Technology

SSA impersonation scams are getting more personal

Published

2 weeks ago

April 2, 2026

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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Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson is an award-winning tech journalist who has a deep love of technology, gear and gadgets that make life better with his contributions for Fox News & FOX Business beginning mornings on “FOX & Friends.” Got a tech question? Get Kurt’s free CyberGuy Newsletter, share your voice, a story idea or comment at CyberGuy.com.

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Technology

Why your home Wi-Fi needs more than just a strong password

Published

28 minutes ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Why your home Wi-Fi needs more than just a strong password

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If you’ve locked down your home Wi-Fi with a strong password, you’re already ahead of the game. But here’s the reality: a password alone isn’t enough to keep your online activity private.

Most people think of Wi-Fi security as simply keeping strangers off their network. And while that matters, it’s only part of the picture. Even with a secure password, your internet activity can still be visible to others in ways you might not expect.

A Wi-Fi password keeps people out, but it does not hide what happens inside your connection.

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DO YOU NEED A VPN AT HOME? HERE ARE 10 REASONS YOU DO

A strong Wi-Fi password can keep intruders off your network, but it does not stop others from seeing what you do online. A VPN adds encryption and helps protect your privacy. (trumzz/Getty Images)

Who can still see your data?

When you connect to the internet at home, your internet service provider (ISP) can see a surprising amount of what you do online. That can include the websites you visit, how long you spend on them and sometimes even more detailed activity.

In some cases, that data can be:

Logged and stored
Shared with third parties
Used to build advertising profiles

And it’s not just your ISP. Websites, apps, big tech companies, governments and data brokers are constantly collecting information about your behavior, often without you realizing it. Think of it this way: your password locks the front door, but once your data leaves your house, it can still be exposed along the way. That’s where a VPN comes in.

How a VPN adds real privacy

A virtual private network (VPN) creates a secure, encrypted tunnel between your device and the internet. That means your data is scrambled before it leaves your home network, making it much harder for anyone to see what you’re doing online.

In addition, connecting to a VPN server gives you a new IP address, so your online activity can’t be easily traced back to you. This makes it harder for advertisers, social networks and scammers to construct behavioral profiles, which can be used to target you with things like phishing attacks.

With a VPN:

Your browsing activity is hidden from your ISP
Your IP address is masked, making tracking more difficult
Your connection is encrypted, even on everyday home Wi-Fi

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Even on protected home Wi-Fi, your ISP and other companies may still see parts of your online activity. (Liudmila Chernetska/Getty Images)

Many VPN services are popular for their speed, simplicity and overall feature sets. This becomes even more important if you ever use public Wi-Fi, where your data is far more exposed.

What does this mean in practice?

For starters, most VPN services are easy to use. They offer apps for nearly every device imaginable, including options that work directly with routers. These apps are straightforward to set up and configure.

Once running, a single click or tap is all it takes to change your virtual location, mask your IP address and encrypt your connection. High-speed servers mean they don’t fall into the trap of slowing you down. In many cases, using a VPN can even provide more consistent, reliable speeds.

With a more anonymous IP address, your ISP is also less able to throttle (cap) your connection speeds, as some providers do.

Setting up a VPN on your router protects every device in your home automatically, including smart TVs, gaming consoles and other connected devices.

Many VPN providers now go beyond basic protection and offer additional privacy tools. These can include password managers, email protection, identity monitoring and even private AI tools designed to keep your data more secure.

In short, it’s no longer just about securing your connection. It’s about protecting your entire digital footprint.

A smarter way to protect your home network

Your home Wi-Fi is the gateway to everything you do: online banking, shopping, working and staying connected. Relying on just a password is like locking your door but leaving the curtains wide open.

Adding a VPN gives you an extra layer of privacy that works quietly in the background while enhancing every corner of your digital life.

It’s about being prepared, sure. But it’s also about peace of mind.

5 SIMPLE TECH TIPS TO IMPROVE DIGITAL PRIVACY

A secure password protects your router, but not necessarily your digital footprint. Using a VPN can help keep your browsing, IP address and home network more private. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Ways to protect your privacy beyond a password

Use a VPN on your home network and public Wi-Fi
Enable automatic updates on all your devices
Use strong, unique passwords and consider a password manager
Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible
Limit app permissions and review privacy settings regularly

For the best VPN software, see my expert review of the best VPNs for browsing the web privately on your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices at CyberGuy.com.

Kurt’s key takeaways

A strong password is a smart first step, but it only protects who gets onto your network, not what happens to your data after it leaves. Your internet activity still passes through systems designed to track, analyze and sometimes profit from it. Adding a VPN shifts the balance back in your favor by encrypting your connection and limiting how much others can see. It is a simple upgrade that turns basic security into real privacy, without changing how you use the internet day to day.

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Where should we draw the line between staying connected and staying private? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com.

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Technology

A sleek, wearable airbag for cyclists is nearly here

Published

12 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

A sleek, wearable airbag for cyclists is nearly here

What you’re looking at is a new airbag system integrated directly into a “race-ready” skinsuit, not bolted on like other solutions. It was developed for road cyclists by Van Rysel, with the help of airbag technology specialist In&motion. It’s currently being tested on pro riders ahead of a general consumer release sometime “within the next two years.”

Its development comes after the UCI, pro cycling’s governing body, put out a call in February seeking gear that could help protect riders traveling faster than ever.

The current version is in final validation ahead of potential race deployment. It has a total weight of about 700 grams (500 grams for the airbag components), making it significantly lighter than airbag systems worn in MotoGP, says Van Rysel. And like the proven MotoGP solutions, Van Rysel’s Airbag deploys in just 60 milliseconds after its impact-detection algorithm senses that something has gone horribly wrong.

The skinsuit is design to be aerodynamic and to dissipate heat, with abrasion-resistant materials used to help reduce the risk of road rash and other surface-level skin injuries. The Airbag deploys to protect areas of the upper body not covered by a helmet, including the central core, cervical zone, and spinal line. More extensive protection will be explored in the future.

“Behind every race number, there’s a human being and sadly it is still widely accepted that a rider can lose everything in a fraction of a second due to a crash,” says Van Rysel product manager Jocelyn Bar. “What helmets represented 20 years ago, we think Airbag can represent today, but now, we’re looking beyond the head, we need to protect as much of the body as we can.”

Technology

Toyota joins hydrogen truck alliance push

Published

13 hours ago

April 14, 2026

Press Room

Toyota joins hydrogen truck alliance push

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For years, the conversation around clean transportation has leaned heavily toward batteries. Longer range, faster charging, more EVs on the road. That’s been the story. So when Toyota Motor Corporation decided to team up with Daimler Truck and Volvo Group, it raised a fair question: Why double down on hydrogen now? The three companies plan to become equal partners in Cellcentric, a venture focused on fuel-cell systems for heavy-duty trucks and industrial vehicles. The goal is straightforward. Build better hydrogen systems, scale production, and make zero-emissions trucking more realistic. But under the surface, there’s a bigger shift happening.

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TOYOTA IS USING AI TO DESIGN BETTER CARS FASTER

Toyota’s hydrogen fuel-cell tech is already powering real-world trucks like this VDL test vehicle, showing how the company’s long-running investment is moving beyond cars. (Toyota Motor Corporation / VDL)

Hydrogen trucks vs battery trucks: two paths, not one

Most people think the future of clean vehicles is all battery-powered. That’s partly true, especially for cars. Heavy-duty trucking is a different story. Battery-electric trucks work well for shorter routes. However, long-haul freight brings different challenges. Bigger batteries add weight. Charging takes time. Payload capacity can take a hit. Hydrogen offers a different tradeoff. Fuel-cell trucks can refuel faster and travel longer distances without carrying massive battery packs. That makes them appealing for long-distance shipping, where every minute off the road matters. That’s exactly why this partnership exists. As Daimler Truck’s leadership has emphasized, hydrogen is meant to complement battery-electric systems, not replace them.

Toyota has been quietly building toward this for decades

This move might feel sudden, but Toyota has been laying the groundwork since the early 1990s. The company launched the Toyota Mirai in 2014, one of the first mass-produced hydrogen cars. On paper, it looked like a glimpse into the future. In practice, it struggled to catch on. Sales have been limited, and the biggest issue has not been the car itself. It’s the lack of hydrogen refueling infrastructure. In the U.S., you are mostly limited to California if you want to drive one regularly. Still, Toyota didn’t walk away. Instead, it expanded into trucks. It tested hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles in Europe, partnered with manufacturers, and integrated fuel-cell systems into commercial platforms. That experience is now feeding directly into this new partnership.

Why teaming up makes sense right now

Building hydrogen technology is expensive. Building the infrastructure is even harder. That’s where this alliance comes in. By combining strengths, each company fills a gap. Toyota brings decades of fuel-cell research and manufacturing experience. Daimler Truck contributes deep knowledge of commercial vehicles and logistics. Volvo Group adds global scale and operational reach. Together, they can share costs, accelerate development, and push for infrastructure growth at the same time. That last piece matters most. Hydrogen only works if there are enough places to refuel. Europe is investing heavily in that network, with plans to expand significantly by 2030. This partnership positions all three companies to benefit if that rollout gains traction.

The bigger picture for EVs and clean tech

Daimler Truck’s GenH2 prototype highlights why hydrogen is gaining attention for long-haul freight, where fast refueling and extended range matter most. (Daimler Truck)

This does not mean battery EVs are slowing down. Automakers are still investing heavily in electric cars, better batteries and faster charging networks. Toyota itself continues to expand its EV lineup and production capabilities. What this partnership shows is a shift in strategy. Instead of betting everything on one approach, companies are spreading their bets across multiple technologies. That increases flexibility and improves the chances of meeting long-term emissions goals. Hydrogen may not dominate passenger cars. In trucking, though, it has a real opportunity.

TOYOTA UNVEILS HYDROGEN-POWERED PICKUP AND SUV

What this means to you

Even if you never plan to drive a hydrogen vehicle, this still affects you. Freight powers almost everything you buy. From groceries to electronics, trucks move it across long distances every day. If hydrogen helps clean up long-haul trucking, it could reduce emissions in one of the hardest sectors to fix. It also signals something important about the future of transportation. There won’t be a single solution that works everywhere. Different technologies will serve different needs depending on the job.

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Kurt’s key takeaways

At first glance, this move feels like a detour from the EV momentum we’ve been seeing. Look closer, and it starts to make more sense. Heavy-duty transport has unique demands. Hydrogen happens to solve some of them more efficiently than batteries can today. Toyota joining forces with Daimler Truck and Volvo is less about changing direction and more about covering all bases. If infrastructure catches up, this could become one of the more important shifts in clean transportation.

Volvo is also testing hydrogen-powered trucks in real conditions, reinforcing the idea that fuel cells could play a key role alongside battery-electric systems. (Volvo Group)

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So here’s the real question. If hydrogen ends up powering the trucks that deliver everything you rely on, does it matter what technology powers your own car? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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