Social Security numbers are the skeleton keys to identity theft. And what better way to get someone’s Social Security number than by pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA)?
With the 2024 announcement of new login requirements for those who created My Social Security online accounts before Sept. 18, 2021, experts warn that scammers may take advantage of Social Security recipients who may be confused by the switch. (See here for updated step-by-step instructions.)
“Criminals take advantage of these big changes. We would urge people to be suspicious of any call offering to help you change your login credentials,” says Amy Nofziger, director of victim support at AARP’s Fraud Watch Network.
Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is warning the public about Social Security impersonators and related scams, noting that scammers “might use the name of a person who really works [for the SSA] and might send a picture or attachment as ‘proof.’”
And now impostors have artificial intelligence as a tool to make their communications more convincing. “Scammers’ embrace of AI has made things exponentially worse,” says Shawna Reeves, special projects consultant for Legal Assistance for Seniors in Oakland, California. “Because of AI, scam calls, emails, and texts have become more personalized, and thus, harder to detect,” she adds.
Warning Signs of a Social Security Scam
The scam starts when criminals call or send you a text, a letter, or a social media message, in which they claim to be officials from the SSA or the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General.
As noted above, they may use the name of an actual SSA employee or send what looks like an official SSA letterhead attached to an email or text message to appear authentic.
They also might text or email images of fake credentials to “prove” they’re Social Security representatives. SSA employees will not send pictures of their IDs.
Does Social Security Call You?
Social Security almost never contacts people out of the blue. It will text you only if you opted to receive notifications that way or to verify your identity when you access your online My Social Security account. And if you have an old My Social Security account, you may receive an email from the SSA informing you of the login change. (These emails should always originate from a “.gov” address.)
So, when scammers call you, what are some of the most common things they might say? Click the link below to keep reading:
AARP: Six Common Social Security Scams
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