Technology
SSA impersonation scams are getting more personal
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The Social Security Administration and its Office of Inspector General issued warnings during their March 2026 “Slam the Scam” campaign, citing the continued volume of impersonation fraud tied to Social Security. Federal data shows these scams remain widespread; more than 330,000 government impersonation complaints were reported to the FTC in 2025. That’s a 25% increase from the year before.
Losses tied to these scams reach into the hundreds of millions of dollars each year, placing them among the most relentless forms of consumer fraud.
These scam messages often resemble official SSA communication, referencing issues with a Social Security number or account records.
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TECH GIANTS UNITE TO FIGHT ONLINE SCAMS
Scammers design messages to look like official Social Security alerts, often using familiar details to gain your trust. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
How do these SSA scams work?
Scammers are using bits of information that feel familiar. A message may include your name, part of your SSN, or even a reference to benefits. Caller IDs can seem to match government offices, and emails or texts may follow the same format used in official SSA communication.
Much of this information comes from data that has already been part of data breaches. When those details show up in a message, the claim sounds consistent with what you already know about your own records.
Earlier this year, there were reports of scam emails that looked like official Social Security messages, asking people to download their Social Security statement through links that led to fraudulent sites. These emails are not from the SSA and will steal your personal information and likely hack your phone or computer once you allow access.
A message that lines up with recognizable information is less likely to be ignored. It moves the conversation forward faster and brings your guard down.
What scammers want when they contact you
At the point of contact, they are trying to get one of two things:
1) Your personal identifiers
They ask for this information under the guise of verifying your identity or resolving an issue with your account.
2) Your money
- Direct payments (wire transfer, gift cards, crypto)
- Access to bank or retirement accounts
- Instructions to “move money to protect it”
This usually comes after they earn your trust or create urgency.
FAKE GOOGLE SECURITY PAGE CAN TURN YOUR BROWSER INTO A SPYING TOOL
Once scammers have your information, they can pass identity checks and open or access financial accounts in your name. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What scammers do with the information
Once scammers have your information, they move quickly to turn it into access, money and long-term identity fraud.
They use it to get past identity checks
Your SSN, date of birth, and address are often enough to get through basic verification systems. That allows scammers to present themselves as you when applying for credit or contacting financial institutions.
They open or access financial accounts
Once through those checks, they can apply for credit in your name, leading to new accounts, hard inquiries, and balances showing up on your credit report. If login details or verification codes were shared, existing accounts can also be accessed.
They go after benefit-related accounts
The same information can be used to access or make changes to Social Security-related records. This can include attempts to redirect payments by updating direct deposit details.
They continue using the data
Any stolen information can be reused or combined with made-up details to create additional identities, which can then be used to open more accounts over time.
What the SSA will not do
The SSA does not contact individuals out of the blue to request personal information.
It does not ask for full SSNs, bank details, or login credentials over phone calls, text messages, or email.
It also does not demand payment to resolve issues tied to your SSN or benefits.
Requests to transfer money, purchase gift cards, or move funds to keep your accounts safe are not part of any SSA process.
Threats are another warning sign. The agency does not suspend SSNs or issue arrest warnings.
Legitimate communication from the SSA happens through mailed notices or through your My Social Security account.
The agency states it may send emails in limited cases, such as account notifications, but these do not ask for personal information.
SSA emails will direct you to log in through SSA.gov rather than asking you to click on links or download attachments.
PHISHING SCAM EXPLOITS APPLE MAIL ‘TRUSTED SENDER’ LABEL
Stolen data can also be used to target your Social Security benefits, including attempts to redirect payments. (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)
What to do if you receive or respond to one of these messages
If you get a message claiming to be from the SSA, don’t respond and don’t click any links. Don’t call the number in the message.
- Instead, go to SSA.gov or use a verified phone number to check if there’s actually an issue with your account.
- If you have already shared information, stop contact immediately and take note of what you shared. You can report the scam to the SSA Office of Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov/report
- You can also file a report at IdentityTheft.gov, which helps create a record.
- To limit further misuse, place a fraud alert or credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion, and check your credit reports for any unfamiliar activity.
How to protect yourself
Stolen information is not always used right away. In many cases, identity theft like this is not apparent until it shows up on a credit report or a lender flags it. Monitoring tools can track this type of activity as it happens. Alerts tied to changes in your credit file or exposed personal data can show you where your information is being used.
Many identity protection services monitor credit across the three major bureaus and scan for exposed personal data, including Social Security numbers. They can alert you to new inquiries or accounts and offer support if something looks suspicious.
Some services also scan dark web marketplaces and data leaks to see if your information is being shared or sold. Starting with a free identity breach scan can help you understand your risk and take action early.
If identity theft does happen, these services often provide fraud resolution support. This can include help to contact creditors, placing fraud alerts, disputing unauthorized accounts and preparing documentation to recover your identity. Some plans also include identity theft insurance to help cover eligible recovery costs.
No service can prevent every type of identity theft. However, early alerts and guided support can make a major difference in how quickly you catch and recover from fraud.
How to check if your personal information was exposed
If you are unsure whether your information has already been exposed, take action now. Start with a free identity breach scan to see if your data appears in known leaks. Catching it early gives you more control and helps limit the damage before it spreads.
See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com
Kurt’s key takeaways
SSA impersonation scams are not new, but they are getting more convincing. When a message includes details that match your life, it feels legitimate. That is exactly what scammers are counting on. The key is to slow down and verify everything through official channels. The SSA is not going to text you out of the blue, demand money or ask for sensitive details. If a message pushes you to act quickly, that is your signal to pause. Staying ahead of these scams comes down to awareness and simple habits. Verify first. Protect your data. And assume that any unexpected message about your Social Security number deserves a second look.
Have you ever received a message that looked like it came from Social Security, and what made you trust it or question it? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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Google’s AI Overviews are running into an interesting problem right now. Earlier on Friday, if you searched for the term “disregard,” the AI Overview section would include a response like what you’d see from a more traditional AI chatbot instead of the typical AI summary, as spotted on X. As you can see in the image at the top of this story, I got an AI Overview response that said, “Got it. If you need anything else or have a new question later, just let me know!”
As of Friday afternoon, however, Google isn’t showing an AI Overview for the term “disregard” at all — instead, it shows a list of news stories about the issue first. Google hasn’t replied to our requests for comment. In a statement to Android Authority, a spokesperson said that “We’re aware that AI Overviews are misinterpreting some action-related queries, and we’re working on a fix, which will roll out soon.”
AI Overviews haven’t just been tripping up over the word “disregard.” When searching for “ignore,” Google’s AI Overview section showed the following message to a Verge colleague:
Message received! I’m here and ready to help. What would you like to focus on today? Just let me know if there’s a specific topic, task, or question you’d like to explore.
When they searched “skip,” the AI Overview section said:
It looks like your message was just a test or a typo! Feel free to ask a question, share a prompt, or let me know how I can help you with your tasks today. I’m ready whenever you are!
As of Friday afternoon, Google is still showing me AI Overviews with broken responses when I search for “ignore” and “skip.”
As funny as this all is, it’s almost certainly just some kind of bug — I expect Google will fix it soon enough. Maybe Google Search itself is tired after everything that happened at Google I/O.
Updates, May 22nd: Google now isn’t showing AI Overviews for “disregard.” Also added a Google statement.
Paul Schrader attends a special screening of “Oh, Canada” at IFC Center in New York City on Dec. 5, 2024. (Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images)
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Welcome to Fox News’ Artificial Intelligence newsletter with the latest AI technology advancements.
IN TODAY’S NEWSLETTER:
– Oscar-nominated filmmaker disappointed his AI girlfriend dumped him
– AI layoffs may be backfiring on companies
– Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang warns China has ‘all the chips they need’ despite US bans
BAD BREAK-UP: Dating in the digital era isn’t easy, as one Oscar-nominated filmmaker learned the hard way. Paul Schrader, the screenwriter of Martin Scorsese classics like “Taxi Driver” and “Raging Bull,” revealed in a Facebook post that he had dabbled in developing an “AI girlfriend.”
ROI MIA: A lot of workers have had the same uneasy thought lately: “Is AI coming for my job?” It is a fair question. Companies keep talking about automation, AI agents and lower costs. Some workers hear that and wonder whether their next performance review will come with a chatbot-shaped shadow in the room. However, a new Gartner study suggests the story may be more complicated. Many companies are cutting jobs while adopting AI, but those cuts are not clearly producing better returns.
‘ALL THE CHIPS THEY NEED’: In a stark warning to Washington policymakers, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang revealed that U.S. technology export bans may be triggering unintended consequences, declaring that China-backed rival Huawei is actively “flourishing in our absence.”
TOUGH CROWD: Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was met with boos during a University of Arizona commencement speech after discussing artificial intelligence and fears the technology could reshape – or replace – parts of the workforce.
PAINFUL ERROR: Students at Glendale Community College revolted against AI when it was revealed during their graduation ceremony that the robot tasked with announcing the names of the new graduates experienced a glitch and skipped over hundreds of students who were set to hear their names as they walked across the stage.
BATTLE OF THE TITANS: A federal jury ruled against Elon Musk in his lawsuit accusing OpenAI of abandoning its nonprofit roots, finding that neither the tech company nor CEO Sam Altman could be held liable in the matter because Musk waited too long to bring the case.
NEXT-GEN WARFARE: A top U.S. defense contractor pulled back the curtain on AI-powered systems designed to hunt down and destroy swarms of enemy drones as the U.S. rapidly expands its next-generation warfighting capabilities.
‘UNSETTLING’: Standard Chartered CEO Bill Winters on Wednesday walked back comments he made at an investor event Tuesday when he said the bank plans to cut thousands of jobs as it replaces what he called “lower-value human capital” with tech powered by artificial intelligence (AI).
OPINION: There’s a revolution underway in American education, and first lady Melania Trump and the White House are leading the way, Arthur Herman and Beth Herman write.
SLOW DOWN: Waymo is temporarily halting freeway operations for its robotaxi service in several U.S. markets as the company works to address performance issues in construction zones, FOX Business has learned.
‘NOT GOING AWAY’: New York Times staffers got up from their workspaces inside the paper’s New York City headquarters on Wednesday and gathered outside to rally against management, demanding a fair contract and insisting the company puts profits over people. The event, dubbed “Rally for a Fair Contract,” came as the Times Guild is fighting for protections against artificial intelligence, guaranteed hybrid work, affordable health care, pay increases that match the rising cost of living and keeping work within the union.
SWEET MOVE: A Florida community has deployed AI-powered robotic beehives as declining bee populations continue raising concerns about the future of the US food supply.
BLOCKBUSTER DEAL: NextEra Energy is making a massive $66.8 billion bet that America’s artificial intelligence boom will drive a historic surge in electricity demand, announcing plans to acquire Dominion Energy to create the world’s largest regulated utility by market value.
BEAM ME UP: New York City’s LaGuardia Airport is bringing science fiction to the terminal with the debut of an AI-powered hologram concierge designed to help travelers find gates, lounges and baggage claim through face-to-face conversations.
DISAPPEARING ACT: Chatting with AI can feel casual until the question gets personal. Maybe you want to ask about a health concern. Maybe you need help understanding a loan. Or maybe you want career advice without feeling like your question is sitting in a data file somewhere. That is the idea behind Incognito Chat with Meta AI, a new private chat mode Meta says is coming to WhatsApp and the Meta AI app.
APP OVERHAUL: Airbnb is pushing far beyond home rentals, rolling out airport pickups, grocery delivery, luggage storage, car rentals, boutique hotels and exclusive travel experiences as it expands deeper into travel services. The app is also adding boutique and independent hotels in major cities including New York, Paris, London, Rome and Singapore, alongside new AI-powered features like review summaries, listing comparisons and smarter customer support tools.
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With Memorial day weekend kicking off the travel season, we’re seeing a lot of deals pop up on travel gadgets, from portable power banks to noise-canceling headphones. One of the best right now is Twelve South’s AirFly Pro 2 Bluetooth adapter, which lets you use your wireless headphones with in-flight entertainment systems so you can enjoy your flight a little more. It’s currently down to $49.99 ($10 off) at Amazon and directly from Twelve South, which is one of its best prices to date.
The Bluetooth transmitter lets you ditch the airline’s wired earbuds in favor of your own Bluetooth headphones or earbuds, which makes for a much better in-flight listening experience. All you need to do is plug the AirFly Pro 2 into the headphone jack on a seatback entertainment system, pair your headphones, and you’re set. It also supports two pairs of headphones at once, so you can watch movies or listen to podcasts with a travel companion.
As Twelve South’s premium AirFly model, the Pro 2 also adds a few welcome improvements that make it even easier to use. That includes the cheaper AirFly SE’s dedicated onboard volume controls as well as an upgraded processor, which enables faster pairing and improved sound quality with less background noise. Its battery should also last up to 25 hours on a single charge, which should comfortably last you through even the longest flights.
The AirFly Pro 2 remains useful long after you land, too. As it works with any standard audio jack, you can also use it to connect your wireless headphones to devices like a Nintendo Switch , older car stereos, and even compatible gym equipment like treadmills.
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