SSA Warns of Fraudulent Text Message Schemes

According to an announcement from the Social Security Administration, a phishing scheme has launched via suspicious text messages that appear to be related to individuals’ Social Security claims.

These text messages request that people call a number under the guise that they’ll find out information regarding their benefits or claims. These supposed government officials then try to obtain personal information. But does Social Security ever send text messages?

If you are a Social Security Disability applicant or beneficiary and your phone displays something of the effect of, “Disability Alert: Please call 253-xxx-xxxx regarding your recent disability benefits application,” you can report the incident to the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213 to verify the validity of any communication.

As a general rule, you should never provide information such as your address, Social Security number or bank account information to an employee who hadn’t been validated by the SSA. Any suspicious activities like this text message can be reported via the Social Security Fraud Hotline (1-800-269-0271, open from 10-4 EST).

If you have questions about benefits, or you are concerned about getting a text message from someone wanting to discuss your Social Security, the SSDI attorneys of Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law, have years of proven experience for every step of the process. You can schedule a free initial consultation by calling toll-free or by sending us an e-mail.