Social Security Takes Fraud Seriously
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: August 19, 2021
One out of five Americans receives benefits from Social Security, including elderly retirees, people with severe illnesses, and widows and children of deceased wage earners.
With so many of our country’s most vulnerable citizens depending on us, we take our responsibility of providing them with a measure of financial security seriously.
One way we do that is by making a priority our many efforts to pursue those who would cheat the system and take money away from those who need it most.
The agency’s benefit programs are far-reaching and complex, which means that preventing, detecting, and combatting fraud, waste, and abuse is an ongoing challenge. Although we can’t prevent every instance of fraud any more than law enforcement can prevent all crimes, we aggressively investigate potential instances of fraud and pursue prosecution of those who commit it.
Our Office of Anti-Fraud Programs (OAFP) uses many tools to help predict where fraud may occur so we can identify it as quickly as possible. OAFP works alongside the Office of the Inspector General, and Disability Determination Services in the Cooperative Disability Investigation (CDI) program. CDI units investigate and resolve questions of fraud in our programs. There are stiff penalties: We seek the maximum punishment allowable under the law to restore money stolen from the American people. As a result, fraud affects only a very small percentage of our overall payments.
You can help protect your investment in Social Security. Take time to learn all the facts on how we work to prevent fraud. Remember, if you suspect fraud, report it or call the fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
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Tags: fraud, social security, SSA
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Phil Gambino, Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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edilaine
my step father died an brazil and hes family never reporter to usa the hes dead
hes died an 2016 and the union the hes with works still send hem letter to my address.
i take hes family still collect something
R.F.
Thank you for using our blog to contact us, Edilaine. Social Security should be notified as soon as possible when a person in your family dies. If the deceased was receiving Social Security benefits, his or her payments, received for the month of death and any later months, must be returned.
Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. We ask for your patience during busy periods since you may experience a higher than usual rate of busy signals and longer hold times to speak to us.
Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week.
You can also visit your local Social Security office. An appointment is not required, but if you call ahead and schedule one, it may reduce the time you spend waiting to speak to someone.
Mark G.
ssa, YOU’RE A JOKE. Welfare to work, lazy pieces of human waste. You’re whole system is worthless. No wonder so many people are taking advantage of it and stealing hard working tax payor’s money. People just don’t give a flying shit anymore. You’re supposed to be protecting and serving the citizens of the USA. But all you do is sit on your desk and pass the file to the next lazy obese person, and so the circle continues. Shame.
b
I do not know a lot of people on ssdi,but the ones I do know receiving or applying for it are fraudulent.This seems out of control.My hard earned tax dollars going into their pocket!Just following these people around for a day would show these people as able to work as I am
Frank J.
I try to open a bank account today July 13, 2018. The bank would not take my information because they said my Social Security number showed up as fraud? I need to find out what is going on. I try another bank and the same thing.
Need some help on this
Thanks
Frank.
R.F.
Hello Frank. Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog. One of our representatives should be able to provide you with an explanation. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Or you can contact your local Social Security office directly.
Thanks.
Kenneth L.
We have a trust along with dozens of others. The trust manager has distributed all the social security numbers of all stockholders in the trust to all stock holders. We are concerned about identity theft. We don’t know these stockholders. Is what he did legal and what can we do about this. Klouder223@aol.com
R.F.
Hello Kenneth. Unfortunately, but for security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog.
You can speak to one of our agents at your local office. If you are unable to visit the local office, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Thanks!
Rodney P.
We stumbled over here by a different website and thought I should check things out. I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to finding out about your web page repeatedly.|
Roslyn A.
I think I have been targeted by impostors.
They called me from 916-226-4913 to say my SS# has been compromised.I didn’t give them any info.
I tried calling Soc Sec but the wait time was 40 minutes to talk t someone.
very disturbing.
Jesus F.
I have already applied for Social Security Retirement Benefits! It starts Sept. 12, 2018. I would like to know if the date can be moved up? Jesus Flores P.S. I was in Office on April 6th and was told that I could do this! My Birth Date is July 6th.
Allison M.
Someone took 850 dollars off my direct express card at 128am this morning, without my permission. I need you to search to see were my money went. Please
R.F.
Hello Allison. Please contact Direct Express customer service number at 1-888-741-1115. Hearing impaired: 1-866-569-0447. Thanks.
Bruce K.
SSA certainly does NOT take employee fraud, corruption or mismanagement seriously. Despite numerous reports to the SSA Inspector General’s office detailing persistent and pervasive fraud and corruption in a local SSA office that office continues unchecked in its reprehensible conduct.