Social Security Is Warning Retirees About 3 New Phone Scams This Month

The Social Security Administration (SSA) is sounding the alarm. In April 2026, officials reported a significant spike in phone scams targeting people who receive Social Security benefits — and the calls are getting harder to recognize as fake.

What These Calls Sound Like

Scammers are calling retirees and using several scary tactics to get their personal information or money:

• "Your benefits are about to be cut off." The caller claims there's been suspicious activity on your account or a problem with your Social Security number, and your payments will stop unless you act immediately.
• "You need to pay to activate your COLA raise." Fraudsters tell you that your cost-of-living adjustment won't go through unless you pay a fee first. This is completely false — the SSA never charges fees like this.
• "Your Social Security number has been linked to criminal activity." The caller pretends to be a government agent and threatens arrest or legal trouble to pressure you into giving out personal details.

The Real SSA Will Never Do These Things

Here's what the real Social Security Administration will never do:

• Threaten you with arrest or legal action over the phone
• Demand immediate payment in gift cards, wire transfers, or cryptocurrency
• Ask you to keep the call secret from family members
• Contact you through social media or text demanding personal information

What You Should Do

If you receive one of these calls, hang up immediately. Do not press any buttons or stay on the line. Then, if you're concerned, call the SSA directly at their official number: 1-800-772-1213.

You can also report suspicious calls to the SSA's Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online at oig.ssa.gov.

Remember: your Social Security number is one of the most valuable things a scammer can steal. Never share it with anyone who calls you unexpectedly — no matter how official they sound.