Where and how to report suspected Social Security fraud

You can report suspected Social Security fraud directly to the Social Security Administration (SSA) through three main channels: the Office of Inspector General (OIG) hotline, an online form, or your local Social Security office. The OIG is the federal office that investigates fraud, waste, and abuse within Social Security programs. Reports can be made anonymously, and you do not need to provide your name or contact information if you choose not to.

The fastest route is the OIG hotline at 1-800-269-0271, available Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern time. You can also submit a written report by mail to the Office of Inspector General, Social Security Administration, P.O. Box 17768, Baltimore, MD 21235. For online reporting, visit oig.ssa.gov and select "Report Fraud, Waste, or Abuse" to fill out a form with details about what you observed.

If you suspect fraud at your local Social Security office itself—such as an employee mishandling your case—you can report it to that office's manager or call the SSA's main customer service line at 1-800-772-1213 to ask for the office manager's direct contact information.

Key Takeaways

  • The Social Security Office of Inspector General investigates fraud reports and can be reached by phone at 1-800-269-0271 or through an online form at oig.ssa.gov.
  • You can report fraud anonymously without providing your name, though including contact details allows investigators to follow up with you if needed.
  • Common types of fraud include someone using another person's Social Security number, collecting benefits while working unreported income, or misrepresenting citizenship or residency status.
  • Reports should include specific details: the person's name, Social Security number if known, what fraud you suspect, and when or where you observed it.
  • The OIG does not confirm whether it investigated your specific report, but it tracks all submissions and prioritizes cases based on the amount of money involved.

What counts as Social Security fraud

Social Security fraud occurs when someone knowingly provides false information to the SSA to obtain benefits they are not may have access to to, or when someone misuses another person's Social Security number. The most common forms include collecting retirement or disability benefits while earning unreported work income, claiming benefits based on a false citizenship or residency status, failing to report a death so benefits continue to be paid, and using someone else's number to work or open accounts.

Fraud is different from an honest mistake. If someone reports income incorrectly by accident, forgets to tell the SSA about a change in their situation, or misunderstands a rule, that is typically handled as an overpayment rather than fraud. The SSA may ask the person to repay the money, but no criminal investigation occurs. Fraud requires intent—the person knew the information was false and provided it anyway to get money they knew they were not may have access to to.

Information to include in your report

The more specific your report, the more useful it is to investigators. Include the person's full name, their Social Security number if you know it, and their date of birth. Describe what fraud you suspect in concrete terms: for example, "I know this person is collecting disability benefits but works full-time at a construction company" or "My neighbor told me she is collecting survivor benefits for a child who moved to another country."

Add details about timing and location. When did you first notice or learn about this? Where does the person live or work? If you have documents—a pay stub, a lease, a photo, a text message—that support what you are reporting, note that you have them. You do not need to send documents with your initial report, but mentioning them helps investigators decide whether to contact you for more information.

If you are reporting fraud you witnessed at a Social Security office—such as an employee asking for a bribe, altering documents, or helping someone fraudulently obtain benefits—include the office location, the date, the employee's name if you know it, and exactly what you saw happen.

How the SSA investigates reports

Once the OIG receives your report, it enters the report into a tracking system. Investigators prioritize cases based on several factors: the amount of money involved, whether the fraud is ongoing, whether it involves identity theft, and whether the person has a history of fraud. A report about someone collecting $500 in fraudulent benefits may take longer to investigate than one involving $50,000, because the OIG has limited resources.

Investigators may contact you if you provided your name and phone number and they need clarification. They may also interview the person accused of fraud, request records from the SSA, contact employers, or work with law enforcement if criminal charges are possible. The investigation process is confidential, and the OIG does not routinely tell reporters the outcome of their specific case.

If the investigation confirms fraud, the SSA will stop the person's benefits and may demand repayment of all fraudulently obtained money. If the amount is large or the fraud is serious, the case may be referred to federal prosecutors for criminal charges. Criminal convictions for Social Security fraud can result in fines and prison time.

Reporting fraud involving identity theft

If you suspect someone is using your Social Security number or personal information to fraudulently obtain Social Security benefits, report it to both the OIG and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The OIG handles the Social Security fraud part; the FTC handles the identity theft part and can help you place a fraud alert on your credit report.

Contact the FTC at identitytheft.gov or call 1-877-438-4338. The FTC will create an identity theft report and provide you with a recovery plan. You should also contact the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) to place a fraud alert on your credit file, which makes it harder for someone to open new accounts in your name.

If you are receiving Social Security benefits yourself and suspect someone else is using your number, contact your local Social Security office when ready. Bring a photo ID and ask to speak with a manager. The SSA can verify whether fraudulent claims have been filed under your number and help you find your account.

Protecting yourself from becoming a victim

Guard your Social Security number carefully. Do not carry your Social Security card in your wallet, do not share your number over the phone unless you initiated the call to a known organization, and do not post it on social media or in emails. Shred documents that contain your number before throwing them away.

Monitor your Social Security earnings record annually by creating an account at ssa.gov and viewing your statement. Your earnings record shows all income reported under your number. If you see earnings you did not make, contact the SSA when ready. You can also set up a my Social Security account to receive alerts if someone tries to change your password or contact information.

If you receive a Social Security statement or notice in the mail for someone else, do not throw it away. Write "Return to Sender" on it and put it back in the mail. This alerts the SSA that mail for that person is going to the wrong address, which can indicate identity theft or a change of address fraud.

What happens after you report

You will not receive a confirmation email or letter from the OIG unless you provided contact information and the office decides to reach out to you. This does not mean your report was ignored; the OIG receives thousands of reports and does not send acknowledgments for all of them. Your report is logged and assigned a case number if you call the hotline, though you may not be given that number.

If you provided your name and phone number, an investigator may contact you weeks or months later with questions. Be prepared to provide more details about what you observed, when, and how you know the information. If you do not hear back, it does not mean the case was closed; it may mean the investigation is ongoing or the case is in a queue waiting for an investigator to be assigned.

You can follow up on your report by calling the OIG hotline again and providing your original report date and any details you remember. The hotline staff can tell you whether your report was received, though they cannot discuss the status of an active investigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I report fraud anonymously?

Yes. You can call the OIG hotline or submit an online form without providing your name, address, or phone number. Anonymous reports are accepted and investigated. However, if you do provide contact information, investigators can reach you if they need more details, which can strengthen the investigation.

What if I am not sure whether something is fraud or just a mistake?

Report it anyway. The OIG determines whether what you observed is fraud, a mistake, or something else entirely. Describe exactly what you saw or heard, and let investigators make that judgment. It is better to report something that turns out to be innocent than to stay silent about something that is actually fraud.

Will the person I report know it was me?

Not necessarily. If you report anonymously, the person will not know your identity. If you provide your name, the SSA and OIG will keep it confidential during the investigation. The accused person may learn that someone reported them, but they will not automatically be told who made the report unless the case goes to criminal court and you are called as a witness.

How long does an investigation take?

There is no set timeline. straightforward cases may be resolved in weeks; complex cases involving multiple people or large sums of money can take months or years. The OIG prioritizes cases by the amount of money and the severity of the fraud, so smaller cases may take longer.

What if I report my employer for not reporting my wages to Social Security?

That is a wage reporting issue, not Social Security fraud. Report it to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at irs.gov or call 1-800-829-1040. You can also contact the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division if you believe your employer is violating labor laws. The SSA will eventually receive corrected wage records from the IRS, which will update your earnings record.