Yes, hackers are actively targeting personal Social Security accounts. Cybercriminals seek monetary gain, and the complexity of Social Security-related processes creates many opportunities because older adults are often less tech-savvy, more likely to fall for phishing attempts, and more likely to have weaker password hygiene. Baby boomers and older adults who grew up in the analog era are also more likely to answer calls, increasing their chances of falling for a fraudulent call attempt. Fraudsters often target more vulnerable people, and FTC data show baby boomers report high-dollar losses in government-impersonation cases, which should not come as a surprise as boomers hold the majority of wealth in the USA.
Key takeaways
- Hackers actively target Social Security accounts of less tech-savvy older adults for financial gain.
- Fake Social Security statement emails are common phishing scams designed to steal personal information.
- Fraudsters often file false claims to reroute victims’ retirement or disability benefits.
- Always verify contacts via official websites and ignore unsolicited emails, calls, or texts.
Are hackers sending fake Social Security statement emails?
They surely are. Hackers are recreating standard emails that closely resemble what the Social Security Administration (SSA) often sends, and many people are falling for it. When Social Security recipients receive an expected email that looks exactly like the ones they received in previous months, it is an easy (and sadly not uncommon) mistake to accept it as real and engage. They only realize later that the email was part of a phishing campaign, an attempt by hackers to steal information that could help them reroute monthly payments or checks to an account they control.
What other scam attempts are fraudsters doing?
Fraudsters often target people eligible for retirement or disability benefits and file an SSA claim for them, essentially rerouting the money to an account controlled by the bad actors. Scammers sometimes receive the benefits for years before the victim realizes their identity has been hijacked. Criminals usually gather the information they need to commit fraud by contacting potential victims via texts, emails, calls, and even in person. They usually try to obtain sensitive information such as login details, date of birth, full name, and Social Security numbers.
How to recognize SSA fraud attempts?
They usually come in three ways – via email, text, or a call. Each method has specific red flags.
Email attempts
One of the most obvious red flags in a phishing email is the sender’s email address. Hackers can recreate a real email’s text and graphics, but they can’t send an email that appears to come from a legitimate government entity. Paying attention to where an email comes from is crucial.
Call attempts
If someone calls claiming to be from a government agency, don’t trust them. Instead, hang up, look up the organization’s website, and call them directly using the main phone number listed on their webpage. After reaching the organization directly, individuals can confirm whether the call was legitimate and whether they need to take further action.
Text attempts
Find the government agency they claim to represent and contact them using information on their official website. Don’t rely on AI answer boxes for phone numbers and contact details; hackers actively trick chatbots into giving the wrong information, especially in emergencies. Instead, look up the agency’s official website and contact them using the contacts listed there.
In addition to ignoring scam attempts and staying vigilant when receiving emails, people are strongly advised to install antivirus software on their connected devices. Often, phishing emails or texts won’t even reach the target inbox if the device has active anti-malware software. Wireless carriers have also stepped up their game in blocking fraudulent calls, so with the right tools and a bit of vigilance, scammers will find it much harder to obtain the information they need to steal hard-earned retirement and disability benefits.
