Protecting Your Social Security
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 3, 2023
At Social Security, protecting your personal information is more important than ever. We continue to evaluate and improve our robust cyber-security program to safeguard your information. The thing is, we can’t do it alone. You can help us secure your information by taking one of these steps:
- Open your personal my Social Security account. A my Social Security account is your gateway to many of our online services. Create your account today and take away the risk of someone else trying to create one in your name, even if they obtain your Social Security number.
- If you already have a my Social Security account, but haven’t signed in lately, take a moment to log in. We’ll send a one-time security code to your cell phone or to your email address each time you sign in with your username and password. The security code is part of our enhanced security feature to protect your personal information. Keep in mind that your cell phone provider’s text message and data rates may apply. If you suspect identity theft, report it to our Office of the Inspector General.
- If you know your Social Security information has been compromised, and you don’t want to do business with us online, you can contact us to block any automated telephone and electronic access to your Social Security record. No one, including you, will be able to see or change your personal information on the internet or through our automated telephone service. If you block access to your record and then change your mind in the future, you can contact us and ask us to unblock it after you prove your identity. This resource is available to certain victims of domestic violence or identity theft and those who need extra security.
We will continue to do our part to protect what’s important to you. And we’ll continue to advise you on how to protect yourself.
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Tags: fraud, my Social Security, my Social Security account, Office of the Inspector General, OIG, Social Security benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Steven D.
I got a call from your office concerning fraudulent activities to my account. Noone will answer at the 800 number. Please call me immediately at 303-520-2184
R.F.
Hello Steven. Social Security Administration (SSA) employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employee may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which receives and analyzes public complaints related to identity theft, recently reported to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) an increase in reports of suspicious phone calls from people claiming to be SSA employees.
If a person receives a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from SSA, citizens may report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thanks!
Robin I.
Received a voice message on my cell phone from 972-994-6937 claiming to be from the Social Security Administration and that if I did not comply there would be legal action or my Social Security would be cancelled…. I don’t receive Social Security benefits at this time. I called back to see who the call was from as the voice message did not specify. I made them reiterate that it was the Social Security Administration. When the man asked for my SSN and DOB I said, “NO! what for?” The call then disconnected.
R.F.
Hello Robin. Social Security Administration (SSA) employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employee may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone. If a person has questions about any communication—email, letter, text or phone call—that claims to be from SSA or the OIG, please report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thanks!
Alan
I received a Call from 773 279 5853
appeared to be a phishing scam
R.F.
Just a reminder — If a person receives a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from SSA, citizens may report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thanks!
Debbie H.
Can someone please unlock my brother online account(Jeffrey A. Carlton SS# *** – ** – ***) so we can log on to fill a complaint. My brother have colon caner and have two bags one for urine and the other for bowels. He still have to go thru 4 more months of chemo. With surgery , Two Philosophy bags, and 4 more months of chemo we don’t understand how his Disability got denied. However we did appeal and got a letter that he has to wait his turn for a court when his serious situation should have never been denied in the first place. He is in terrible danger of losing his home has of right now.
He applied for Disability 6/2/2018. Please have someone contact from your office that can assist my brother in this matter.
Respectfully,
Jeffrey Carlton Sister
2240 Arrowood Trail
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
734-892-8050
R.F.
We are sorry to hear of your brother’s medical condition, Debbie. For assistance with his personal my Social Security account, he may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
•Contact his local Social Security office.
We have referred your inquiry to our Operations staff for follow up.
Just a reminder – We do not have access to personal information in this venue. Please be cautious about posting personal information on social media channels.
Thanks.
Carl
I blocked my SS information because twice now
in 3 years someone has tried to get my SS number
I still have sometime before I retire , That fund would be for me , Watch out for this number also
1-302-291-9041
Sandra L.
I will mail form W-4V to the Mission Viejo office requesting federal tax be deducted from my check. Will I receive a confirmation? Thank you.
R.F.
Hello Sandra. Generally, a notice is mail to you after we process your request. Thanks!
Colleen M.
I got a call saying my social security number would be cancelled and to call back – and the number was the same number I found for social security (800-772-1213). Then I was suppose to wait over an hour on the phone for service and hand out my SS# to a machine! No way! Why would Social Security cancel my number and why would they call???
R.F.
Hello Colleen. Social Security Administration (SSA) employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employee may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone.
If a person receives a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from SSA, citizens may report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thanks!
ERIC A.
My father passed away on August 10th and we notified the SSA within a few days. Yesterday 10/29/18 my mother received a letter from Humana (Her medicare policy is through Humana) and the letter said they would be refunding her premiums through August and cancelled her Medicare policy because the SSA reported her as dead. I spent 2 hours and 7 minutes on hold trying to talk to some one at SSA and when they finally picked up they said they couldn’t hear me and hung up. Why does the ineptness of government agencies have to prove true at every turn? Why do I have to spend hours fixing your mistake. Who’s responsible for such an epic blunder? Time for congress to tear it all down if you can’t fix this. I want my time and money back. I want to know who is responsible for this complete disaster. Now all her medical bills are coming in as unpaid because of her cancellation of Medicare. Medicare says it’s your fault. Send a check for my time fixing your mistake to me at your earliest convenience. Currently now at 5 hours @ $20 per hour. No social security should be taken out since I’m doing your job for you. More hours to come. Feel free to find out who screwed this up and deduct it from their pay. Maybe everyone at SSA should have to call your worthless 800 number to get their paychecks every week. Please include names of those responsible in your response.
R.F.
Hello Eric. We apologize and we regret to hear you did not receive the level of customer service you expected. We are -also- sorry to hear you are having a problem getting your mom’s check reinstated. Unfortunately, we do not have contact with your local field office in this venue.
We ask that you continue to work with your local field office and ask to speak with the supervisor if necessary. Your mother’s situation is considered dire need and should be expedited. We hope this helps.
Joseph f.
Change of address procedure?
R.F.
If you need proof you get Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security (SSI) Income or Medicare, you can request a benefit verification letter online by using your my Social Security account. Thanks!
Norman I.
I just received a phone call, allegedly from social security, that my social security account has been compromised. Waiting on phone forever.
Norman Isaacs
XXX Rojo
Palm Springs, CA 92264
R.F.
Hello Norman. Social Security Administration (SSA) employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employee may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone.
If a person has questions about any communication—email, letter, text or phone call—that claims to be from SSA or the OIG, please report the information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thanks!