FRAUD ADVISORY: Text Phishing Scheme Targeting Social Security Applicants
“Patrick P. O’Carroll, Jr., Inspector General for the Social Security Administration (SSA), is warning the public, and Social Security disability applicants and beneficiaries in particular, about a text phishing scheme that has recently surfaced. Disability law offices in the Greater St. Louis area and Michigan have reported several of their clients have recently received suspicious text messages, requesting them to call a telephone number for information about their Social Security disability benefit claims.”
The text reads: “Disability Alert: Please call 253-xxx-xxxx regarding your recent disability benefits application.”
Inspector General O’Carroll urges everyone to be aware that Social Security will never send you an unsolicited text message about your application for Social Security benefits. Moreover, you should always take precautions when asked to provide personal information.
Mr. O’Carroll stated, “You should never provide your Social Security number, bank account numbers, or other personal information unless you are extremely confident about the identity of the person asking for it. Social Security representatives may call to follow up on a benefit application—but they will not send unsolicited text messages—and they generally will not ask for personal identifiers or financial information.”
for additional information or to report identity theft., to verify the employee’s identity and the information request. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call Social Security’s TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.), 10 am to 4 pm Eastern Time. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing may call TTY 1-866-501-2101.)
