Beware of New Scams Targeting Social Security and Veterans Affairs Benefits
Scammers often impersonate government and law enforcement officials, from the FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service to Medicare and other health insurance programs. There’s a good reason for this: most Americans use government services at some point, and many are inclined to trust or at least interact with those posing as employees of reputable agencies. Furthermore, the threat of loss of benefits or prosecution is especially powerful when coming from a government official, making victims more likely to comply with the scammers’ demands.
Not surprisingly, the programs currently being implemented include Social Security and Veterans Affairs benefits, according to warnings from the Social Security Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs .
Social Security Account Suspension Fraud
Social Security numbers are often involved in identity theft, so receiving a notification that your number has been implicated in criminal activity can be alarming. Fraudsters exploit this by impersonating the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and attempting to trick you into revealing your Social Security number and other sensitive information.
Here’s how the scheme works: scammers send emails with the subject line “Attention: Issues detected with your Social Security account” and attachments on letterhead designed to look like a letter from the OIG. The notification contains official information, such as the registration number and case ID, and states that your Social Security number will be suspended within 24 hours due to fraudulent activity on your account. The email also announces a criminal case and even lists the allegedly violated laws.
Recipients are asked to call a number to “respond to these allegations,” but on the other end of the line is a scammer posing as a Social Security Administration employee. They will try to exploit your fear and confusion to extract personal and financial information.
Veterans Affairs Benefit Overpayment Fraud
Scammers also contact veterans and military family members receiving Veterans Affairs benefits, claiming those benefits have been overpaid and pressuring victims to repay the money owed.
According to the Veterans Affairs (VA) advisory, scammers are using counterfeit VA letterhead and logos in mailed and emailed notifications, as well as spoofing genuine VA phone numbers. They attempt to convince recipients to receive payments immediately using methods such as bank transfers, cryptocurrency, prepaid debit cards, and gift cards. They may also request sensitive information, such as your VA account login or banking details.
While VA benefits may be legally overpaid, the VA will not contact you to demand payment, especially in Bitcoin or other irrecoverable forms. You also won’t be required to pay upfront for VA assistance managing your debts and claims (the VA does this for free ).
If you do owe money, you can find additional information about repayment in your official account on the VA.gov website. Always verify your account through official VA channels, such as VA.gov and the VA Debt Management Center (800-827-0648). Never rely solely on unauthorized messages and never share your password, Social Security number, or financial information.
Government agencies do not send threatening notices via email (or any other means), so if you receive a threatening letter, do not act without investigating. Always contact the agency using the information provided on its website—do not call or text the numbers listed in these notices.