How to Report Social Security Fraud
Report Social Security fraud to the SSA Inspector General online or at 1-800-269-0271. Benefit fraud vs scams, anonymous reports, and what happens next.
To report Social Security fraud, use the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General (SSA OIG) online fraud form or call 1-800-269-0271. Impersonation scams, where someone pretends to be from Social Security, go on a separate SSA OIG scam form.
You can report anonymously. SSA OIG does not tell you what action it took afterward.
How to Report Social Security Fraud
Report Social Security benefit fraud to SSA OIG online at secure.ssa.gov/oig/fraud or by phone at 1-800-269-0271. Report impersonation scams on the OIG scam form instead. Pick the row below that matches what happened.
| What Happened | Form | Phone, Fax or Mail |
|---|---|---|
| Someone is collecting benefits they should not get, or misusing a Social Security number (SSN) or benefits | SSA OIG fraud form | Phone 1-800-269-0271; TTY 1-866-501-2101; fax 410-597-0118; mail to Social Security Fraud Hotline, Office of the Inspector General, P.O. Box 17785, Baltimore, MD 21235 |
| Someone contacted you claiming to be from Social Security or SSA OIG | SSA OIG scam form | Use the online scam form |
The fraud phone line runs 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday. It is closed on federal holidays. SSA OIG lists every reporting channel on its report page.
- Decide which kind of problem it is. Benefit fraud and impersonation scams use different forms.
- Gather the details. Write down who, what, when, where, how and why before you start the form or call.
- Submit the report. Use the online form, the phone line, fax or mail.
- Keep your own record. Note the date you reported and the channel you used.
Benefit Fraud vs Social Security Scams
Benefit fraud means someone is cheating the Social Security system, while an impersonation scam means someone is pretending to be Social Security to cheat you. The two go on different SSA OIG forms.
| Point | Benefit Fraud | Impersonation Scam |
|---|---|---|
| What happened | False information, hidden facts or misuse to get or keep benefits, or misuse of an SSN | Someone claims to be from SSA or OIG |
| Examples | Hidden work or earnings, a representative payee misusing benefits, collecting a dead person's benefits | A claimed problem with your number, a promised benefit increase for a payment, a demand for gift cards |
| Where to report | SSA OIG fraud form or 1-800-269-0271 | SSA OIG scam form |
SSA OIG lists these warning signs of an impersonation scam:
- Someone claims to be from SSA or OIG.
- The person says there is a problem with your Social Security number.
- The person promises to increase your benefit if you make a payment.
- The person pressures you to act right now.
- The person demands payment by gift card, cash, wire transfer, internet currency or prepaid debit card.
SSA and OIG will never ask you to move money to protect it. They will never ask you to meet in person to hand over cash, gift cards, crypto or gold. They will never ask you to keep the contact secret.
If someone used your Social Security number without permission for work, loans or government benefits, SSA OIG treats that as SSN misuse. Report it on the fraud form. The SSA OIG scam reporting page covers the scam side.
What Counts as Social Security Fraud
SSA OIG counts lying, hiding facts or misusing benefits or an SSN as Social Security fraud. Its fraud categories page lists these examples:
- False statements: giving false or misleading information to get or keep benefits.
- Hidden changes: hiding work, earnings, improvement in a disability, or changes in living arrangements.
- Representative payee misuse: misuse of benefits by a representative payee.
- Deceased payee fraud: collecting the benefits of a person who has died.
- SSN misuse: using a Social Security number for unauthorized work, loans or government benefits.
- Benefit misuse: misusing Social Security benefits in other ways.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) has its own fraud examples. SSA OIG lists hiding a marriage, real estate or other assets. Hiding the person's true country of residence also counts. To report SSI fraud, use the same fraud form or phone line as any other benefit fraud.
What to Include in a Fraud Report
A useful report answers who, what, when, where, how and why. Collect these facts before you open the form or call the hotline.
- Who: each suspect and each victim, with name, address and phone numbers.
- Identifiers: date of birth and Social Security number for each person, if you know them.
- What: what the person did, such as hiding earnings or collecting a dead person's benefits.
- When and where: dates and places.
- How and why: how the scheme works and why you believe it is fraud.
Giving this information is voluntary. SSA OIG says leaving details out may limit the investigation. If you do not know a date of birth or Social Security number, send the report with the facts you have.
Anonymous and Confidential Reports
You can report Social Security fraud anonymously. SSA OIG still encourages reporters to give contact details.
Confidentiality is a separate option. If you give your name and ask for confidentiality, SSA OIG honors that request unless the law requires disclosure. SSA OIG gives a court order or subpoena as examples. The SSA OIG fraud reporting FAQ explains both options.
What Happens After You Report
After you report, SSA OIG logs and reviews the report. It then picks one of several paths:
- Ask you for more information.
- Open a case.
- Refer the report to SSA or another agency.
- Close the report.
SSA OIG does not tell reporters what action it took. A case may go to federal, state or local prosecutors. SSA may also impose administrative sanctions.
Rewards and Related Reporting
SSA OIG pages describe no reward for an ordinary Social Security fraud report.
A separate federal program pays some tipsters. The Justice Department calls it the National Fraud Enforcement Division Criminal Tip Rewards Pilot Program, and news reports call it the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program. The Justice Department's written guidance sets rewards of $10,000 to $30,000 per distinct tip that leads to unsealed criminal charges. Social Security programs are not on its covered list.
That list covers federal health care offenses. It also covers fraud on programs run by Agriculture, Labor, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Veterans Affairs, the Department of War and the Small Business Administration. A Social Security tip by itself does not qualify. A report that also reveals a covered crime, such as health care fraud, may be considered. The Justice Department FAQs say to report fraud outside the categories anyway, since a tip may still uncover a covered crime or qualify under another program.
Related situations have their own routes:
- For the reward program's rules and portal, read the Fraud Whistleblower Incentive Program guide.
- For health care billing fraud, see how to report Medicare and Medicaid fraud.
- For Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) fraud, see how to report food stamp fraud.
- If an older relative's benefits are being taken, read about elder financial abuse claims.
- For crimes that are not fraud, the Justice Department points to local police or the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center.
If your tip also involves health care or another covered program, you can get matched with a whistleblower lawyer. The whistleblower hub covers the other reporting programs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you report Social Security fraud anonymously?
Yes, SSA OIG lets you report Social Security fraud without giving your name. SSA OIG encourages you to include contact details. If you give your name, you can ask for confidentiality, which SSA OIG honors unless the law requires disclosure, such as under a court order or subpoena.
What is the website to report Social Security fraud?
The SSA OIG online fraud form is at secure.ssa.gov/oig/fraud. Impersonation scams go on a separate form at secure.ssa.gov/oig/scam. You can also call 1-800-269-0271, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern, Monday to Friday.
What happens when you report Social Security fraud?
SSA OIG logs and reviews the report, then may ask for more information, open a case, refer it to SSA or another agency, or close it. SSA OIG does not tell reporters what action it took. Cases may go to federal, state or local prosecutors, or SSA may impose administrative sanctions.
How do I report someone misusing my benefits as a representative payee?
Report representative payee misuse to SSA OIG on the online fraud form or at 1-800-269-0271. SSA OIG lists payee misuse as a type of benefit fraud. Include the payee's name, address and phone numbers, plus dates and a description of how the money was misused.
How do I report a Social Security scam call?
Report a call from someone claiming to be from SSA or OIG on the SSA OIG scam form. Signs of a scam include pressure to act now and demands for gift cards, cash, wire transfers, internet currency or prepaid debit cards. SSA and OIG will never ask you to move money to protect it or keep the contact secret.
Do you get a reward for reporting Social Security fraud?
SSA OIG pages describe no reward for an ordinary Social Security fraud report. Social Security programs are not on the covered list of the Justice Department's tip rewards program. A report that also reveals a covered crime, such as health care fraud, may be considered under that program.
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