Social Security:
Fraud Prevention and Reporting (En español)

We take fraud seriously and so should you

A message from Social Security

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

Our mission is to evangelize services that run across the changing needs of the public. Every day our employees diligently work to ensure the public receives the services and benefits they deserve. We 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 fabricated, a false statement, or misrepresents, conceals, or fails to disclose a textile fact for use in determining rights under the Social Security Act. Information is "material" when information technology could influence our determination on entitlement or eligibility to benefits under the Act.

Examples of fraud include:

  • Making false statements on claims.
  • Concealing facts or events that affect eligibility for benefits.
  • Misusing benefits by a representative payee.
  • Failing to notify the bureau of the decease of a beneficiary and continuing to receive the deceased person'southward benefits.
  • Ownership 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

Nosotros utilise emails, text letters, and social media to provide information on our programs and services. Yet, we will not request personal or fiscal information through these methods. Sometimes, we send emails with information that are particular to your needs, unremarkably after 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 about fraudulent telephone calls from people claiming to be from our agency continue to increment.

Nosotros may phone call you in some situations, but will never:

  • Threaten y'all.
  • Append your SSN.
  • Demand firsthand payment from you.
  • Require payment by retail gift carte, wire transfer, net currency, or mailing greenbacks.
  • Hope a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment.

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

To minimize unwanted phone calls, consider placing your telephone number(southward) on the National Do Not Call Registry. You can annals your domicile or mobile phone for free. Visit www.donotcall.gov or call (888) 382-1222 to learn more than.

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 naught tolerance for fraud. We diligently piece of work at the national, regional, and local level to combat fraud that undermines our mission to serve the American public.

To meet this challenge, we work closely with the OIG who investigates allegations of fraud and seek to bring offenders to justice. They refer cases to U.S. attorneys inside the Section of Justice, among other country and local prosecuting authorities, for prosecution every bit a federal offense.

Visit our OIG'southward Investigations page to view a list of recent fraud investigations.

Measures y'all can take to forbid identity theft

  • Exercise not routinely comport your SSN.
  • Never say your SSN aloud in public.
  • Beware of phishing scams (emails, internet links, and phone calls) to play a trick on you into revealing personal data.
  • Create a personal my Social Security account to assist you go along track of your records and identify whatever suspicious action.
  • Consider adding these blocks to your account with us:
    • The eServices block — It prevents anyone, including you, from seeing or changing your personal information on the cyberspace. One time we add the block, you or your representative will demand to contact your local function to asking removal of the block.
    • The Direct Eolith Fraud Prevention block — This prevents anyone, including you lot, from enrolling in directly deposit or changing your address or direct eolith data through my Social Security or a financial institution (via car-enrollment). One time nosotros add the block, you or your representative will need to contact your local office to request removal of the block or make any future changes to direct deposit or contact information.
  • Visit If Yous Desire Extra Security to go data regarding actress security.

Protecting whats important to you

How to report fraud

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

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

Our investigations are nigh successful when you provide as much data as possible near the declared suspect(southward) and/or victim(s) involved. The more you tin tell us, the better chance we accept of determining whether a crime has been committed. As you fill out a fraud allegation, please include the following near the declared suspect(s) and/or victim(s):

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

It'due south helpful to know facts nearly 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 knowledge of the potential violation?

OIG will carefully review your allegation and have appropriate action. Notwithstanding, they cannot provide information regarding the actions taken on any reported allegation. Federal regulations prohibit the disclosure of information contained in law enforcement records, fifty-fifty to the individual making the allegation.

To acquire more about reporting fraud, visit OIG's Reporting Other Issues folio. Y'all will find data about Misuse of SSNs, Elderberry Abuse, Direct Limited Account Fraud, and more than. Besides, watch their video "How to Report Social Security Fraud" for more details about the fraud referral process.