Fraudsters are exploiting expectations of higher Social Security payments in 2027 to trick beneficiaries into paying bogus fees or disclosing sensitive financial information, according to a warning from the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG).
Scammers are contacting people through unsolicited phone calls, text messages, letters, online advertisements and social media posts, falsely claiming they can increase benefit payments. Some promise to maximise or unlock benefits for an upfront fee, while others impersonate government officials and claim beneficiaries must complete a process to receive the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).
However, the COLA is applied automatically to eligible Social Security benefits. Beneficiaries do not need to activate the increase, submit additional forms or pay a processing fee to receive it.
The OIG has also clarified that Social Security payments cannot be increased through private arrangements or payments to callers. Benefit amounts are determined by factors including an individual’s earnings record and applicable eligibility rules.
Fraudsters may use convincing tactics to appear legitimate, including spoofing government phone numbers, impersonating actual officials and creating websites that resemble official government portals. These methods can expose victims to financial losses and identity theft.
The SSA advises beneficiaries to be cautious of unexpected calls claiming there is a problem with their account, promising prizes or higher payments, demanding immediate action or insisting on specific payment methods.
While legitimate SSA employees may contact beneficiaries in certain circumstances, an unsolicited offer to raise benefits in exchange for money is a major warning sign.
Anyone receiving such an offer should avoid sharing personal or banking information or making payments. Instead, they can independently contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or access their official “my Social Security” account to review their benefits and earnings records.
Beneficiaries should verify unexpected claims through official channels before taking action.
