Frauds & Scams

Scammers Fake Social Security Email

January 27, 2016 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: March 23, 2022

warning.scam.alertThe subject line says “Get Protected,” and the email talks about new features from the Social Security Administration (SSA) that can help taxpayers monitor their credit reports, and know about unauthorized use of their Social Security number. It even cites the IRS and the official-sounding “S.A.F.E Act 2015.” It sounds real, but it’s all made up.

It’s a phishing email to get you to click on a scammer’s link. If you do, a scammer can install malware — like viruses and spyware — on your computer. Or, the link might send you to a spoof site — a lookalike website set up by a scammer to trick you into entering your personal information.

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Not sure if an email is really from the government? Here are a couple of clues. Did the email end up in your junk folder? Email providers use filters to help catch phishing scams and prevent spam from getting into your inbox. And when you hover your cursor over the link, is the web address really a trusted website? In this fake SSA email, when you hover over the URL you’re invited to click on, you see the link goes to an unrelated “.com” — instead of the Social Security Administration’s ssa.gov or another “.gov” site.

If you get a questionable email, don’t click on any links, or open any attachments. Report it to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov — and to the real organization impersonated in the email. You also can report it to your email provider. Some email providers let you mark messages as phishing scams. Your report is most effective when you include the full email header, although most email programs hide this information. To find out the full header, type the name of your email service with “full email header” into your favorite search engine, and include this information in your report. When you’re done, delete the email.

If you’re unsure about an email that looks like it’s from the government, contact the agency directly. But find the contact info yourself.

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About the Author

Amy Herbert, Consumer Education Specialist, FTC

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Comments

  1. Gary

    I appreciate you people so much…

  2. Jeri

    Great advice! Thank you for keeping us on our toes. You are awesome! Have a great day today!

  3. Bettie

    Thank you, for this important information.. God, bless you for looking after all of us who received it ..still there will be some who still will not believe what they have just been told about these scammers…My God protect them..

  4. Cynthia

    Thank you for this information we need to stay a head of the scammers.

  5. Luis C.

    Great information, thank you so much.

  6. Barbara K.

    I appreciate the updated information. I also think advanced technology, higher standad, operating systems, such as Apple and Microsoft, help to keep the online and offline identities, mainstream, public and private information safe.

    Thank you.

  7. Tom

    Is the server clintonmail?

  8. DON

    CAPTURE & LOCK “FAKES UP”/BAR THEM FROM EVER RECEIVING SOCIAL SECURITY!
    IT HAPPENED THAT WAY, MOVIN’ WEST!
    OLE DONNYBOY

  9. Beverly

    Hopefully, this is on the Social Security website. Great information

  10. Beverly

    Thank you for this valuable information. Hopefully, this information is on the SSA website.

Comments are closed.