Social Security:
Fraud Prevention and Reporting (En español)

We accept fraud seriously and then should you

A bulletin from Social Security

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

Our mission is to deliver services that meet the changing 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 abuse 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 be made, a false statement, or misrepresents, conceals, or fails to disembalm a cloth fact for use in determining rights nether the Social Security Act. Information is "material" when it could influence our determination on entitlement or eligibility to benefits nether the Deed.

Examples of fraud include:

  • Making false statements on claims.
  • Concealing facts or events that affect eligibility for benefits.
  • Misusing benefits by a representative payee.
  • Declining to notify the agency of the death of a beneficiary and continuing to receive the deceased person'southward benefits.
  • Buying or selling Social Security cards.
  • Filing claims under another person'southward Social Security number (SSN).
  • Scamming people by 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 non asking personal or fiscal information through these methods. Sometimes, we send emails with information that are particular to your needs, usually subsequently a discussion with you in person or over the phone. When we make phone contact, it is frequently to ostend the legitimacy of claims.

Be alert! It is important to beware of scammers pretending to be from Social Security. Reports nearly fraudulent telephone calls from people claiming to be from our agency go on to increment.

We may call you in some situations, only will never:

  • Threaten you.
  • Suspend your SSN.
  • Demand immediate payment from yous.
  • Crave payment by retail gift card, wire transfer, internet currency, or mailing cash.
  • Promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment.

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

To minimize unwanted telephone calls, consider placing your phone number(due south) on the National Exercise Not Call Registry. You tin annals your home or mobile phone for gratuitous. Visit www.donotcall.gov or call (888) 382-1222 to learn more.

Please share this information 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 zero tolerance for fraud. We diligently piece of work at the national, regional, and local level to gainsay fraud that undermines our mission to serve the American public.

To meet this claiming, we work closely with the OIG who investigates allegations of fraud and seek to bring offenders to justice. They refer cases to U.South. attorneys within the Department of Justice, among other country and local prosecuting government, for prosecution as a federal crime.

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

Measures you can take to prevent identity theft

  • Do not routinely carry your SSN.
  • Never say your SSN aloud in public.
  • Beware of phishing scams (emails, internet links, and phone calls) to trick yous into revealing personal information.
  • Create a personal my Social Security account to aid you continue track of your records and identify any suspicious activeness.
  • Consider adding these blocks to your account with u.s.:
    • The eServices block — It prevents anyone, including you, from seeing or changing your personal information on the internet. Once we add the block, you or your representative will demand to contact your local office to request removal of the block.
    • The Directly Deposit Fraud Prevention cake — This prevents anyone, including you, from enrolling in direct deposit or changing your accost or straight eolith data through my Social Security or a financial institution (via car-enrollment). Once we add the block, you or your representative will need to contact your local function to request removal of the block or brand any time to come changes to direct deposit or contact information.
  • Visit If You Want Extra Security to go information regarding extra security.

Protecting whats important to you

How to report fraud

Do you lot suspect someone of committing fraud, waste, or corruption against Social Security? Yous tin contact the OIG's fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or submit a written report online at https://oig.ssa.gov/.

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

Our investigations are most successful when you lot provide as much data as possible virtually the declared suspect(s) and/or victim(due south) involved. The more you tin tell u.s., the amend adventure nosotros have of determining whether a crime has been committed. As you fill out a fraud allegation, please include the following about the alleged suspect(s) and/or victim(southward):

  • Names.
  • Addresses.
  • Telephone numbers.
  • Dates of birth.
  • SSN(due south).

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

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

OIG will carefully review your allegation and accept appropriate action. All the same, they cannot provide information regarding the actions taken on any reported allegation. Federal regulations prohibit the disclosure of data independent in law enforcement records, even to the individual making the allegation.

To learn more than well-nigh reporting fraud, visit OIG's Reporting Other Issues page. Yous will discover data about Misuse of SSNs, Elder Corruption, Directly Express Account Fraud, and more. As well, scout their video "How to Report Social Security Fraud" for more than details virtually the fraud referral process.