Frauds & Scams

Social Security Protects Your Investment

January 14, 2021 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: August 19, 2021

Social Security Protects Your InterestWe provide benefits to about one-fifth of the American population and help protect workers, children, people with disabilities, and the elderly.

One of our most important responsibilities is to protect the hard-earned money you pay into Social Security, which is why we have zero tolerance for fraud. We take fraud claims seriously and investigate them thoroughly. We respond quickly and decisively to prevent and detect fraud. For example, we monitor transactions to identify actions that demonstrate an intent to defraud the American people. We will continue to innovate and develop anti-fraud initiatives because any level of fraud is unacceptable.

Our Public Service Announcement provides information to help you understand the ongoing nationwide telephone scam.* The video features a message from our Commissioner, Andrew Saul. Along with our Office of the Inspector General, we continue to receive reports about fraudulent phone calls, text messages, and emails. The callers falsely claim that they are government employees. Scammers play on emotions like fear to convince you to provide personal information or money in cash, wire transfers, or gift cards. Fraudsters also email fake documents to get you to comply with their demands.

“I want every American to know that if a suspicious caller states there is a problem with their Social Security number or account, they should hang up and never give the caller money or personal information. People should then go online to report the scam call to Social Security,” said Commissioner Saul. You can report these scams to our Office of the Inspector General.

Learn how to protect yourself and report any suspicious calls or emails right away. If you have been a victim of one of these scams, please do not be embarrassed. Instead, report the fraud to our Office of the Inspector General so we can stop these scammers and protect others. Please share our new Public Service Announcement video with your friends and family on our YouTube page.*

You can also share our publication, Social Security Protects Your Investment.

*Note: This video is no longer available.

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About the Author

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

Darlynda Bogle, Assistant Deputy Commissioner

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Comments

  1. Red

    Recently tried to apply for Retirement Benefits online, but there is no Submit button after completing the application, and there seem to be no errors, either. Can SSA FIX the site so it works again?

    The submit button was there in October, but evidently it threw my application data into the ether, cause the SSA lost my application (no record of it). Where do I complain about this? Next step is my Senators, who will both receive letters with details on the situation.

    • Vonda

      Hi Red, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. Please call your local Social Security office. 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.

  2. Tiffany J.

    I’m wondering since I received Social Security benefits and disability. My insurance is great but between rent portion of bills being some days with a running car and some days. Without. I can no longer drive at night and really don’t like to drive at all. I just need more Help financially. I see several doctors and have no copay. Thank God I do pay a small amount for scripts. But surgeries etc it’s not so cheap. So my question is will I receive one more check for 1400? On Direct Express card?

    • Vonda

      Hi Tiffany, thanks for using our blog. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), not Social Security, issues the Economic Income Payments. Social Security cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation. Check out our Social Security and Coronavirus web page for more details. We hope this helps.

  3. Lisa

    Question, my fiance went to prison in the process of filing his taxes back in 2017. He is asking if there is any way he can find out if anyone has tried to use his social security number from the time he has been incarcerated. that would be 2017 up to the present date of today. Also is there a way make sure no one is using his SS number while he is incarcerated?

  4. Richard E.

    Is there something that can be done about a woman that is working and not reporting it while collecting on social security, without me getting into trouble or affecting my social security disability?

    • Vonda

      Thank you for helping us fight fraud, Richard. We take allegations of fraud very seriously. If you suspect fraud, waste or abuse of Social Security benefits, we encourage you to report it. We hope this is helpful.

  5. David D.

    Can the supplement income threw Stimulus checks be put into my account which I received my Social Security instead of being mailed to me

    • Vonda

      Hi David, thanks for using our blog. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), not Social Security, issues the Economic Income Payments. Social Security cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation. Check out our Social Security and Coronavirus web page for more details. We hope this helps.

  6. Steven C.

    Steven C Nunez III

    CYBER SCAM

  7. Shelton G.

    I recieved a call from Elpaso Texas about someone having bank accounts in my name and they were suspending card

    • Vonda

      Thanks for letting us know, Shelton. 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.

  8. Charles a.

    I’m trying to set up an online account, but I have no cell phone to take a picture of my license. I also do not have a w2 , I only have a 1099r. I do not have a 1040 se. what am I supposed to do.

    • Vonda

      Hi Charles, thanks for using our blog. Sorry to hear you are having difficulties creating a my Social Security account. For assistance with your account, you may call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) 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.

  9. John L.

    Yet you let the government ‘Borrow’ from the fund years ago. You let President Clinton place Welfare Receipients to ‘End Welfare as We Know It’. Are the Social Security Employees covered by Social Security or are you like the rest of the Federal Government that created their OWN Separate Pension.

  10. Barbara C.

    I’m presently waiting on my password so I could sign into my account.

Comments are closed.