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A new “high pressure” scam seeks to convince individuals that their Social Security numbers may be suspended due to criminal activities, according to a new warning.
“Be aware! It’s a scam!” the Office of the Inspector General for the Social Security Administration said in a recent alert.
The scheme involves emails sent with the subject line, “Alert: Social Security Account Issues Detected.” An attachment with fake letterhead purporting to represent the SSA OIG warns recipients that their Social Security number may be suspended within 24 hours and that their case may be referred for criminal prosecution.
The schemes typically use scare tactics to dupe victims into handing over their money, such as flagging suspicious activity on accounts, claiming personal information is being used to commit crimes, or alleging online accounts or other personal devices have been hacked.
When recipients of the fraudulent emails call the phone number provided, they may encounter someone impersonating a Social Security Administration employee who sometimes even uses a federal worker’s real name. Alternatively, callers may be directed to send a text via an automated message.
The SSA OIG, which provides independent oversight of the Social Security Administration, is warning recipients not to share their personal information in response to the notices.
“If you get an unexpected call, text, email, letter, or social media message from SSA OIG or any government agency, pause and think scam first,” Michelle L. Anderson, acting inspector general, said in a statement. “The person contacting you may not be who they claim to be.”
Notably, the SSA OIG “will never send letters like this,” Anderson said.
Older adults more likely to report scam losses
Government imposter scams may also purport to be from other agencies — the Social Security Administration, IRS, Medicare or Federal Trade Commission, for example. Other schemes may claim to represent well-known businesses.
In 2024, consumers reported losing more than $12.5 billion to fraud — a 25% increase over the previous year, the Federal Trade Commission reported in March.
Investment scams were the most common way to lose money, with $5.7 billion in losses reported by consumers in 2024, followed by imposter scams, with $2.95 billion in losses.
Adults ages 60 and over are most likely to report losses of tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars from scams, according to the FTC. The number of older adults who reported losing $10,000 or more to scams went up more than four times from 2020 to 2024, the agency reported in August. In those same years, the number of older adults who reported losing more than $100,000 jumped nearly seven times.
To avoid becoming a victim, the FTC warns consumers targeted by these types of scams not to send or transfer money to anyone.
The agency also recommends independently verifying whether a phone number or website is real and talking to someone you know and trust before transferring money.
Blocking unwanted calls can also prevent scammers from contacting you in the first place, according to the FTC.