In short
Social Security says it will never tell you your Social Security number is suspended, threaten you with arrest, demand an immediate payment, or ask for gift cards, cash or card numbers over the phone. It does not ask for sensitive details by email, text or social media, and for a problem with your number or account it normally sends a letter. It may phone you if you recently applied, asked for a call back or have ongoing business with it.
Most common fake: Your Social Security number has been suspended because of suspicious activity.
Safest check: Hang up and call Social Security yourself using the phone number listed on ssa.gov.
What Social Security (SSA) says
Social Security says it will never tell you your Social Security number is suspended, threaten you with arrest, demand an immediate payment, or ask for gift cards, cash or card numbers over the phone. It does not ask for sensitive details by email, text or social media, and for a problem with your number or account it normally sends a letter. It may phone you if you recently applied, asked for a call back or have ongoing business with it. Source: Social Security Administration
Common fake Social Security (SSA) messages
- Your Social Security number has been suspended because of suspicious activity
- Pay a fine now by gift card, crypto or wire transfer or face arrest
- Email saying your Social Security statement is ready to download
- Letter or text claiming your benefits will be stopped unless you call a number
- Caller who transfers you to a fake police officer or investigator and asks you to keep it secret
Social Security (SSA)'s real web addresses
Genuine Social Security (SSA) links and emails use these domains. Look at the part just before the first single slash: ssa.gov is real, but ssa-support-center.com or ssa.gov.account-check.top are not.
- ssa.gov
- oig.ssa.gov
Scammers can also hide a fake link behind real-looking text. Learn how to read a web address.
How to check a Social Security (SSA) message safely
- Hang up and call Social Security yourself using the phone number listed on ssa.gov
- Sign in to your account by typing ssa.gov/myaccount into your browser instead of using an email link
- Remember that SSA emails only come from addresses ending in .gov
- Treat any demand for gift cards, crypto, wire transfers or cash as a scam
How to report a fake Social Security (SSA) message
- Report the scam to the Social Security Office of the Inspector General using its online scam form. Official details on oig.ssa.gov
- Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Official details on consumer.ftc.gov
- If you lost money or clicked a link in a fake SSA email, also report it to the FBI at ic3.gov. Official details on oig.ssa.gov
Also report it to the official fraud service in your country. See the worldwide list.
If you clicked, paid or shared details
Act quickly. It makes a difference.
- If you entered card or bank details, call your bank now using the number on your card, and ask them to block the card.
- If you entered a password, change it on the real Social Security (SSA) website or app and turn on two-step verification.
- Expect follow-up calls or messages pretending to help. Never share one-time codes or move money to a "safe account".
- Report the scam, then delete the message.
More help: Phishing links and fake login pages and what to do after a scam.
Questions people ask
Does Social Security (SSA) send messages asking for payment or personal details?
Social Security says it will never tell you your Social Security number is suspended, threaten you with arrest, demand an immediate payment, or ask for gift cards, cash or card numbers over the phone. It does not ask for sensitive details by email, text or social media, and for a problem with your number or account it normally sends a letter. It may phone you if you recently applied, asked for a call back or have ongoing business with it.
How can I check if a Social Security (SSA) message is real?
Hang up and call Social Security yourself using the phone number listed on ssa.gov. Sign in to your account by typing ssa.gov/myaccount into your browser instead of using an email link. Remember that SSA emails only come from addresses ending in .gov. Treat any demand for gift cards, crypto, wire transfers or cash as a scam.
How do I report a fake Social Security (SSA) message?
Report the scam to the Social Security Office of the Inspector General using its online scam form. Report it to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. If you lost money or clicked a link in a fake SSA email, also report it to the FBI at ic3.gov.
I clicked a link in a fake Social Security (SSA) message. What should I do?
Don't enter anything else. If you typed card or bank details, call your bank now using the number on your card. If you entered a password, change it on the real website and turn on two-step verification. Then report the message and delete it.
Official sources and further reading
We check our pages against official advice from the organisations themselves and from government agencies.
- Protect Yourself from Social Security Scams (Social Security Administration)
- Social Security and OIG Partner for the Seventh Annual National Slam the Scam Day (Social Security Administration)
- SSA Office of the Inspector General Warns Public of Surge in Fraudulent Social Security Statement Emails (SSA Office of the Inspector General)
- How To Avoid a Government Impersonation Scam (Federal Trade Commission)