most common type of Social Security fraud is one that many individuals are familiar with, identity theft. Identity theft includes the theft or misuse of an individual’s Social Security number and other information. This information is typically used to illegally obtain benefits. For example, a common scam is for a scammer to call an individual ...
It may indicate fraud. Another way individuals can protect themselves from identity theft is to check their credit report. An individual can obtain one free credit report each year.
You may be able to recoup losses incurred as a result of identity theft. An attorney will be able to review your case, advise you of your rights, and help you decide the best course of action going forward.
If an individual retires or becomes disabled, the government will provide them with a monthly check based on the amount of money they paid into the system during their working years. Not every individual is eligible ...