How to protect yourself from different Social Security scams

While Social Security fraud and scams have been around long before anyone had ever heard of the coronavirus, scammers are exploiting the fear and uncertainty of the virus to take advantage of those on Social Security.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has identified three scams that have gained popularity due to the coronavirus to avoid.

1. A fraudulent letter threatening suspension of benefits: With many local Social Security offices closed due to the ongoing pandemic, many seniors are worried they won’t get their benefits. Criminals prey upon this fear with a relatively new scam targeting Social Security recipients with a letter telling them that their benefits will be suspended or permanently discontinued unless they call a phone number provided in the letter.

When unsuspecting seniors call, a scammer tries to obtain their personal information or convince them to pay money– through retail gift cards, cash or wire transfers–in order to keep their benefits.

It’s important to know that while a local Social Security office may be closed, that won’t stop seniors from getting their checks. “Any communication you receive that says Social Security will do so is a scam, whether you receive it by letter, text, email or phone call,” according to the SSA’s website.

Social Security will not threaten seniors with suspended benefits, arrest or legal action unless they pay money. It also won’t promise higher benefits in exchange for payment.

2. Calls asking for a Social Security number to activate Medicare: Scammers will call seniors and claim that they need their Social Security number and other personal information such as date of birth in order to activate or replace a Medicare card. They may take a Medicare number as well, because of the potential to deceive the system. Some thieves will offer to “upgrade” a victim’s paper benefits card to plastic, which doesn’t exist, for a fee and simultaneously steal (their) credit card information.

3. Fake text messages about a SS problem: Some people will send text messages that appear to come from the Social Security Administration. The fake texts try to scare the recipient by saying there’s a problem with their Social Security number and asking them to call a scam number to pay a fee in order to avoid further legal problems.

It’s important in these situations that Social Security will never contact you via text and ask you to call an unknown number. The program will only contact you in limited situations, such as when you’ve signed up for text messaging and when you try to access your account online as a way to verify your identity.