Connect with us

Technology

Fake SSA email alert: Spot this scam fast

Published

on

Fake SSA email alert: Spot this scam fast

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

The email looks polished. It uses official logos, formal language and a serious warning about your account. That’s exactly what makes it so dangerous. It’s the kind of message many of us would open without a second thought, especially when it mentions security and a government agency. Candace T did pause. She took a closer look and trusted her gut before clicking anything. She wrote to us with three important words:

“Looks very fishy!”

She’s right. This email tries hard to look like it came from the Social Security Administration, complete with official branding and a serious tone. But once you slow down, the warning signs start to show. Let’s break it down so you know exactly what to watch for.

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

Advertisement
  • Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
  • For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.

Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.

SSA IMPERSONATION SCAMS ARE GETTING MORE PERSONAL

A polished email claiming to be from the Social Security Administration urges recipients to download a statement, but federal officials have warned this exact tactic is a scam. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What this Social Security email scam claims

The message says there is a “Security Notice to Active Your Information” tied to a case number. It urges you to download a security update by a specific date to keep your account safe. There’s a big “Download now” button front and center. That’s the hook. This is a classic phishing setup designed to get you to click before you think.

Red flags in this Social Security email scam

Here are the warning signs that show this email is not what it claims to be.

The sender’s email is not from the government

The email comes from a random address that has nothing to do with the Social Security Administration. Official emails from government agencies come from .gov domains. This one does not.

Advertisement

The wording feels off

The subject line says “Security Notice to Active Your Information.” It should say “activate,” not “active.” Small errors like this are often a giveaway that something is not right and can signal a scam email.

The message creates urgency

The email warns, “You are required to download your updated statement by April 14, 2026.” It pushes you to act quickly with a firm deadline. Scammers rely on that pressure, so you do not take the time to verify. Real government notices rarely demand immediate action through email.

It tells you to download something

The email urges you to click a “Download Now” button to get your “updated statement.” This is a huge warning sign. The message is trying to get you to download and install a file which could contain malware that gives attackers access to your device or personal data.

It uses branding to look official

The Social Security logo and layout are designed to build trust. Scammers copy these elements to make emails look legitimate. The message even includes a line that says, “This email was sent to you by the Social Security Administration and was produced and distributed at the expense of U.S. taxpayers.” That kind of official-sounding language is meant to reassure you, but it does not mean the email is real.

It contradicts official SSA policy

The Social Security Administration has made this clear: They do not ask for sensitive information or send software downloads through email. That alone tells you this message is not legitimate.

Advertisement

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION PHISHING SCAM TARGETS RETIREES

Fake Social Security emails use official branding and urgency to trick you into clicking before you think. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What could happen if you click the link

If you click the “Download now” button, a few things could happen:

  • Malware could install silently on your device
  • Your login credentials could be captured
  • You could be redirected to a fake website that steals your information.

In many cases, you won’t even realize it happened until later.

Why Social Security email scams keep working

These emails work because they mix fear with familiarity. People trust names like Social Security. They worry about their accounts. That combination makes it easier to trick someone into clicking. The design looks polished. The message feels urgent. The goal is simple: get you to act before you think. 

How to protect yourself from Social Security email scams

These simple steps can help you avoid falling for this type of phishing email.

Advertisement

 1) Pause before you act

If an email asks you to download something or act fast, stop and take a breath. Urgency is one of the biggest scam tactics.

2) Check the sender’s address carefully

Look closely at the email domain. Government agencies use .gov addresses. Anything else is a red flag. 

3) Verify the message independently

If the email claims to be from a government agency, contact that agency through its official website or phone number to confirm. 

4) Avoid clicking links or downloading files

Do not click links or download attachments from unexpected emails. Instead, go directly to the official website by typing the address yourself.

Advertisement

BE AWARE OF EXTORTION SCAM EMAILS CLAIMING YOUR DATA IS STOLEN

Social Security scammers are leaning on fear and urgency, sending polished emails that look official but route victims to fraudulent sites. (Lisa Forster/picture alliance)

 

5) Use strong antivirus software

Install strong antivirus software and keep it updated. It can help block malicious downloads and warn you before you open something dangerous. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com.

6) Protect your personal data online

Consider using a data removal service to reduce how much of your personal information is exposed online. Less data available means less for scammers to exploit. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com.

7) Keep your devices updated

Make sure your phone and computer have the latest updates. Security patches fix vulnerabilities that scammers often target.

Advertisement

8) Turn on account alerts and monitoring

Enable alerts for important accounts so you can spot unusual activity quickly if something goes wrong.

9) Report suspicious emails

Forward scam emails to the Social Security Administration’s Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report or report them through the SSA fraud hotline. You can also mark the message as spam in your inbox. Reporting scams helps protect others and can assist investigators in stopping these attacks.

Kurt’s key takeaways 

Candace trusted her instincts and flagged this email right away. That quick pause likely saved her from a bigger problem. Scammers are getting better at making messages look real. But the red flags are still there if you know where to look.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

If a message looks real and feels urgent, would you pause or click first?  Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

Advertisement

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

  • Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
  • For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
  • Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.

Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com.  All rights reserved.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Technology

It’s the last day of Prime Day — here are over 140 great deals to choose from

Published

on

It’s the last day of Prime Day — here are over 140 great deals to choose from

We’ve arrived at the final day of Prime Day, which at this point should probably be called “Prime Week.” We’ve found discounts on all manner of gadgets, including TVs, smart home tech, chargers, headphones, and more. Some of the best deals have started selling out at some retailers, so if you’ve been craving a popular upgrade like the AirPods Max 2, time is running low.

The good news is that our team is still hard at work, and in addition to the deals that remain in stock, the retailers sometimes save up a few extras for the last day (like this Echo Spot that got a little cheaper). This roundup is our pride and joy; the culmination of over four days of deal hunting by our entire team. We’ve worked tirelessly for the last week and arrived at a list of over 120 discounted items (and growing) that we’re happy to share with you.

Of course, our Prime Day coverage spans every category The Verge staff touches, and is a great place to explore the full breadth of discounts we’re able to find on the stuff we’ve tested, regularly use, and love. We genuinely enjoy helping you save on cool tech and fun gadgets that are actually worth your hard-earned money, especially when everything is getting more expensive.

Smartwatch and wearable deals

Home theater and speaker deals

Advertisement

Update, June 26th: Struck some out of deals near the end of the sale.

Continue Reading

Technology

Ohio robot cop retires after zero arrests

Published

on

Ohio robot cop retires after zero arrests

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Dublin, Ohio, gave a robot cop a trial run inside a public parking garage. Less than a year later, the machine was off the job and headed back to its maker.

DubBot, a Knightscope security robot used by the Dublin Police Department, was meant to help deter crime, support emergency response and give the city another way to monitor a busy public space. However, its patrols led to zero arrests, tickets or criminal cases.

Now the failed pilot raises a bigger question nationwide. Should local leaders have to prove these machines work before putting them on patrol?

AI TO MONITOR NYC SUBWAY SAFETY AS CRIME CONCERNS RISE

Advertisement

Dublin’s robot cop pilot ended after its patrols led to zero arrests, tickets or criminal cases. (Knightscope)

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

  • Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
  • For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
  • Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.  

Ohio robot cop ends its parking garage patrol

DubBot began patrolling the Rock Cress Parking Garage in July 2025. The robot was one of Knightscope’s K5 Autonomous Security Robots, the tall white security machines built to move through public spaces and act as an extra set of eyes.

Dublin retired DubBot on May 12 after deciding the pilot no longer fit the city’s operational needs. The robot has since gone back to Knightscope.

The city’s public safety page now says the autonomous safety robot pilot has ended. It also notes that Dublin added other security measures at the Rock Cress garage, including entrance and exit gate arms and mirrors.

What the Ohio robot cop was supposed to do

DubBot was designed to support police operations, deter crime and give people another way to reach emergency help. The robot had 360-degree video cameras, two-way emergency communication and an emergency call button that could connect people with dispatchers.

Advertisement

In theory, that sounds useful. A robot moving through a parking garage could make people feel watched over. It could also give police a live look at an area without assigning an officer there full time.

WHEELED, RUGGED ROBOT DOG BUILT FOR EXTREME INDUSTRIAL MISSIONS

But let’s be real here. A camera on wheels still has to solve a real problem. Parking garages have awkward corners, quick encounters and plenty of moments where something can happen fast. A robot moving at walking speed may create a visible presence. However, presence alone does not equal public safety results.

How much the Ohio robot cop cost

Dublin spent $128,080 in the first year of the agreement. The city expects a reimbursement from Knightscope of about $60,500, bringing the final cost down to $67,548.

The original plan was larger. Dublin had planned to pay $238,440 for two robots over two years. However, the second robot never rolled out. It was supposed to serve Riverside Crossing Park, but development needs and infrastructure limits kept it from going into service.

Advertisement

SMART STREET SENSORS COULD BE WATCHING YOUR CITY NEXT

That leaves one robot, one parking garage and a pilot that ended with no arrests, no criminal cases and no tickets.

The city also collected no other performance metrics because the pilot was meant to test the robot before any expansion.

That part should make taxpayers pause. When a city tests an expensive public safety tool, people deserve a clear way to judge whether it worked.

US TARGETS CHINESE ROBOTS OVER SECURITY FEARS

Advertisement

Why cities keep testing robot cops

You can understand why local governments keep looking at these robots. Police departments are stretched. Public spaces need coverage. Parking garages, parks and transit hubs can be hard to monitor with people alone.

Security robots promise a lot. They can move around, stream video, offer a help button and act as a visible deterrent. They also give a city a technology-forward image, which can sound appealing during a public safety pitch.

The challenge comes after the rollout. When a city says a robot deters crime, officials should explain how they will measure deterrence. When the robot supports emergency response, the city should track how often people use the help button. When the robot helps investigations, officials should show whether its video helped solve cases. Without that kind of follow-up, a robot can become a pricey symbol rather than a useful safety tool.

HUMANOID ROBOTS JUST GOT A WORKPLACE SAFETY SYSTEM

Other robot cop pilots have struggled too

Dublin is hardly the only city to test a Knightscope K5 and then move on. New York City tried a K5 robot in the Times Square subway station. That pilot ended after several months. Reports at the time noted that officers had to chaperone the robot and that the machine could not use stairs.

Advertisement

San Antonio International Airport also tested a Knightscope robot. That trial ran into technical problems, including navigation issues, camera focus problems and trouble with live video and audio feeds.

Those cases do not prove that every security robot will fail. They do show that public spaces are tough testing grounds. A robot may look impressive in a demo, then struggle when crowds, tight spaces, doors, stairs and real people get involved.

The Knightscope K5 security robot was designed to monitor public spaces and connect people with emergency dispatchers. (Knightscope)

Robot cops raise privacy questions

The other issue here is privacy. Dublin has a broader public safety technology program that includes drones, license plate readers, security cameras, body-worn cameras and facial recognition technology under a formal policy. Add a roaming robot with cameras and emergency communication, and residents may have fair questions.

What does the robot record? Who can access the footage? How long does the city keep it? Does the system use facial recognition? What happens when someone presses the emergency button? What data goes to the company?

Advertisement

Cities should answer those questions before a robot starts patrolling public spaces. The point isn’t to reject every new tool. The point is to make sure public safety tech comes with public accountability.

AI DASHCAMS ENHANCE TRUCKER SAFETY WHILE RAISING PRIVACY CONCERNS

What this means to you

If a robot starts patrolling your local garage, mall, park or transit hub, do not get distracted by the cool tech factor. The first question should be: What does it actually do when something goes wrong?

Can it connect you to a real person fast? Is someone watching the video when it matters? Can it help during an emergency, or does it mostly record what has already happened?

But let’s be real here. If your tax dollars are paying for this kind of technology, your city should explain the goal before the robot rolls out. Otherwise, people may only learn whether it worked after the money has already been spent. New technology can sound impressive. However, results still count.

Advertisement

SCAMMERS CAN EXPLOIT YOUR DATA FROM JUST 1 CHATGPT SEARCH

Your phone holds your email, passwords, photos, banking apps and personal data. In this free CyberGuy Live replay, Kurt the CyberGuy walks you step by step through simple phone security fixes you can do at your own pace. You’ll learn how to improve your privacy settings, spot the latest phone scams, use trusted security tools and walk away with a simple checklist to stay protected. Watch the replay and get our checklist here:CyberGuyLive.com.

Kurt’s key takeaways

A robot cop patrolled a parking garage, led to zero arrests and then got sent back. That should make taxpayers ask some hard questions. But let’s be real here. If local leaders are paying for AI-powered public safety tools, they should explain what problem the tech solves, how success will be measured and what happens to the data it collects. Dublin deserves credit for ending the pilot when DubBot failed to deliver enough value. A robot can look like progress, but the real test is whether it makes people safer and gives taxpayers results they can actually see.

DubBot patrolled the Rock Cress Parking Garage in Dublin, Ohio, before the city ended the robot pilot program. (The City of Dublin)

Would you feel safer knowing a robot was watching your public space, or should your city have to prove the machine works before spending your tax dollars? Let us know by writing to us at CyberGuy.com.

Advertisement

Sign up for my FREE CyberGuy Report

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

  • Get my best tech tips, urgent security alerts and exclusive deals delivered straight to your inbox.
  • For simple, real-world ways to spot scams early and stay protected, visit CyberGuy.com trusted by millions who watch CyberGuy on TV daily.
  • Plus, you’ll get instant access to my Ultimate Scam Survival Guide free when you join.

Copyright 2026 CyberGuy.com. All rights reserved.  

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Technology

Prime Day’s final hours bring rare discounts on Philips Hue smart lights

Published

on

Prime Day’s final hours bring rare discounts on Philips Hue smart lights

Philips Hue products don’t often see major discounts, which makes this year’s Prime Day deals especially notable. Prices have dropped significantly across much of the company’s smart lighting lineup, with deals on everything from smart bulb starter kits and sleep lamps to smart buttons. If you’ve been thinking about investing in Philips Hue, now is one of the best opportunities we’ve seen all year to do so for less.

Update, June 26th: Updated prices and availability and added a couple of deals, including a discount for the Philips Hue Bridge.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending