Medicare and Social Security Scams: How to Spot Them

Suspicious phone call with a warning sign and a speech bubble showing a clock, a payment coin and a fake ID, next to Medicare and Social Security benefit cards and a list of scam warning signs

Few things worry people more than the idea that their Social Security number is being "suspended" or their Medicare coverage is about to end. Scammers know that, and they use official-sounding names, real employee names and spoofed phone numbers to make a call or text feel legitimate.

This guide explains how these scams work, what the Social Security Administration (SSA) and Medicare say about how they contact people, and what to do if you have already responded. It is useful for anyone, and especially for parents and grandparents who receive benefits.

The Four Signs of a Scam

The SSA describes four signs that apply to nearly every scam: The SSA's page on protecting yourself from Social Security scams lists the same warning signs.

Scammers pretend to be from an agency or organization you know to gain your trust.
They say there is a problem or a prize.
They pressure you to act immediately.
They tell you to pay in a specific way.

If a contact fits this pattern, stop. Slowing down is your best tool, because the scam depends on you acting before you think.

Social Security Scams

The SSA says criminals impersonate its staff and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) by phone, email, text, letter and social media. A scammer may use the name of a real employee and may send a photo or attachment as "proof." According to the SSA, scammers will:

Threaten to suspend your Social Security number or account, or threaten arrest or legal action unless you pay.
Claim they need personal information or payment to activate a cost-of-living adjustment or other benefit increase.
Ask for payment by gift cards, gold or other precious metals, prepaid debit cards, wire transfers, cryptocurrency or mailed cash.
Spoof official government numbers, or even local police numbers.
Say they are transferring you to a law enforcement agent or official who can "protect your money."
Tell you to move your money to a "protected" account.
Demand secrecy.
Send pictures of badges or credentials. The SSA says federal employees will never send photographs of credentials or badges to demand payment.

The SSA also warns about fake call transfers: legitimate companies and other agencies cannot transfer your call directly to the SSA or OIG, and anyone who claims they can is running a scam.

The SSA says it will never suspend your Social Security number, never threaten you with arrest or legal action, and never demand immediate payment. A call claiming your number is "suspended" is a scam.

On social media, the SSA says imposter accounts often have few followers, spelling or punctuation errors, handles that are slightly off, or links that do not end in ".gov." It says the agency will never ask for sensitive personal information through social media, email or text message.

Medicare Scams

The Medicare program's own guidance is similar. Medicare says it will never call you to sell you anything or visit you at home. It says Medicare, or someone representing Medicare, will call and ask for personal information only in limited situations, such as: Medicare explains how to report Medicare fraud and abuse.

a health or drug plan calling a current member, or the agent who helped you join;
a 1-800-MEDICARE representative returning a call after you left a message or asked for one.

Medicare's plan marketing rules also say people representing plans are not allowed to call you unless you are already a member or have given permission. They also cannot ask for payment over the phone or online (the plan must send a bill), or offer you cash or certain gifts to join.

The FTC's advice for the Medicare Open Enrollment period adds that anyone who contacts you out of the blue, even if they seem to be from Medicare, and asks for your Medicare, Social Security or financial account numbers is a scammer. Do not click links, open attachments or call numbers in such messages.

Medicare also tells people never to give their Medicare number to anyone except their doctors, insurers acting on their behalf, or trusted community helpers such as a State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), and not to accept offers of money or gifts for free medical care.

What to Do When You Get a Suspicious Contact

Pause. If you feel rushed or upset, take a breath and talk to someone you trust.
Hang up or ignore it. Do not click links or open attachments. Do not call back the number in a message.
Do not pay or share information. Even if the caller already knows some of your details, that does not prove who they are.
Verify on your own. For Social Security, go to ssa.gov or call the SSA's national number, which its contact page lists as 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday. For Medicare, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
Report it. The SSA asks people to report Social Security scams to its OIG at oig.ssa.gov/report. Medicare says to call 1-800-MEDICARE if you suspect Medicare fraud. Also report to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Secure Your Accounts Before Scammers Try

Create your own my Social Security account at ssa.gov if you have not already. The SSA says this helps prevent an identity thief from opening an account in your name, and sends you an alert if someone tries to change your address or direct deposit without permission.
Create a Medicare.gov account. Medicare suggests this so you can view your Original Medicare claims as soon as they are processed and spot mistakes sooner.
Use a strong, unique password and two-factor authentication on both accounts, plus your email account, since email can reset everything else.
Review statements and claims. Compare Medicare notices with your own records, and ask your provider about charges that look wrong.
Consider a credit freeze. It helps block new accounts opened in your name. See our credit freeze guide.

If You Already Responded

If scammers took money, the SSA advises you to stop talking to them and block their number, call your local police to report the crime, and follow the FTC's What To Do if You Were Scammed guidance. The FTC says to contact the company you used to send money right away and ask for the payment to be reversed.

If they got personal information, the SSA suggests you open a my Social Security account, contact the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and TransUnion) to add a fraud alert, report at IdentityTheft.gov to get a recovery plan, and create a new strong password if the scammer has a username and password. See our identity theft recovery guide for the full sequence. If you shared your Medicare number, call 1-800-MEDICARE and ask what to do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Social Security ever call me?

Sometimes. The SSA says its employees do contact the public by phone, but that if there is a problem with your record it will typically mail you a letter. It says it generally calls if you recently applied for a benefit, you are receiving payments and need to update your record, or you requested a call. If in doubt, hang up and contact the SSA on your own.

Can someone "transfer" me to Social Security?

The SSA says legitimate companies and other agencies cannot transfer your call directly to the SSA or OIG. Treat that claim as a scam.

Should I give my bank details to someone who says they are from Medicare?

No. Medicare says its plan representatives cannot ask for payment over the phone or online, and that the plan must send a bill. Hang up and call 1-800-MEDICARE.

Are government scam calls only targeted at seniors?

No, though many target older adults. The SSA and FTC guidance applies to everyone.

Where do I report it?

Social Security scams go to oig.ssa.gov/report, Medicare fraud to 1-800-MEDICARE, and any scam to ReportFraud.ftc.gov.

Related Guides

Conclusion

Government agencies do not threaten you into paying, and they do not ask you to move money to "protect" it. Hang up, verify through official channels, secure your my Social Security and Medicare.gov accounts, and report scams. Sharing these rules with relatives helps, because the best protection against impersonation is knowing what the real agencies will never do.