The Social Security Administration (SSA) is warning of an increase in Social Security benefits being fraudulently redirected.
Fraudsters are obtaining personal information about benefit recipients via phone calls, emails, and other social engineering techniques. They then use this stolen personal information to open fraudulent “My Social Security” accounts online. Through the online accounts, they are able to update addresses, access statements, and change direct deposit information.
The SSA encourages benefit recipients to:
- Never provide personal information when receiving unsolicited calls or emails
- Never agree to accept pre-paid debit cards or credit cards in another person’s name
- Never agree to send or wire money to an unknown person, and to
- Always contact your local SSA office if you receive a call from a person claiming to be from SSA, and that person asks you to provide your Social Security number or other information.
If your Social Security payment is not received in a timely manner or you receive notification that your address or payment information has been changed without your consent, immediately notify the SSA office at 1-800-772-1213 and contact your financial institution(s) to alert them of possible identity theft.
