Social Security scam alert! Seniors could lose thousands — watch out for this trick

Older people are being warned about a new scam that could make them lose a lot of money. The Social Security Office of the Inspector General (OIG) said this week that fake callers are pretending to be from Social Security to trick seniors.

Around 74 million people are expecting Social Security checks this month, and some are even expecting two, as stated in the report by The Mirror. The scam uses fake letters that look official, with U.S. Supreme Court letterhead and forged signatures of Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Social Security scam letters trick seniors

The letters ask people to give personal information and send money. The OIG said the letters are personally addressed and claim the recipient is involved in legal proceedings and criminal charges.


“The letter may use the real name of an SSA executive and claim that the proceedings ‘are conducted with the oversight of Attorney General Raúl Torrez’ of New Mexico,” the OIG said. The scam letter also says that SSA and the incorrectly named “Drug Enforcement Agency” found that the person’s Social Security number (SSN) may have been stolen. It says SSA will give a new SSN.

The letter tries to scare people by saying the U.S. Supreme Court asked banks to freeze all the recipient’s money. It warns people not to have more than $10,000 in any bank account or $80,000–$100,000 in investments, according to the report by The Mirror.

How to stay safe from Social Security scams

The scam often starts with a letter but is followed by text messages and phone calls. “On every level this letter is completely false,” said Michelle L. Anderson, Acting Inspector General.

She added, “Scammers continue to exploit fear and confusion by impersonating government agencies and officials. These criminals are falsely accusing an individual of a crime and using federal agencies and federal officials to try to scare and legitimize their scam - if you get this type of letter, rip it up and report it. Be aware of any variations of this scam”, as stated in the report by The Mirror.

To protect yourself, know that the letter is fake. OIG recommends assuming letters, texts, or calls about Social Security are scams. Always check with someone you trust before giving money or personal information.

FAQs

Q1. What is the new Social Security scam about?

The scam involves fake letters with U.S. Supreme Court letterhead asking seniors for personal details and money, pretending to be from government officials.

Q2. How can seniors protect themselves from the Social Security scam?

Seniors should ignore fake letters, texts, or calls about Social Security and confirm with someone they trust before sharing any personal or banking information.