Upcoming, glance carefully within the printed figures and name (preferably by using a magnifying glass). The figures and letters should not have any smudges and may all be in alignment. 

Understanding what cons to look for goes a long way toward shielding on your own in opposition to these fraudsters. Here's six frequent Social Security scams, along with professional techniques for particularly how to identify them.

Recognizing a fake Social Security card may well seem demanding at first glance, but by carefully inspecting the fonts and textual content format, paper high quality, and security options, you can determine copyright cards properly.

What it's: Once you stand for a relative or Close friend that's unable to handle his benefits, then invest All those funds for unintended purposes.

Confirm the legitimacy of any interaction While using the SSA by calling the official SSA contact number or going to the Formal Web page.

Our staff members will never threaten you for details or guarantee a reward in Trade for personal details or dollars. 

comparable to the paper utilized for currency, and it has a distinctly unique sense and excess weight from standard paper. The card should bear the phrases "Social Security" about the front, along with the SSA's official seal. It also needs to contain the words and phrases "This variety has long been founded for" printed throughout the seal, and the individual's name and social security quantity need to be printed about the entrance.

Once in a while, retirees could possibly get a even bigger Added benefits Check out than they ought to on account of an unreported improve or simply a miscalculation they produced when filling out a kind. In these circumstances, the Social Security Administration (SSA) may possibly request reimbursement of that overpayment. This state of affairs will make for the best fraud: A fraudster will phone you and assert you have acquired an overpayment when you actually haven’t.

Other beneficial facts that will demonstrate your benefits and enable you to prepare for your monetary upcoming; and

. Nevertheless, most e-mail from Social Security will come from a “.gov” e-mail deal with. If an e-mail deal with will not conclusion in “.gov”, you ought to usually use caution just before opening attachments or clicking on photos or inbound links in the e-mail.

Steve Symanovich Workers author Editor’s Notice: Our article content give educational information. LifeLock choices might not cover or guard towards each individual variety of crime, fraud, or risk we create about.

Then, they can ask so that you can fork out the equilibrium—typically in the form of a gift card, which really should be a pink flag that it is a scam. (When the SSA has really sent you an overpayment, they won't inquire you to pay them in a present card, by way of Venmo or in copyright.)

And if you are doing accidentally drop sufferer into a scam, you ought to unquestionably report it. “You won't ever be punished by The federal government for slipping sufferer,” Hayden claims. “In actual fact, reporting afterward is the only way you may help cease the criminals.”

All things considered, the monetary assist provided by the Social Security plan presents a lot of seniors The steadiness essential more info for the duration of their golden a long time — and occasionally, these payments might be their Major supply of earnings through retirement.