If you have recently received an email offering you a downloadable copy of your Social Security statement, do not click these links. It is very likely a scam.
The Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General (OIG) has issued a statement warning the public that a significant rise of scam emails are falsely claiming to provide access to your Social Security statement. While these emails may look real, clicking these links may cause you to become a victim of identity theft, financial loss or having your data compromised.
“We are seeing a sharp increase in fraudulent emails designed to look like official Social Security Administration communications,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Assistant Inspector General for Audit as First Assistant, in an official press release. “These messages are not from Social Security. Anyone who receives one should delete it immediately and report it.”
These scam emails may appear legitimate at first. They use official-looking language, logos, colors and formatting to mislead you into clicking links. However, these links may install malware into your computer or personal device, or lead you to fake websites in order to steal your personal or financial information.
Your Social Security account is accessible via ssa.gov/myaccount. Type, don’t click, this link into your search bar to access your statements.
If you are not sure whether your email from the Social Security Administration is a scam, compare it to a few examples of scam emails provided by the Social Security’s press release.
Warning Signs Of A Scam Email
The scam email examples displayed in the SSA’s press release have obvious spelling errors (“Socail” instead of “Social”) and untrustworthy links.
Other common warning signs of a scam email include:
- Sender email addresses that do not end in “.gov”
- Messages creating urgency or pressuring you to act immediately
- Messages claiming your Social Security statement is ready to download
- Embedded links or attachments labeled as statements or documents
Showing due diligence can prevent you from becoming a victim of one of these scam emails.
What If I Receive One of These Emails?
The Social Security Administration advises you to not click links, open attachments, respond to the email or provide any personal information. Instead, you should report suspicious emails immediately.
If you want to set up or access your Social Security account, type in ssa.gov/myaccount into your search bar. Type, do not click, this link.
How Do I Report Suspicious Emails?
There are three ways to report suspicious emails or scams to the authorities.
- Report the incident to the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report. This website allows users to report scams and cases of fraud.
- File a complaint with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov. The IC3 focuses on collecting information about cyber-enabled crime. Read the IC3’s FAQ page to learn what information you should provide in your complaint.
- Report the scam to the Federal Trade Commission at ftc.gov. The FTC allows users to report scams, fraud and illegal business practices.
What If I Already Responded To These Emails?
If you have clicked a link, downloaded an attachment or statement, or provided personal information, take these steps to protect yourself and others from further harm:
- Stop all communication with the suspected scammer.
- Contact your financial institutions (banks, credit unions, etc.) to protect your accounts.
- Report these incidents to the SSA OIG, FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, and Federal Trade Commission, as described above.
- Finally, if you have suffered financial losses, contact your local law enforcement.
Other Common Social Security Scams
Social Security scams are not limited to this recent rise in fake emails. Scammers might call, email, text, write letters or send messages on social media pretending to be from the Social Security Administration or Office of Inspector General. The scammer might use the name of a person who really works there and send a picture or attachment as “proof.”
The Four “P’s” Of Scammer Tactics
The Social Security Administration discusses these four signs of a scam:
- Pretending: Scammers pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain your trust.
- Problems or prizes: Scammers claim there is a problem or a prize.
- Pressuring tactics: Scammers pressure you to make quick decisions or act immediately.
- Payments: Scammers tell you to pay them in a specific way, usually with methods that make your funds hard to trace, reverse or recover.
Other Scammer Red Flags
Scammers may use these manipulative or deceptive tactics against their intended victims:
- Pressuring you to make quick decisions
- Asking you to pay with gift cards, precious metals, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or by mailing cash.
- Spoofing phone numbers of official government agencies or even local police departments.
- Claiming to transfer your call to a law enforcement agent or government official to “protect your money” or “help you avoid arrest.”
- Using the real names of government officials or employees.
- Threatening arrest or legal action, suspension of your Social Security number or account, or seizure of your bank account.
- Telling you to move your money to a so-called “protected bank account” to keep it safe.
- Requesting to meet you in person to pick up cash, gold bars or other assets.
- Demanding secrecy from you.
- Sending text messages or emailed attachments of badges, credentials or official-looking documents.
- Sending you direct messages on social media, asking for money or personal information.
- Claiming they need your personal information or payment to activate cost-of-living-adjustments (COLA) or other benefits increases.
- Building a relationship (whether friendship or romantic in nature) before offering to trade or invest your money.
Scammers may also create fake social media accounts that use images, colors or jargon associated with the Social Security Administration. These fake accounts may look like official Social Security Administration or Office of the Inspector General accounts. However, these fake accounts may have low follower counts, incorrect punctuation or spelling, links to non-government websites (not ending in .gov), incorrect social media handles, or charge fees for government forms or documents that are typically free.
Stay Alert and Use Official Channels
Fake email alerts from the Social Security Administration or other government agencies can look very convincing at first glance. If these emails induce a sense of urgency, do not act on it. Instead, review the contents of the email for any misuse of logos, spelling errors or other signs of a common scam. Do not click any links or downloadable attachments in these emails.
Remember that the Social Security Administration and its Office of Inspector General will never demand immediate payment or threaten arrest, legal action or suspension of your account or benefits for refusing to pay on the spot. Messages from these offices will never have unsolicited email attachments or direct download links. They will never ask you to pay through unusual, untraceable or unrecoverable means, nor will they ever offer to move your money for you.
The SSA OIG urges the public to share this information with friends, family and community members, especially older adults frequently targeted by scams. If you or a loved one receives a suspicious or scam-like email, do not respond to it. Instead, report it to the appropriate offices and, if needed, report any resulting financial losses to local law enforcement.
