Beware of Social Security e-mail scam

Social Security offices have been notified of an e-mail scam circulating with the message that SSA's database has been corrupted due to "misleading" reporting of wages or self-employment earnings.

The e-mail alleging to be from Social Security threatens that unless the beneficiary clicks on a link in the e-mail and provides personally identifiable information via an online form, the beneficiary's Social Security and/or Medicare benefits will be terminated. This message is not from Social Security.

Social Security advises to always take precautions when giving out personal information. You should never provide your Social Security number, bank account number or other personal information over the Internet (or the telephone) unless either you initiated the contact or you are confident of the identity of the person to whom you are speaking. If in doubt, do not release information.

If there is any doubt at all about someone who claims to be a Social Security representative, we recommend contacting your local Social Security office or calling Social Security's toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 to verify the legitimacy of the email or phone call. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call Social Security's TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.)

In the meantime, the SSA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) is working closely with other Social Security officials to investigate all reports of suspicious activity.

To report suspicious activity, please call the OIG Hotline at 1-800-269-0271. (If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call the OIG TTY number at 1-866-501-2101.)

A Public Fraud Reporting form is also available online at the OIG's Web site: www.socialsecurity.gov/oig/.