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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annonimous
I have an issue a few months ago my phone was damaged it fell and cracked. I had to get a new phone granted i had a new number so to update ssdivision i went into the office and use the so called secured pc but somone went in after my entry and changed my number back to the old number. So i went back to the cellphone company service provider i used to get a new phone and go back to my old number. A girl who was not supposed to be working their and not supposed to be in my information was the persin to assist me i was uncomfortable and didnt want to make a scene she scammed me by using me to intrude through my phone and captured all of my features and apps and added what she wanted to add to my phone and connected herself to my internet bit told me she was putting me on hers. Everytime i tried to tell her i didn’t want her looking in my information or on my phone i just wanted her to transfer records from one phone the old phone to the new one. She mentioned my internet being slow i mentioned troubleshooting it and that it was fine she ignored me and did what i believe is identiry fraud duplication meaning duplicating all my accesses plus her being on my internet i had to and have to worry about information theft and fraud. The internet used to be fine and nothing worried me until i had this incounter with this girl who works for the cellphone company what she did i felt was illegal. Now my financing bank is subject to fraud, ssdiv and personal searches being a rape victim sexual assault records are searched from records of predators stalkers and nosey people to curious and behavioral patterns of those unknown but watch all the time.
annonimous
Is it possible when people are stalking and inside home stalking invasions and information theft goes on can ssdivision derermine how theft is provided that info meaning can ssdivision couteract or fight home invasion stalking or fraud information identity theft? Especially when the information is not shared?
Robert
can victim’s collect the social security benefits of the felon if he or she is in prison. and if so how does a victim apply?
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Robert. We will suspend an individual’s Social Security benefits if they’re confined to a jail, prison or other penal institution for more than 30 continuous days due to a criminal conviction. Although they can’t get monthly Social Security benefits while they’re confined, we will continue to pay benefits to their dependent spouse or children as long as they remain eligible.
Please visit our “Frequently Asked Questions” web page for more information on this topic, or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Or contact your local Social Security office directly. Thanks!
William C.
I have a payee that I took off my account and scoicail security and my payee was not fair about my money there is something wrong with his story he told me that scoicail security needed more information on my job history and I just got through paying 6000 dollars to social security and he came back at me with the same story he has 2000 dollars of mine plus 411 dollars that he has not paid back yet therss something going own with Robert Skinner and socail security I want at least my 2411 back that he owes me and another problem I have is that scoicail security said I could make 1150 a month and I work for Jimmy John’s I never made that much money own my checks to have them cut me off I can make as much tips as I want it says it in the scoial security hand book there including my tips along with my pay check
R.F.
Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog. 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. Thanks.
kimberly t.
I recieved a phone call from (240)382-3820 pretending to be the ssa office. Saying that i need to call them back to save my ssa number because it is suspected to be involved in illegal activities.
kimberly t.
I recieved a phone call from 2403823820 saying they were the social security office and that i needed to call them back. To keep my social security number because it was suspected to have been used in illeagal activities.
David L.
I was diagnosed with ADHD and then Bi-polar. I was given SSID benefits. I was then diagnose with ulcers, and I had to have a procedure done with a tube put down my throat. They called it leaky gut syndrome. Once that was finished, I stopped taking medIcine and felt fine. I have not had to see a psychiatrist since then. A couple weeks back I volunteered for the Pink Patch Project, and had to pay for a blu-light laser cancer screen. They found a oral mucocele. Its a ball in my throat, like a tumor, that makes it hard to eat and breathe. They are requesting that I pay out of pocket to have it surgically removed because my insurance does not cover this surgery. I told my primary doctor, and he had me sent in a grievance form to my insurance; Health Net.
Ilakay
My son needs to repay for the over payment he received and I need to know the address where to mail it
V.V.
Hi there. For your security, we do not have access to your son’s overpayment information in this venue. Our Overpayments factsheet offers information on options for repaying as well as appeal and waiver rights. For further assistance, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Representatives are available between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday or contact your local Social Security office.
David M.
Missing,stolen monthly funds.Local SS office no help.
John D.
My son had his Identity stolen, his social security number and name has been used to open some accounts and DID Eventually was able to. The Panama city police department has been trying to take of it all. My son has 9 different Inquiries only is credit report from Donald Karl Pape Jr. he is the one that stole my sons identity . Can my son John Dalton Hutchinson 3/1/99 receive another social security number. Thank you
V.V.
Hi John, thank you for using our blog. If your son has done all that he can to fix the problems resulting from misuse of his Social Security number and someone still is using it, we may be able to assign him a new number.
See Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number for more information.