Social Security:
Fraud Prevention and Reporting (En español)

We take fraud seriously and and then should yous

A message from Social Security

We are committed to preventing, detecting, and eliminating fraud in our programs.

Our mission is to deliver services that encounter the irresolute needs of the public. Every day our employees diligently work to ensure the public receives the services and benefits they deserve. Nosotros strive to ensure the integrity of our programs and provide a high level of service to the public despite the efforts of those who seek to corruption our programs.

What is Social Security fraud?

Fraud involves obtaining something of value through willful misrepresentation. In the context of our programs, fraud exists when a person with intent to defraud makes, or causes to exist made, a imitation statement, or misrepresents, conceals, or fails to disclose a material fact for utilize in determining rights under the Social Security Deed. Information is "material" when information technology could influence our determination on entitlement or eligibility to benefits under the Act.

Examples of fraud include:

  • Making fake statements on claims.
  • Concealing facts or events that bear on eligibility for benefits.
  • Misusing benefits by a representative payee.
  • Failing to notify the bureau of the death of a beneficiary and continuing to receive the deceased person's benefits.
  • Buying or selling Social Security cards.
  • Filing claims under another person's Social Security number (SSN).
  • Scamming people past impersonating our employees.
  • Bribing our employees.
  • Misusing grant or contract funds.

Scammers commit fraud

We use emails, text messages, and social media to provide information on our programs and services. However, we will not request personal or financial information through these methods. Sometimes, we transport emails with information that are detail to your needs, commonly after a give-and-take with you in person or over the phone. When we make phone contact, it is frequently to confirm the legitimacy of claims.

Exist alert! It is of import to beware of scammers pretending to exist from Social Security. Reports about fraudulent phone calls from people challenge to exist from our agency proceed to increase.

Nosotros may call you in some situations, but volition never:

  • Threaten you.
  • Suspend your SSN.
  • Demand immediate payment from y'all.
  • Require payment by retail souvenir bill of fare, wire transfer, net currency, or mailing greenbacks.
  • Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment.

If you receive a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from our bureau, hang up, and so study details of the phone call to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at https://oig.ssa.gov/.

To minimize unwanted phone calls, consider placing your phone number(s) on the National Do Not Phone call Registry. You tin register your home or mobile telephone for free. Visit www.donotcall.gov or call (888) 382-1222 to larn more.

Please share this data with your friends and family to help spread awareness about Social Security scams.

Protecting whats important to you

Social Security combats fraud

Social Security has cipher tolerance for fraud. Nosotros diligently work at the national, regional, and local level to combat fraud that undermines our mission to serve the American public.

To meet this challenge, nosotros piece of work closely with the OIG who investigates allegations of fraud and seek to bring offenders to justice. They refer cases to U.Due south. attorneys within the Department of Justice, among other state and local prosecuting regime, for prosecution as a federal criminal offense.

Visit our OIG's Investigations folio to view a list of recent fraud investigations.

Measures y'all can have to prevent identity theft

  • Practice non routinely carry your SSN.
  • Never say your SSN aloud in public.
  • Beware of phishing scams (emails, cyberspace links, and phone calls) to play a joke on you lot into revealing personal data.
  • Create a personal my Social Security account to assistance you keep track of your records and place any suspicious activeness.
  • Consider calculation these blocks to your business relationship with usa:
    • The eServices block — It prevents anyone, including you, from seeing or changing your personal information on the internet. One time we add together the cake, you or your representative will need to contact your local office to asking removal of the cake.
    • The Direct Deposit Fraud Prevention cake — This prevents anyone, including yous, from enrolling in straight deposit or changing your address or straight deposit information through my Social Security or a financial institution (via auto-enrollment). One time we add together the cake, you or your representative will need to contact your local office to request removal of the block or brand any future changes to direct deposit or contact information.
  • Visit If Yous Want Extra Security to get information regarding actress security.

Protecting whats important to you

How to report fraud

Practice you suspect someone of committing fraud, waste matter, or abuse confronting Social Security? You tin contact the OIG's fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or submit a report online at https://oig.ssa.gov/.

If you receive a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from our agency, hang upwardly, then written report details of the telephone call to the OIG at https://oig.ssa.gov/.

Our investigations are most successful when you lot provide as much data every bit possible about the declared doubtable(due south) and/or victim(s) involved. The more you can tell us, the better chance we have of determining whether a offense has been committed. As you fill out a fraud allegation, delight include the post-obit near the alleged suspect(southward) and/or victim(due south):

  • Names.
  • Addresses.
  • Telephone numbers.
  • Dates of nascence.
  • SSN(s).

It's helpful to know facts about the alleged fraud, such as:

  • Description of the fraud.
  • Location where the fraud took identify.
  • When the fraud took place.
  • How the fraud was committed.
  • Why the person committed the fraud (if known).
  • Who else has noesis of the potential violation?

OIG volition advisedly review your allegation and take appropriate action. However, they cannot provide information regarding the deportment taken on whatever reported allegation. Federal regulations prohibit the disclosure of information independent in police force enforcement records, even to the private making the allegation.

To learn more about reporting fraud, visit OIG'south Reporting Other Problems page. You lot will detect information most Misuse of SSNs, Elder Abuse, Direct Limited Account Fraud, and more. Also, spotter their video "How to Written report Social Security Fraud" for more details virtually the fraud referral process.