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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  1. Harold

    It seems that I have been hearing for several years that we should not carry our SS numbers with us. As I was approaching medicare age, I was hearing the new medicare cards were being issued with numbers not related to the social security numbers Then I received my medicare card and there is was printed on the card with instructions to carry it with me. I contacted medicare and asked why the SSA tells me not to carry my number and Medicare tells me to carry my number. I was told there would be new numbers issued in 2018. This didn’t explain why this has gone on for so long. I explained that I had photocopied my card, taken a sharpie and marked out the number on the photocopy, and then photocopied the photocopy before it was finally impossible to read the number though the markings. This is the card I will carry. I was told that I should carry the one with the numbers but only when I am going to the doctor. I explained that retired people tend to want to travel and might need medical assistance while away from home, so the suggestion was less than intelligent. Then I got my first medicare notice telling me my next medicare payment would be automatically deducted from my banking account and again my SSN was printed on the form. Even my employer stopped including my SSN on my paychecks years ago. We have had several mailboxes broken into recently in my neighborhood and my government seems intent on endangering my ID. I will be placing a freeze on my credit until some small evidence of wisdom begins to show

  2. Antonia

  3. Sandra V.

    I changed my email.

  4. Sandra V.

    I changed email

  5. anthony f.

    no-reply@ssa.gov
    2:02 AM (10 hours ago)

    to me
    Dear Anthony:

    We’d like to remind you to review your Social Security Statement online. The Statement has important Social Security information and, if applicable, estimates of your future benefits.

    If you are working, we encourage you to check your Statement yearly to make sure your earnings record is correct. The Statement also will help in planning your financial future.

    To view your most recent Statement, please visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/signin and sign into your account.

    With instant access to your Social Security Statement at any time, you will no longer receive one periodically in the mail, saving money and the environment. Thank you for Going Green!

    Please do not reply to this E-mail, as we are unable to respond to messages sent to this address.,,iIS THIS REAL>>???WAS NOT IN MY SPAM..

  6. Soon t.

    I received an e-mail to call this number with extension 4015254 telling me they needed to review my earnings record, the month I can begin receiving benefits and my retirement claim. This didn’t sound right as they have all the information needed. After looking the number up most commenters said the number came from the Salinas, CA Social Security Office. I called the Salinas, CA branch even though I live in Idaho. When I tried to put the extension in the message said that the extension was invalid as there are only 5 numbers for their extensions. The email came from DoNotReply@ssa.gov, which looks legitimate. It is not. Social Security Administration will not ask you questions by email or over the phone.
    Found this website explaining the scan after I posted as Soon to be retired in Idaho. Very good information about the scam. Under no circumstances call the number or respond to any e-mail.
    http://usgovinfo.about.com/od/consum…ascams.htm

  7. Jennifer B.

    I been forwarding all my scam emails to spam address but I have not any response I been getting more and more everyday demanding money n threatening Tex n phone call

  8. Lemuel N.

    Thank you so much for your effort in writing this post.

    http://sharingvideo.livejournal.com/7932.html

  9. Nick P.

    I got this email 1 week after applying for SS benefits on line.
    “Dear *****************
    Please call our office before Saturday, July 09, 2016 and ask for Any Representative. The telephone number is 866-964-7317. We need to talk to you about:
    Your Medicare entitlement.
    When you call our office, please have this letter with you. It will help us to serve you more quickly.
    Social Security Administration”

    It had the proper donotreply@ssa.gov as the sender, but I know that can be faked.

    Even though there is no link or web address, I think it is bogus and if I call the number, someone would try to get info from me. I do not want to give them my caller ID phone # to go with my email address.
    I looked up the SSA phone #, was on hold for an hour and the rep could not confirm if it was legitimate or not, but said I would get a letter if they needed to contact me.
    I guess this is a new phishing attempt.
    Nick

    • C. M.

      This is pretty much what I got today, September 21st, except I was given a specific name to contact. Mine also came from donotreply@ssa.gov.

  10. MD t.

    Thank you,for this basic information.God, support you for dealing with each one of us who got it.still there will be some who still won’t acknowledge what they have as of late been told about these swindlers.My God guarantees them.
    Thaks again
    http://cameranana.com/

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