The most common Social Security scams and how they work

Scammers impersonating the Social Security Administration call, text, or email retirees claiming there is a problem with their account — a frozen benefit, a suspicious activity, or a missing payment. The caller creates urgency by saying your benefits will stop unless you act within hours. They then ask you to verify personal information, send money to "unfreeze" your account, or click a link that installs malware on your device.

The Social Security Administration does not initiate contact this way. The SSA will not call you about a problem with your benefits unless you called them first. They will never ask for your Social Security number, bank account details, or passwords over the phone. They will never demand payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.

Other common variations include scammers posing as Medicare representatives, IRS agents, or police officers claiming you owe back taxes or have a warrant. These often tie a fake Social Security problem to the larger threat to make it seem more credible. Some scammers send official-looking letters with the SSA logo, directing you to call a number that routes to the scammer's phone line.

Key Takeaways

  • The Social Security Administration never calls, texts, or emails you first about a problem — if you did not call them, the contact is not from SSA.
  • Real SSA staff will never ask for your Social Security number, passwords, bank details, or payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
  • Scammers create false urgency by claiming your benefits will stop within hours unless you act when ready.
  • If you are unsure whether a call is real, hang up and call the official SSA number 1-800-772-1213 yourself to verify.
  • Report suspected scams to the SSA's Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov or by phone at 1-800-269-0271.

Red flags that signal a scam call or message

A caller claiming to be from Social Security who creates pressure to act when ready is almost always a scammer. Real SSA staff give you time to resolve issues and do not threaten to suspend benefits within hours. If someone says your benefits are frozen and you must pay a fee or provide information right now, hang up.

Scammers often spoof the SSA's real phone number (1-800-772-1213) so it appears on your caller ID as coming from the government. This does not mean the call is real — spoofing is straightforward and free. The content of the call is what matters. If the caller asks you to stay on the line while you go to your computer or phone to send money, or if they ask you to buy gift cards, that is a scam.

Watch for requests to keep the call secret. Scammers tell people not to tell family members or their bank about the problem because it is a "sensitive investigation." The SSA does not conduct investigations this way. Legitimate government agencies do not ask you to hide contact from your family.

Text messages and emails claiming to be from Social Security with links to "verify your account" or "update your information" are scams. The SSA does not send unsolicited links. If you receive a message like this, do not click the link — delete it or report it to the SSA.

What to do if you think you have been contacted by a scammer

Hang up when ready if you are on a call with someone claiming to be from Social Security who is asking for money or personal information. Do not stay on the line to argue or to "prove" you are not falling for it. Scammers are trained to overcome objections and may keep you talking until you give in.

If you gave the scammer any information — your Social Security number, bank account details, passwords, or credit card number — contact your bank and credit card companies right away. Tell them you may be a victim of fraud and ask them to watch your accounts for suspicious activity. You can also place a fraud alert on your credit report by calling one of the three major credit bureaus: Equifax (1-800-525-6285), Experian (1-888-397-3742), or TransUnion (1-800-680-7289). A fraud alert tells lenders to verify your identity before opening new accounts in your name.

If you sent money to a scammer, contact your bank or the money transfer service when ready. If you used a gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency, the money is usually gone, but reporting it quickly may help authorities trace the scam. File a report with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov.

How to verify you are really talking to Social Security

If you receive a call about a Social Security problem and you are not sure whether it is real, hang up. Do not give any information to the caller. Then call the Social Security Administration yourself at 1-800-772-1213. This is the official SSA customer service number. When you call this number, you reach the real SSA, not a scammer's line.

Tell the SSA representative that you received a call claiming to be from them and describe what the caller said. The SSA can tell you whether there is actually a problem with your account. If there is, the representative can help you resolve it. If there is not, you have confirmed the call was a scam.

You can also visit ssa.gov and log into your personal my Social Security account if you have one set up. Your account shows your earnings history, estimated benefits, and any messages from the SSA. If there is a real problem, you will see it there. The SSA will not contact you by phone or email about something you can see in your account.

Protecting yourself from future scams

Do not answer calls from unknown numbers. If the call is important, the caller will leave a voicemail. Scammers rely on catching you off guard and creating panic before you have time to think. Screening calls gives you time to verify whether the caller is real.

Register your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. This does not stop all scam calls, but it reduces the volume. It also makes it easier to identify calls that do come through as likely scams.

Never give out your Social Security number, bank account information, or passwords to anyone who calls you, even if they claim to be from a government agency. Real government staff will not ask for this information over the phone. If you need to provide sensitive information to a government agency, you call them at their official number, not the other way around.

Tell family members and friends about these scams. Scammers often target older adults, and awareness is the best defense. If an elderly relative receives a suspicious call, they are more likely to recognize it as a scam if they have heard about these tactics before.

Reporting scams to the right agencies

Report suspected Social Security scams to the Social Security Administration's Office of Inspector General. You can file a report online at oig.ssa.gov or call 1-800-269-0271. Provide as much detail as you can: the phone number the scammer called from (even if it was spoofed), the date and time of the call, what the scammer said, and whether you gave any information or money.

Also report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The FTC collects reports from across the country and uses them to identify patterns and warn the public. Your report helps protect other people from the same scammer.

If you received a suspicious email or text claiming to be from Social Security, forward it to the SSA at oig.ssa.gov/report. Include the full email header or screenshot of the text message so the SSA can see where it came from.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Social Security Administration really call me about my benefits?

The SSA can call you, but only if you called them first or if you previously gave them permission to contact you. They will never call you out of the blue about a problem with your account. If you receive an unsolicited call claiming to be from Social Security, it is a scam.

What should I do if I already gave the scammer my Social Security number?

Contact your bank and credit card companies when ready to report potential fraud. Place a fraud alert on your credit report by calling Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion. Monitor your credit report for accounts you did not open. You can get a free credit report from annualcreditreport.com once per year.

If I hang up on a real SSA call, how do I know if there was actually a problem?

Call the Social Security Administration yourself at 1-800-772-1213. They can tell you whether there is any issue with your account. You can also log into your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov to check your account status anytime.

Why do scammers use the real Social Security phone number on caller ID?

Scammers use a technique called spoofing to make their call appear to come from a legitimate number. Spoofing is inexpensive and straightforward to do. A spoofed caller ID does not mean the call is real — always judge the call by what the person is asking for, not what number appears on your screen.

What if I sent money through a gift card — can I get it back?

Once a scammer has redeemed a gift card, the money is usually gone. However, report it to the gift card company and to the Federal Trade Commission when ready. Some companies may be able to trace the scammer's account. Filing a report also creates a record that may help law enforcement investigate.