6 Social Security Scams That Are on the Rise in 2025
Everyone knows the importance of keeping sensitive personal information like your Social Security number under wraps. However, there are any number of savvy scammers out there trying to steal these precious digits, and Social Security scams are unfortunately more common than you might think. In 2024, there were 265,975 reported government fraud scams, with Social Security being the No. 1 government agency that scammers pretended to impersonate.
Encountering these scams isn’t just nerve-racking—those who fall prey can be significantly impacted financially. According to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), government imposters scammed Americans out of $577 million as of November 2024.
Knowing what scams to look for goes a long way toward protecting yourself against these fraudsters. Here are six common Social Security scams, along with expert tips for exactly how to spot them.
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Social Security suspension
According to OIG, most Social Security scams (a full 61%) center around Social Security numbers (SSN) or benefits issues. These scams typically involve a fraudster impersonating a Social Security agent, purporting that your SSN is suspended or that you are in danger of losing your Social Security benefits unless you confirm your number and/or give them money. In a typical scenario, a scammer may say you’ve somehow incurred a bogus fine and even threaten you with supposed jail time.
Excess payment collection
Occasionally, retirees might receive a bigger benefits check than they should due to an unreported change or a mistake they made when filling out a form. In these cases, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may ask for reimbursement of that overpayment. This scenario makes for the perfect scam: A fraudster will call you and claim that you have received an overpayment when you really haven’t. Then, they will ask for you to pay the balance—typically in the form of a gift card, which should be a red flag that this is a scam. (If the SSA has actually sent you an overpayment, they will not ask you to pay them in a gift card, through Venmo or in cryptocurrency.)
Requests for information updates
One of the oldest scams in the book is getting contacted via email, phone or text asking you to confirm your Social Security information. By impersonating the SSA, these swindlers try to get you to hand over your bank account information or SSN. They may tell you that if you don’t confirm your information, you may not receive your benefits.
Fake benefits applications
One common scam involves emails or texts directing retirees to a fake benefits application page that looks suspiciously like the real thing. When you enter your personal information on that page, it goes right to the scammers. A good rule of thumb is to always check the email addresses and web addresses that you receive claiming to be the SSA: If they don’t end in .gov, they are bogus. Beware of any links via text or email that take you anywhere other than the SSA’s official page.
Cost-of-living adjustments
In June 2024, scammers started circulating misinformation that there would be a $600 Social Security benefit increase, which was false. This scam was a way to get people’s personal information by making them think they needed to hand over their SSN in order to receive this cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). What the fraudsters relied on here was the hope that boomers wouldn’t know that they get these COLA increases automatically—you don’t need to opt in or give your information to anyone in order to receive a bigger benefits check.
Fake downloads
Earlier this year, there was a common scam involving an email that asked people to download a security update in order to correct errors with their Social Security information. If you downloaded the program, your computer and your personal information was put at risk. The SSA assured people that it wouldn’t ask Social Security recipients to download anything, nor would it send links asking people to confirm personal information.
How to protect yourself from scams
While Social Security scams can be scary, there is a lot you can do to protect yourself from them, according to cybercrime expert Maria-Kristina Hayden, CEO and founder of OUTFOXM, a cyber hygiene and resiliency company. To protect yourself, she suggests keeping the following in mind:
- The SSA accepts payment only through Pay.gov, online bill pay, or physically by check or money order through their offices.
- If you truly owe money, the SSA will send you a notice in the mail.
- Always second-guess caller ID, as scammers can easily mimic legitimate numbers.
- Do not return calls, voicemails, emails or text messages from suspicious senders.
- Do not click on any links (or scan QR codes) sent by strangers in text messages or emails.
- Stay skeptical: Any time an out-of-the-blue message or call evokes strong emotions like anxiety, fear, anger or shock, it is probably a scam.
Hayden adds that scammers are improving their methods to increase credibility so that they can trick people. You can stay vigilant by recognizing the common red flags. “These red flags are threatening language that evokes fear, claims that you have been a victim of identity theft, requests for immediate payment through strange channels, and requests for personal information,” she says.
How to report a scam
If you or a family member encounter one of these SSA scams, the best thing to do is report it directly to the agency using this reporting form. You can take screenshots of any texts you receive and photos of anything that comes in the mail, as well as take notes about scam phone calls.
And if you do accidentally fall victim to a scam, you should definitely report it. “You will never be punished by the government for falling victim,” Hayden says. “In fact, reporting afterward is the only way you can help stop the criminals.”
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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of articles on personal technology, arming readers with the knowledge to protect themselves against cybersecurity threats and internet scams as well as revealing the best tips, tricks and shortcuts for computers, cellphones, apps, texting, social media and more. For this piece on Social Security scams, Natasha Burton tapped her experience as a longtime journalist to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We rely on credentialed experts with personal experience and know-how as well as primary sources including tech companies, professional organizations and academic institutions. We verify all facts and data and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- OIG: “Quarterly Scam Update”
- OIG: “Scammers Won’t Let Up. Neither Will We!”
- Federal Trade Commission: “Explore Government Imposter Scams”
- OIG: “Scam Alert: Inspector General Warns: $600 June Increase Is Bogus”
- Maria-Kristina Hayden, CEO and founder of OUTFOXM; interviewed, March 2025
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