Think the Supreme Court sent you a letter? Social Security watchdog has a warning for you.
Warning: Fake U.S. Supreme Court Letter Scam Targets Social Security Recipients
A recent scam involving a fake letter from the U.S. Supreme Court has been targeting Social Security recipients, according to the Social Security Administration’s Office of the Inspector General. The scam letter, which is signed by Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, falsely claims that the recipient is under investigation and that their Social Security number has been compromised.
The scam letter goes on to state that the Supreme Court has requested financial institutions to freeze the recipient’s assets and urges them to cooperate with the “U.S. Treasury Department.” The letter ends with a warning that the recipient will be liable for any losses following the suspension of their Social Security number.
This scam represents a new evolution in government imposter schemes, where fraudsters impersonate federal officials to scare individuals into providing money or personal information. In this case, scammers are posing as Supreme Court justices, using multiple points of contact including fake letters, texts, and phone calls to make their scam appear more authentic.
John Haraburda, a robocall data expert, warns that scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their tactics. They may follow up the fake letter with a text containing a link to a fake Social Security site, attempting to capture login credentials or credit card information from victims.
To protect yourself from this scam, never click on links in emails or texts claiming to be from official sources. Instead, go directly to the Social Security Administration’s official website at https://www.ssa.gov to log in securely.
Michelle L. Anderson, acting inspector general at the Social Security Administration, emphasizes that the fake U.S. Supreme Court letter is completely false. If you receive such a letter, rip it up and report it to the authorities immediately to prevent further scams.
