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OIG letter on behalf of SSA - suspicious DOGE generated phishing\fraud

a2z
in Off-Topic

An elderly relative received a (real) letter sent jointly from OIG\SSA, but obviously computer generated.
The letter has a number of suspicious assertions and open-ended requests for confidential information; the type commonly seen daily in my email spam box. Laughably, the envelope had blurb regarding a phone-call only hotline for reporting suspicious fraud.

Beyond the foundational false premise of the letter, what really disturbed me was that this recipient, and many others past 70, would have no idea what was happening and would be puzzled exactly how to respond. A non-response, or inadequate response, would seem to set the stage for any number of penalties and denial of benefits.

I have never seen this type of request before, so maybe it is standard for how the OIG\SSA always communicates.
Very interested how anyone may have responded to something similar, and glad to share more details if anyone is interested.

Comments

  • CrashCrash
    OIG: Office of Inspector General?
  • AnnaAnna
    edited June 9
    Your description is vague. How do you know it is real? From what you say, I would say it is absurd. If the relative has a nearby SSA office, they could take the letter to them and explain they are not there to respond to the letter but, if it is valid, to get a written signed verification that the letter is, indeed, real. Then, if the letter is as absurd as it sounds, they could share the letter and the signed verification with their congress critter. I, myself, would just throw such a letter in the trash unless it accused me of owning money or committing fraud. If money is owed, it would show on their SSA website account. (An easy first step might be to independently get a SSA phone number [not from the letter] and call. With the downsized call center, it might take forever to get through, though. The difficulty with contacting SSA now, well known, might open opportunities for crooks to try to dupe elderly people.

    This is from oig_dot_ssa_dot_gov:
    Scam Alert: “Official” letter causing a panic? It’s probably not from SSA!
    March 08, 2023
    Download a PDF of this Scam Alert

    Download a PDF of this Scam Alert in Spanish

    Surprised to get that letter from Social Security? You should take a second look. And then another. Scammers are sending fake letters that closely resemble official Social Security Administration (SSA) and SSA Office of the Inspector General (OIG) letterhead or that of other government agencies, such as the Federal Trade Commission.
  • yogibearbullyogibearbull
    SSA site alert https://www.ssa.gov/scam/?oig-redirect

    If I get any email, text or letter from my financial sites, I first log in and check.

    Lately, I am not even clicking on email links from my card companies that they have sent for years to signup for new cashback periods - I go to their sites and signup there.
  • gman57
    edited June 9
    Yes, NEVER call, answer, click anything in an email or text. I even have my phone set to not answer if you're not in my contacts. I figure if it's important they will leave a voicemail. If you think it's real call the number you have for them that you know is good. I.E. number on the back of your credit card.
  • a2z
    The letter itself seems real, and the response is requested to a verified location :
    Social Security Office, 1200 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Blvd N, Birmingham, Alabama, 35285 United States
    this is the only reason i fear a risk to completely ignore, and would not waste likely a huge amount of time on the phone or going to a local office with massive appointment backlogs.

    below is a rough description of what i consider suspicious CONTENT :

    - claim that records need updating regarding a non-existent pension
    - without citing a source or supporting documents, they purport a small monthly pension has been received for ~2 decades
    - bizarrely, they do not mention the existence of any tax-related pension document for the entire period (1099, 1040, etc...)
    - they do not cite recipient's retirement date...happens to be before purported pension but not coincident or correlated with any retirement-related event

    They are requesting the following from recipient :
    - Open ended permission to collect data from all former employers
    - Official contemporary summaries of pension payment from all former employers via photocopies


    perhaps the SS# has been used for pension fraud? certainly a lose-lose scenario for the recipient.
  • WABACWABAC
    I think @Anna made a good point about contacting the local congresscritter. Of course it would depend on what sort of constituent service operation they have. If they can't help, you can always try the senators.

    The whole thing seems hinky to me. Why would SSA need permission to talk to former employers? There is already a relationship there due to the employer's role in collecting the tax, in addition to contributing.

    And how could one provide photo-copies of documents that don't exist?
  • a2z
    WABAC,
    the request is for any\all pensions, but correct, am unable to send proof of non-existent pension.
    (thanks a lot, philosophy!)
  • WABACWABAC
    a2z said:

    WABAC,
    the request is for any\all pensions, but correct, am unable to send proof of non-existent pension.
    (thanks a lot, philosophy!)

    A few other thoughts: Maybe AARP? https://states.aarp.org/alabama/

    There might be other local/state agencies or NGO's providing help to seniors, or legal aid depending on income. Might be somewhat easier than navigating SSA.

    Here are some example links if your relative lives in Alabama:
    https://alabamaageline.gov/
    https://alabamaageline.gov/legal-assistance/
    https://legalservicesalabama.org/elder-law/
    https://m4a.org/helping-alabamas-seniors-combat-financial-fraud-abuse-and-victimization/
    https://ovc.ojp.gov/program/stop-elder-fraud/providing-help-restoring-hope

    You could also try reporting the letter to the US Postal Inspection Service. That might stir the ant hill.
  • a2z

    My plan to calmly reply calmly, requesting documentation that the recipient received this pension before providing them permissions or anything else. only 1099s , 1040s, and official financial statements from the source will be acceptable for the years cited.
    (to make clear, the letter did not bother to name which employer\source this non-existent pension came from)

    I will also indicate that has been reported as suspected phishing or fraud to several authorities, whether i do so or not. Am still pissed off.

    I believe the only actual remit of those other agencies will be to verify the source of the letter and not the content.
  • WABACWABAC
    a2z said:


    My plan to calmly reply calmly, requesting documentation that the recipient received this pension before providing them permissions or anything else. only 1099s , 1040s, and official financial statements from the source will be acceptable for the years cited.
    (to make clear, the letter did not bother to name which employer\source this non-existent pension came from)

    I will also indicate that has been reported as suspected phishing or fraud to several authorities, whether i do so or not. Am still pissed off.

    I believe the only actual remit of those other agencies will be to verify the source of the letter and not the content.

    You have good reason to be pissed off. Let us know how it goes in case some of us get one of those letters.

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