Social Security E-mail Scam

Beware e-mails that look to be sent from the government regarding Social Security, as they are a scam to obtain your personal information.

These messages have a subject line of "Cost-of-Living for 2007 update" and have a bit of information about a benefit increase for 2007. The email states:

NOTE: We now need you to update your personal information. If this is not completed by November 11, 2006, we will be forced to suspend your account indefinitely.

The reader is linked to a fraudulent website where the user is asked to enter their personal information to avoid losing the Social Security benefits.

Remember: The Social Security Administration (SSA) will not request your personal information online. In fact, SSA Inspector General O’Carroll recommends people always take precautions when giving out personal information. She says:

You should never provide your Social Security number or other personal information over the Internet or by telephone unless you are extremely confident of the source to whom you are providing the information.

If you have received this scam email, call 1-800-269-0271 (TTY: 1-866-501-2101) to report it.