Frauds & Scams

Social Security and OIG Announce Additional Anti-Fraud Units

October 2, 2020 • By

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Last Updated: October 2, 2020

At Social Security, we are committed to detecting and preventing fraud. Earlier this week, we and our Office of the Inspector General (OIG) announced that four new Cooperative Disability Investigations (CDI) Units opened across the country. CDI Units identify, investigate, and prevent Social Security disability fraud, and are a successful part of the agency’s anti-fraud initiative.  Four new statewide offices recently opened across the country, in Cheyenne, Wyoming; Las Vegas, Nevada; Manchester, New Hampshire; and Omaha, Nebraska.

The CDI Program helps ensure the integrity of Federal disability programs by resolving questions of potential fraud before benefits are ever paid.  The innovative initiative continues to be successful by bringing together personnel from Social Security, our OIG, State Disability Determination Services, and local law enforcement agencies to investigate and analyze suspicious or questionable Social Security disability claims.  CDI Unit efforts assist disability examiners in making informed decisions, ensure payment accuracy, and generate significant taxpayer savings for both Federal and State programs.

The CDI Program consists of 49 units covering 44 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories. We have opened many units in the last few years as they work together to provide CDI coverage for all 50 states by 2022. Since 1997, the CDIs’ efforts have contributed to $4 billion in projected savings to our programs and $3 billion in projected savings to other Federal and State programs.

You can read the entire press release about our new CDI Units here.

 

 

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About the Author

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

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Comments

  1. Shawn W.

    I received a letter 3 months ago from Missouri regarding unemployment. I never filed for this. Then 2 weeks ago I received a letter from workforce for pandemic relief unemployment. I never filed for that. I received a call today from someone stating my Amazon prime account had been hacked. I don’t have Amazon prime for about 4-5 months. I’m trying to stop this. Someone has stole my social security number and I need help.

    • V.V.

      Hi Shawn, thanks for using our blog. Generally, identity theft issues are handled by the Federal Trade Commission. Visit http://www.identitytheft.gov to report identity theft and get a recovery plan or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).

      Visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on what you can do if you think someone is using your Social Security number.

  2. Laura W.

    My family, placed my thoughts at ease. We then blocked that variety from my phone. Thank you for sharing your tale i feel plenty of relief. you know those crooks/scammers are genuinely bad peoples.

    https://dealmarkaz.pk/items/category-mobile-phones/p-s8-plus

  3. Tracy S.

    WARNING
    Please read especially if you are on Social Security’.

    I got a call today, it was a recording the message said , Social Service had been violated and my benefits were revoked, but they didn’t say how. There was nothing given about what to expect and what kind of information we should be prepared to give out, when asked for. In addition, the representatives give their name and ID to assure a you they are speaking as a legitimate employee of Social Security.

    Then they say a warrant has been issued for you and you will be arrested very soon that it was inevitible. It’s then that they just hung up on me. it caught me off guard i got really upset.

    My family, put my mind at ease. We then blocked that number from my phone. Thank you for sharing your story i feel a lot of relief. you know these crooks/scammers are really bad peoples.

    KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR THOSE SCAMMERS

    Anyway God Bess and Happy Thanksgiving

  4. josephine p.

    been through all this and then some hoping that iowa grain gets never found out and your post are doing the dew

  5. Linda H.

    I keep getting what I think is spam calls saying my social security # has been compromised. Most likely spam or way into my pocket?

    • V.V.

      Thanks for letting us know, Linda. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.

      If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.

      • Elizabeth S.

        Thank you!
        I’ve been DISABLED for awhile but a few years ago I found out I also have brain damage. I’d never been hacked or fell for one until 2020. I lost several thousand dollars but didn’t know what to do!

        I still have some or maybe all of the receipts from 1 scam.

        Thank you!

    • Tracy S.

      i just got the same call as you did, it caught me off guard i got really upset. My family member put my mind at ease. We then blocked that number from my phone. Thank you for sharing your story i feel a lot of relief. you know these crooks/scammers are really bad peoples.
      Anyway God Bess and Happy Thanksgiving
      Tracy Stammer

  6. Sandra J.

    In recent days I have had to reach out to both the local Social Security Administration office and dot gov. I took notice of the attention given to recorded intake messages about consumer-beware-of fraud against beneficiaries, however there was nothing given about what to expect when a beneficiary calls the offices, i.e., , what kind of information we should be prepared to give out. In addition, the representatives are not transparent about their identity, such as an introduction of name and ID to assure a person they are speaking to a legitimate employee. No quality assurance and accountability. One even just hung up on me.

    These days hackers scam on mobile devices (even landlines are wireless because most go through the cable modem) easily by getting access to phones via frequency sniffers and Bluetooth.
    They are listening in to obtain information, and doing things such as switching your calls to another party, among other things. Once a beneficiary answers all the layers of verification to prove your the account holder, the scammers are now equipped with vital data to help them complete their efforts to steal from you!

    Perhaps the best way to combat certain fraudulent behaviors is to stop requiring beneficiaries to give out too much personal details over the phone and in e files. A PIN number maybe, a random question that changes from time to time, some type of two step process initiated on the government’s end, etc. Besides myself, almost everyone I talk to is dealing with wireless tech issues and data breaches.

    Food for thought. Process improvement.

  7. Joann T.

    How do I check for back pay

    • V.V.

      Hi Joann. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue and are unable to check for you. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

  8. Shawndell S.

    Thanks for working on SSI living cost everything is
    So high and can’t afford nothing in Colorado

  9. Lindora J.

    I’m having trouble with. My on line account. It keeps saying my information is wrong

    • V.V.

      Hi Lindora, thanks for using our blog. We are sorry to hear about the difficulties you are experiencing with your my Social Security account. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.

  10. Janet m.

    I have direct express card for social security disability and u didn’t get my money on it this month. I have called that number on he back for a week now and I just get out on hold waiting for someone to answer, u have sat for 2 hours at a time and no answer. My power is about to be shut off and my phone already is I’m using a friend’s.

    • Janet m.

      I meant I didn’t get

    • Kandi L.

      You said you’ve called the number on the back of your D.E. card, have you spoken with your local Social Security office yet? Or perhaps have you checked ‘mysocialsecurity’ account yet?
      If you still have not heard anything or still have not received anything – what State are you in?

      • PETER J.

        DE. The only thing that has been done is, I can no longer access my online SS account (website). HELP. I need my benefits, like YESTERYEAR. This is my one (1) year anniversary of being deprived of two (2) months benefits. HELP.

        • Peter J.

          Well it has been 15 months since my (2) benefit checks were stolen through the SS system. I did not receive a check in September nor October 2019 (Aug and Sep payment). I visited my local SS office in the months of OCT, NOV 2019, JAN, FEB, and MAR 2020. On one visit I was informed that I should receive my payments in approximately 15 days. RESULTS: NONE. On another visit I was informed that the SSA does not investigate these cases anymore. On my last visit in MAR 2020 after speaking with two SS workers I was informed that I should receive my back payments by the end of MAR 2020. If not I should notify a Ms. ALLEN. From MARCH up to now all I have ever gotten was a recording from an answering machine. I have even called the OIG and the results were the same – representatives telling me the same lye, “Mr Frobes you should get your check in approximately 15 days. Wel it has been 14 soon to be 15 months and I have not gotten an HONEST ANSWER from the SSA/OIG yet. I do have the SSA to thank for the termination of my utilities a couple of times and still in the process of fighting off EVICTION. More than $3,500 is a lot for a retied veteran to go without for such a long time.

Comments are closed.