Social Security phishing scams use urgency and impersonation to steal personal data. Learn how to spot fake SSA emails and implement 10 protective measures.

Keep a weathered eye on those pop-up messages; it might be scammers looking to phish you out of your retirement money.

Sixty-eight million Americans will receive monthly Social Security in 2024. For 13.5% of people age 65 and older, it accounts for 90% of their income.

Social Security scams are the most common type of government impersonation fraud in the U.S. ... These are phishing attempts designed to steal your info or infect your device.

Scammers are not above pretending to be government employees, according to the Social Security Administration. In 2020, the SSA received 718,000 reports of Social Security-related telephone scams.

Understand Phishing. ... While most of the Social Security scams have remained the same over the years (e.g., threatening arrest, asking you to pay with gift cards, etc.), ...

In Social Security phishing, victims typically receive an email from someone impersonating an SSA employee. ... Social Security scams are widespread, and aren't going away anytime soon.

Last year, there were more than 35,752 reports of Social Security fraud, totaling over $1.04 million in losses, ... Phishing is an attempt to trick you into giving out your personal information.

You can learn more about recognizing Social Security-related scams, including how to report a scam quickly and easily online to Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General, by reading more ...

Many Social Security scam and phishing emails have made the rounds in recent years, so you may have assumed this was just another one. But as it happens, there is a genuine email landing in inboxes.

Phishing scams have been on the rise for quite some time and now there is a new target: retirees. A Social Security ...