Don’t Be Fooled: Watch for Social Security Administration Employee Impersonation Fraud

If you receive a phone call or other contact from someone who says they are calling about an adjustment to your Social Security benefits, take care. Don’t provide any information until you know for sure that the person is a Social Security Administration (SSA) employee.

The SSA issued an alert about an employee impersonation scheme in which people posing as SSA employees attempt to gather personal information from victims. The callers say they need verification of information, such as full name, date of birth, and Social Security number. This information can be used to edit the victim’s direct deposit information, address, and phone number in SSA records.

If you have questions about any communication – email, letter, text or phone call – that claims to be from the SSA or the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), contact your local SSA office or call 1-800-772-1213.