HOW TO SPOT A SCAM – SIX THINGS THE SSA WILL NEVER DO
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO SPOT AN SSA SCAM?
How can you spot a scam? How do you know if it is really the SSA on the phone calling you? What do you do if the SSA demands you pay a fine? You may have received a phone call from someone claiming they were from the Social Security Administration. There are phone scams, text scams, and email scams. Unfortunately, these scams happen every day.
Typically, the person who calls you on the phone will claim you are in some sort of trouble with the SSA. They may threaten you with jail or large fines. Next, they may demand some sort of payment. These attempts to threaten you are not from the SSA. You may even receive a text or email that claims to be from the SSA. Additionally, they may send you a photo of a fake identification badges that claims to be from a Federal employee.
You need to be aware that the SSA does not contact people this way. Also, they do not threaten people on the phone or through text. Finally, they do not demand payment on the spot for anything. Even if you have an overpayment issue, they will still send you an official letter.
HOW TO SPOT A SCAM
WHAT ARE THE SIX THINGS THE SSA WILL NEVER DO WHEN CONTACTING YOU?
If you receive a letter, text, call or email that you think is suspicious, then do not respond. If you think it is a scam, then it probably is. You should hang up the phone if someone claims to be calling from the SSA and threatens you with arrest or other legal action. On the SSA’s website, there is a list of six things the SSA will never do when they contact you. Below is the list:
- Text or email images of an employee’s official government identification.
- Suspend your Social Security number.
- Threaten you with arrest or other legal action unless you immediately pay a fine or fee.
- Require payment by retail gift card, wire transfer, internet currency, or mailing cash.
- Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment.
- Send official letters or reports containing your personal information via email.
The only time the SSA will contact you by text, is when you already chose to receive texts from them. For example, they may contact you in limited situations, including the following:
- When you ask to receive updates and important notices by text.
- As part of the SSA’s enhanced security when accessing your personal my Social Security account.
CREATE A PERSONAL ACCOUNT ON SSA’S WEBSITE
One of the best things that you can do for yourself is to go the SSA’s website and create a personal account, the MySSA account. You create the account. On the first page of the website you will see a section named “my Social Security.”
If you click on this link, then it will guide you through the steps to make an account. That account is your personal account and it will show your earnings throughout your lifetime. It will also estimate for you how much you can expect to receive in retirement benefits. This is an important tool to help you plan for your future. Make sure you check your earnings information every year.
You want your earnings record to match what you report to the IRS. Your disability benefits and your retirement benefits are tied to your earnings record. If it is not correct, then your benefits may be lower than you expect. Additionally, if you know what is on your earnings record, then you will be able to spot a scam.
If you qualify for Social Security Disability benefits, your MySSA account will tell you how much money your SSDI benefits will be. Likewise, if there are earnings that are not reported on your “earnings record,” then you can correct it. Learn about quarters of coverage for SSDI benefits.
If you do owe money to the SSA, then they will mail you a letter. The letter will contain payment options. It will also outline your appeal rights. The SSA will never threaten you with jail time.
However, if you do receive a threat or become a victim of a scam, then you can report it to the SSA at the OIG’s website. Find out about SSA investigations for fraud.
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM SSA SCAMS WHILE THEY ARE HAPPENING
Most SSA scams rely on urgency to push you into acting before you have time to think. A common tactic they use is telling you your Social Security number is going to be suspended. Additionally, they will claim you owe money immediately. Or, they might say that you will be arrested unless you respond right away. The purpose is to create panic so you react without careful consideration. If you start to panic, then that is a good way to spot a scam.
One of the best ways to protect yourself is to slow everything down. The SSA will not punish you for not acting immediately. If someone pressures you to respond at once, then that is a strong warning sign. End the conversation and verify the claim using official contact information. For example, you could call your local SSA office. Do not respond to the message you received.
It is also important to understand that scammers often use official language, case numbers, or fake identification. This can make it seem like they are telling the truth, but they are lying. Never treat information provided by the caller, text, or email as proof that they are from the SSA. Always confirm through official channels that you locate yourself.
Finally, protect your personal information. The SSA will not ask you to confirm your Social Security number, bank details, or payment information through phone calls, texts, or emails. They will only do this if you are expecting their call and you have a claim with them. Any request for this type of information should be treated as a scam.
WE CAN HELP YOU WIN SSD BENEFITS & SPOT A SCAM
At our SSD law firm, our legal team understands the law. We know the difficulties you are facing. If you hire us to represent you and we do not win your SSD benefits, then you do not owe us an attorney fee. Do your research and hire the legal team with the most experience. Call us if you need help to spot a scam. We will let you know if it is a real phone call from the SSA or not.
If you want to find out about our legal team, then call our office or read About Us. Dianna Cannon has 30 years of experience helping her clients win SSDI and SSI benefits. Also, Andria Summers has 20 years of experience helping clients on appeal and in court. Additionally, Brett Bunkall has won thousands of SSD cases in Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and California. We have won over $100 million in ongoing and past due SSD benefits for our clients.
Although we can’t guarantee we will win your case, we can promise to do our best to help you through the five step SSD review process. Contact us today to hire a SSD attorney with the experience to deal with the SSA.
