Social Security COLA Scam Alert (AI Image)
A bigger Social Security cheque sounds like good news, and that is exactly why fraudsters are using it as bait. If a caller or message says you must pay a fee, share personal details or “activate” your 2027 increase before you can get it, the Social Security Administration (SSA) says to treat that as a scam.
Older people and those who are less familiar with digital technology may find it harder to spot a fake Social Security message. Read this carefully to avoid online scams.
The aim is money or information. Victims may be asked for payment, or sent to official-looking websites and forms built to collect personal details and bank account numbers.
The COLA is applied automatically. There is nothing to activate, no form to fill and no processing charge to pay. Any request to “access” your increase is not genuine.
Nor can money buy a bigger benefit. Under federal law, your amount depends on your earnings record and other factors, so it cannot be negotiated over the phone. The OIG states plainly that SSA does not offer to raise benefits in exchange for money.
This does not mean every call from SSA is fake. Employees may phone people who have recently applied for benefits, who already receive payments and need a record updated, or who have asked for a call. A cold offer of a higher payout is not one of those reasons.
Fraudsters are good at looking real. They can spoof government phone numbers, borrow the names of actual government employees and send documents that look official. So a familiar number or name proves nothing.
SSA lists these as the usual warning signs:
You can also log in to your personal “my Social Security” account to check your earnings record, benefits and account activity yourself.
Older people and those who are less familiar with digital technology may find it harder to spot a fake Social Security message. Read this carefully to avoid online scams.
Do you need to activate your 2027 Social Security COLA? Why anyone asking for a fee or personal details is running a scam
According to a warning from SSA’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG), scammers are reaching beneficiaries through unsolicited calls, ads, letters, texts and social media messages. Some promise to “boost,” “unlock” or “maximize” your benefits for an upfront fee. Others pose as SSA and say you need to take some action to receive the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).The aim is money or information. Victims may be asked for payment, or sent to official-looking websites and forms built to collect personal details and bank account numbers.
The COLA is applied automatically. There is nothing to activate, no form to fill and no processing charge to pay. Any request to “access” your increase is not genuine.
Nor can money buy a bigger benefit. Under federal law, your amount depends on your earnings record and other factors, so it cannot be negotiated over the phone. The OIG states plainly that SSA does not offer to raise benefits in exchange for money.
This does not mean every call from SSA is fake. Employees may phone people who have recently applied for benefits, who already receive payments and need a record updated, or who have asked for a call. A cold offer of a higher payout is not one of those reasons.
Fraudsters are good at looking real. They can spoof government phone numbers, borrow the names of actual government employees and send documents that look official. So a familiar number or name proves nothing.
SSA lists these as the usual warning signs:
- The caller claims to represent an agency you know
- They say there is a problem, or that you have won a prize
- They push you to act immediately
- They demand payment in a specific way
You can also log in to your personal “my Social Security” account to check your earnings record, benefits and account activity yourself.