This email from Social Security isn’t a scam

Amid multiple warnings about scams targeting Social Security recipients comes the message that one recent email is legitimate.

The Social Security Administration recently announced that customers who created an online account known as My Social Security Account before Sept. 18, 2021 are required to transition to a Login.gov account to continue their online services. The agency said it was making the change to “simplify the sign-in experience and align with federal authentication standards” while “providing safe and secure access to online services.”

The free My Social Security Account, used by both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, provides information on the status of applications, replacing Social Security cards, estimating future benefits or managing existing benefits.

Account holders are encouraged to start the switch-over process now. When a user logs in, they will be presented with an option to transition to Login.gov. Once successfully linked, a confirmation screen will appear and they will have immediate access to their personal My Social Security services. Existing Login.gov or ID.me account holders do not need to create a new account or take any action, the agency said.

An email detailing the changes was sent to beneficiaries and is legitimate. People should be wary of offers to switch someone over for a fee or that offers unsolicited information from other sources.

How to avoid a Social Security scam

While the email about the log-in change is legitimate, Social Security recipients are often the target of scams. Beneficiaries should beware of any call, text, email, letter or social media message that:

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• Threatens to suspend your Social Security number, even if they have part or all of your Social Security number
• Warns of arrest or legal action
• Demands or requests immediate payment
• Requires payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, Internet currency, or by mailing cash
• · Pressures you for personal information
• Requests secrecy
• Threatens to seize your bank account
• Promises to increase your Social Security benefit
• Tries to gain your trust by providing fake “documentation,” false “evidence,” or the name of a real government official, especially the Social Security Administration or the SSA Office of Inspector General. Do not rely on names or caller ID to verify that the caller is a government employee.

Generally, SSA calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and requires an update to their record, or a person who has requested a phone call, according to the agency. If a person is not in one of these situations, they normally would not receive a call from the Social Security Agency.

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