In a recent letter to millions of beneficiaries, the Social Security Administration (SSA) warned about scammers who are masquerading as government employees in a bid to steal people’s Social Security numbers.

The letter, which announced a 2.5% inflation hike for 2025, noted that fraudsters use various tactics to capture people’s Social Security numbers. Scammers “may threaten you and may demand immediate payment to avoid arrest or other legal action,” the letter warned. “Do not be fooled!” The official notice came inside an envelope that referenced SCAM ALERT in large letters.

“Anyone who receives a suspicious phone call should hang up,” the letter said. It added: “Do not give them money or personal information.” Individuals who receive such overtures are advised to file a report with the Social Security’s Office of Inspector General at OIG.SSA.GOV.

In a separate report, Social Security officials explain that scammers use Social Security numbers to apply for credit in the name of their victims, and then make purchases they do not pay for.

Fraudsters may capture an individual’s Social Security number through the theft of wallets, purses, checks, and mail, including correspondence with their accountant. They also may search through trash or purchase the info from unscrupulous vendors, including on the Dark Web.

In a recent web posting, the SSA’s William Bardin, an acting associate commissioner, urged that people take steps to protect themselves from Social Security scams in the new year, and offered the following recommendations:

• Safeguard your social media profiles. Review your privacy settings and use judgment to limit personal information you put online.
• Be careful with QR codes. Scammers are tampering with QR [Quick Response] codes to steal personal data. The SSA cautions the public to avoid scanning a QR code if looks odd or altered in any way.
• Use strong passwords and passkeys. This can be achieved with the help of a password manager, an app that generates strong passwords for you and keeps them secure.
• Think before sharing personal information. Scammers may pretend to represent the Social Security Administration or other government agencies to get you to provide personal details, including your Social Security number or other data that can be exploited in identity theft.
• Stay informed of the latest scam trends. Fraudsters often modify their tactics to take advantage of new technologies including artificial intelligence that may copy people’s voices.