SSA warns of rising impersonation scams as complaints surge 25% in 2025
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The Social Security Administration and its Office of Inspector General issued warnings during their March 2026 “Slam the Scam” campaign, citing the continued volume of Social Security-related identity theft fraud. Federal data shows these scams remain widespread; more than 330,000 government complaints about identity theft were reported to the FTC in 2025. This represents a 25% increase from the previous year.
Losses from these scams amount to hundreds of millions of dollars each year, making them among the most relentless forms of consumer fraud.
These fraudulent messages often resemble official communications from the SSA, referencing issues with a Social Security number or account records.
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TECH GIANTS UNITE TO FIGHT ONLINE SCAMS
Scammers design their messages to look like official Social Security alerts, often using familiar details to gain your trust. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How do these SSA scams work?
Scammers use information that looks familiar to them. A message may include your name, part of your SSN, or even a reference to benefits. Caller IDs may appear to correspond to government offices, and emails or text messages may follow the same format used in official SSA communications.
Much of this information comes from data that has already been subject to data breaches. When these details appear in a message, the claim seems consistent with what you already know about your own records.
Earlier this year, fraudulent emails resembling official Social Security messages were reported asking people to download their Social Security statements via links to fraudulent sites. These emails do not come from the SSA and will steal your personal information and likely hack your phone or computer once you allow access.
A message that matches recognizable information is less likely to be ignored. This moves the conversation faster and lets your guard down.
What scammers want when they contact you
At the point of contact, they are trying to achieve one of two things:
1) Your personal identifiers
They request this information under the guise of verifying your identity or fixing a problem with your account.
2) Your money
- Direct payments (bank transfer, gift cards, crypto)
- Access to bank or retirement accounts
- Instructions for “moving money to keep it safe”
This usually happens after gaining your trust or creating an emergency.
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Once fraudsters have your information, they can pass identity checks and open or access financial accounts in your name. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What fraudsters do with the information
Once fraudsters have your information, they act quickly to turn it into long-term access, money and identity fraud.
They use it to pass identity checks
Your SSN, date of birth, and address are often enough to pass basic verification systems. This allows scammers to pose as you when applying for credit or contacting financial institutions.
They open or access financial accounts
Once these checks are completed, they can apply for credit in your name, resulting in new accounts being opened, in-depth inquiries and balances appear on your credit report. If login information or verification codes have been shared, existing accounts can also be accessed.
They attack benefit accounts
The same information can be used to access or make changes to Social Security-related records. This may include attempts to redirect payments by updating direct deposit details.
They continue to use the data
Any stolen information may be reused or combined with invented details to create additional identitieswhich can then be used to open more accounts over time.
What the SSA won’t do
The SSA does not contact individuals unannounced to request personal information.
It does not ask for full SSNs, banking details, or phone, SMS, or email login credentials.
It also does not require payment to resolve issues with your SSN or benefits.
Requests to transfer money, purchase gift cards, or transfer funds to keep your accounts secure are not part of any SSA process.
Threats are another warning sign. The agency does not suspend SSNs or issue arrest warnings.
Legitimate communications from the SSA occur through notices sent by mail or through your My Social Security account.
The agency says it may send emails in limited cases, such as account notifications, but these do not request personal information.
SSA emails will ask you to sign in through SSA.gov rather than asking you to click on links or download attachments.
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Stolen data can also be used to target your Social Security benefits, including attempting to redirect payments. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What to do if you receive or respond to one of these messages
If you receive a message claiming to be from the SSA, do not respond or click on any links. Do not call the number indicated in the message.
- Go instead to SSA.gov or use a verified phone number to check if there is actually a problem with your account.
- If you have already shared information, stop contact immediately and take note of what you shared. You can report the scam to the SSA Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report
- You can also file a report at Identaltheft.govwhich allows you to create a recording.
- To limit further misuse, place a fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, and check your credit reports for any unknown activity.
How to protect yourself
Stolen information is not always used immediately. In many cases, such identity theft is not apparent until it appears on a credit report or is reported by a lender. Monitoring tools can track this type of activity as it occurs. Alerts related to changes to your credit report or exposed personal data can show you where your information is being used.
Many identity protection services monitor credit across the three major bureaus and look for exposed personal data, including Social Security numbers. They can alert you to new requests or accounts and offer assistance if anything seems suspicious.
Some services also scan dark web marketplaces and data leaks to see if your information is being shared or sold. Getting started with a free identity breach analysis can help you understand your risk and take action quickly.
In cases of identity theft, these services often provide fraud resolution assistance. This may include help contacting creditors, placing fraud alerts, disputing unauthorized accounts, and preparing documents to recover your identity. Some plans also include identity theft insurance to help cover eligible recovery costs.
No single service can prevent all types of identity theft. However, early warnings and guided assistance can make a major difference in how quickly you detect and recover from fraud.
How to check if your personal information has been exposed
If you are unsure whether your information has already been exposed, act now. Start with a free identity breach scan to see if your data is showing up in any known leaks. Catching it early gives you more control and helps limit the damage before it spreads.
See my tips and top picks at Better protection against identity theft has Cyberguy.com
Kurt’s Key Takeaways
SSA identity theft scams are not new, but they are becoming more and more convincing. When a message includes details that match your life, it seems legitimate. This is exactly what scammers are counting on. The key is to slow down and verify everything through official channels. The SSA will not text you out of the blue, ask you for money, or ask you for sensitive details. If a message urges you to act quickly, that’s your signal to pause. Staying ahead of these scams comes down to awareness and simple habits. Check first. Protect your data. And assume that any unexpected message about your Social Security number is worth a second look.
Have you ever received a message that appeared to be from Social Security, and what made you trust it or question it? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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