Social Security Fraud Awareness
April 3, 2023
April is National Social Security Month, which makes for a great time to discuss Social Security fraud. According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), this type of fraud occurs when an individual fails to disclose a material fact for use in receiving benefits and payments. Examples of Social Security fraud include:
- Scamming others by impersonating SSA employees
- Filing claims under another individual’s Social Security number (SSN)
- Buying or selling Social Security cards
- Failing to notify the SSA of the death of a beneficiary and continuing to receive the deceased individual’s benefits
- Hiding facts or events that impact eligibility
- Making false statements on claims
- Misusing benefits
- Attempting to bribe SSA employees
- Misusing grant or contract funds
Avoid Social Security Scams
It is common for scammers to impersonate government employees by:
- Pretending to be from an agency or organization you know
- Claiming there is a problem or promising a prize
- Pressuring you to act immediately
- Telling you to pay in a specific way
How to avoid scams:
- Remain calm
- Hang up or ignore the message. DO NOT click on links or attachments
- Protect your money. Legitimate agencies and organizations will never insist you pay by gift card, prepaid debit card, cryptocurrency, wire transfer, money transfer, or by mailing cash
- Protect your personal information. Remain guarded if you did not initiate contact with an individual or organization
If you believe someone is committing Social Security fraud, please report it to the SSA by calling 1-800-269-0271 or by submitting a report online at oig.ssa.gov.