The economic problems being created by inflation in the United States for Social Security beneficiaries are very serious. It is true that the COLA that will start running next year will be record high, but it may not be enough. For that reason, many retirees are a bit desperate about the situation. And this particular situation is what criminals are trying to take advantage of, stealing the identity of Social Security users. We must be very aware that our Social Security number is very important and, therefore, we must watch out that no unwanted person gets it. To this end, there are a number of guidelines to help us protect our SSA card.
Among these guidelines are not to accept unexpected offers of raises that these criminals may make to us. We must be clear that besides COLA, there is no other way to increase the benefits already accepted. Therefore, if someone offers you an increase in your Social Security it will not be true. In these cases we are facing a scam that we must avoid at all costs. If we do not want to compromise our SSA number, we should not accept these types of scams.
According to the Social Security Administration’s own Twitter account, they will try “to activate a benefit increase is from a criminal and not the real SSA. Do not click on links or respond. If you receive this message, ignore it and, if possible, report it. This is the best way to avoid falling into the trap that has been set for us. There is no way to turn back if we give them our Social Security number, so watch out.
How to Avoid Social Security Scams
In order not to put our Social Security number in danger, it is advisable to be aware of the scams that can be perpetrated against us. Through a series of tips we can avoid as much as possible that our SSA number is stolen. The SSA card number is completely non-transferable, so no one else should know it. Follow these tips to make it so:
#ScamAlert: That unexpected offer from #SocialSecurity to activate a benefit increase is from a criminal and not the real SSA. Do not click on links or respond.
Read the full Scam Alert and view examples of a fake link and fake SSA site: https://t.co/hWxUy6m8y5 pic.twitter.com/TWpgxzWbGb
— Social Security OIG (@TheSSAOIG) October 20, 2022
- Don’t give your number out loud in public. If you need to give out your Social Security number in an office or elsewhere, try not to say it out loud.
- Memorize your number. If you carry your Social Security card in your wallet, you could lose it. Therefore, someone could find it and use your number. If you memorize it, you won’t always have to carry your card.
- Watch out for the Internet. Do not enter your Social Security card number outside of an official government website at any time.
This way you can watch out for scams and problems with your financial stability.