Pursuant to a release from the office of US Congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler, the Inspector General of Social Security, Gail Ennis, is warning the public about fraudulent letters threatening suspension of Social Security benefits due to COVID-19 related office closures.
There are reports that Social Security beneficiaries have received letters through the U.S. mail stating their payments will be suspended or discontinued unless they call a phone number referenced in the letter. Scammers may then mislead beneficiaries into providing personal information or payment via retail gift cards, wire transfers, internet currency, or by mailing cash, to maintain regular benefit payments during this period of COVID-19 office closures.
Any communication you receive like this is a scam.
If you received a suspicious letter, text, call or email about a problem with your Social Security number, account, or payments, hang up or do not respond. Everyone is encouraged to report Social Security scams using the dedicated online resource at https://oig.ssa.gov.
Social Security will not suspend or decrease Social Security benefit payments or Supplemental Security Income payments.
More information can be found at the House Cornoavirus website.
