ALERT: Social Security Benefits Suspension Scam
We are receiving reports from the Social Security Administration of ongoing attempts to defraud Social Security recipients via letter and phone. In some cases these fraudulent communications try to convince recipients that their benefits are in danger of suspension due to the Economic Impact Payment (EIP) received during the pandemic. In all cases, if you receive a call or letter from someone claiming to represent SSA and threatening you with a suspension of benefits, you should:
- hang up immediately / do not reply to the letter;
- refuse to give any personally identifying information;
- report the contact to oig.ssa.gov/, office of the Inspector General
Under no circumstances will SSA threaten you with suspension of benefits unless immediate payment is received, ask for credit or debit card information over the phone, request a specific means of payment, or promise benefits approval or increases on the basis of payment.
For more information, please see the following SSA resources:
- 15 Second Informational Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VloReuZ6VzQ
- 30 Second Informational Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJVm_hWb6Uo
- 60 Second Informational Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrHFNdjcp2s
- Blog post from the SSA Inspector General: https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-about-new-social-security-benefit-suspension-scam/