So I Got A Text From Social Security

[gab13by13]

Something Something Important, I deleted it. I never got texts from SS when capable people were in charge.

I am pretty sure I did the right thing but who knows with these traitors in charge.

I did have to change the way I log in to stay in compliance with the rat fuckers.

Anyone else get texts from Social Security?

[surfered]

1. No

[Munu]

2. My guess is it wasn't from Social Security. n/t

[debm55]

3. SSA does not send out text messages. Glad you deleted.

[sinkingfeeling]

20. Yes, they do. Please see direct paste from your and link to SSA site in post #10.

[AfternoonJoe]

4. Definitely a Scam

Social Security typically does not text. This is a SMShing attempt (a means to extract information from you through a text). Don't answer and reach out directly to Social Security through their website or telephone but do not click any links you got in your texts!!! - VERY IMPORTANT

[irisblue]

5. Soc Security sends letters via the USPS. You got a phising attempt

[question everything]

14. Also email if it knows it. I got one to check 2026 benefits. Again.

[Lovie777]

6. SS does not send text messages...............

or the DMV here in California and probably others institutions.

[marble falls]

7. I think you did the right thing. The SS scams are all over the place these days.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

8. Social Security *DOES* send texts, but only if you have opted in to receiving them.

https://oig.ssa.gov/scam-alerts/2025-07-17-widespread-social-security-scam-texts/

The Inspector General of Social Security, Gail S. Ennis, is warning of a new tactic by government imposters to reach—and victimize—Americans by phone. The Social Security Administration (SSA) Office of Inspector has received reports of text messages on personal cell phones that appear to be coming from SSA. The texts warn about a Social Security number problem and request the recipient call a number back to resolve it or the agency will pursue legal action.

This appears to be the latest development in continuing widespread scams meant to deceive Americans into providing money and personal information to scammers. SSA will never send a text asking for a return call to an unknown number. SSA only sends text messages if you have opted in to receive texts from SSA and only in limited situations, including the following:

* when you have subscribed with SSA to receive updates and notifications by text; or
* as part of SSA’s enhanced security when accessing your personal my Social Security account.

The Social Security Office of the Inspector General wants the public to know Social Security will never:

* threaten you with arrest or other legal action unless you immediately pay a fine or fee;
* promise a benefit increase or other assistance in exchange for payment;
* require payment by retail gift card, wire transfer, internet currency, or by mailing cash; or
* send official letters or reports containing your personal information via email.

If you owe money to Social Security, the agency will mail you a letter with payment options and appeal rights. You should never pay a government fee or fine using retail gift cards, cash, internet currency, wire transfers, or pre-paid debit cards.

[Norbert]

9. I don't think Social Security sends texts.

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Yes Social Security does use text, if you want them to. Check if you have set your SSA notifications preferences.

Communication & Notification Preferences
Review your current preference selections
Communication PreferencesEdit
Your communication preferences let us know if we should mail paper copies of notices available on my Social Security Message Center.
When I receive a notice in Message Center: Do not send a paper copy
Notification PreferencesEdit
We'll notify you through your preferred notification method when a new message is available in my Social Security Message Center.
When there is a new Message in my Message Center Inbox, I want to be notified by: Email and Text Message

https://secure.ssa.gov/myssa/mypreferences-ui/mypreferences-home

[AllaN01Bear]

11. personal internal alarms start blaring. note : SS WILL ONLY SEND LETTERS

[sinkingfeeling]

12. Not true. See the two posts above yours.

[CousinIT]

13. Scam. Social Security does not text people. They would send a paper letter. n/t

[sinkingfeeling]

15. Not true. See posts 8 and 10.

[CousinIT]

16. Ah. I see that. So they won't text you unless you specifically asked them to.

And if you didn't, then it's a scam.

You are correct! Bad on me for not scanning the other responses!

[Karma13612]

17. Nope-

Only emails and I also have an online account with them that I use periodically.

You were right to disregard it, I think. But who knows, they may just decide to eliminate all forms of communication except texts. They don’t have any sympathy for older people who aren’t up on technology. And this administration is always changing their mind. No warning, no ramp up, no transition window, nothing. They just do things with cruelty as their guide.

As an aside, back in September or October,
I remember getting a text from some unrecognizable organization as notification of a “bill”. Months earlier, I broke a small bone in my foot and Urgent Care gave me an air cast (DME). It was months later that I got this TEXT telling me to pay my bill. But the text didn’t tell me any details or what the bill was for. Just some hinky company name and a link to a website. Yea, like I’m just going to follow a link in text. That’s basic scam101.

At that point, I hadn’t made the connection that it was from the 3rd party that Urgent Care uses for their DME devices. I researched until I got a phone number, and called them and clarified it was all legit. I made it damn clear that just sending an unprofessional text with no context was not any way to run a business. I asked that they send me a bill in the mail which apparently is no longer the normal way of doing things. After I waited a couple weeks for a paper bill, and none came, I paid online with paypal as I recall.

[Mz Pip]

18. Those texts are scams

Last edited Tue Dec 30, 2025, 06:43 PM - Edit history (1)

Check the return address. The real Social Security is .gov. the scams are .com or something else entirely.

[Wiz Imp]

36. Wrong. The real Social Security website is www.SSA.gov

gov NOT org

[Mz Pip]

37. You are correct

I corrected my post.

[AZJonnie]

19. You didn't click a link within the text itself to change the way you log in, did you?

As long as you went to SS site yourself rather than use a link in the text, doesn't matter if it was a SS phishing scam originally. But if you did you should immediately go to the known-real SS site and change your password.

[Clouds Passing]

21. No. Report as spam, block, delete or send to your state's SoS

[Americanme]

22. I've never gotten a text from them, but I do get emails from them.

The emails always say I must log into social security site to read changes, updates, whatever they are informing me about.

[Igel]

23. When you get texts that might be important ...

Or which might be just spam or much, much worse, my practice is two-fold.

1. Don't ignore it. That "might be" doesn't mean "obviously isn't." It just means I have doubts--maybe big doubts--that it's true. But that allows for a chance that it is true.

2. Following that chance, I promptly delete the possibly or even probably spurious message, whether mail or text, do not click on their maybe malicious or simply annoying, but just possibly correct, link. Instead, go directly to the site they claim to be pushing--the site name looks good, maybe check it out. For example, https://Socialsecurity.ru/ would not check out but https://www.ssa.gov/ would.

SS requires a new kind of ID? You know that they'll have info about that new requirement on their website.

Yes, it takes a few minutes. But it means I preserve some semblance of agency over my device's security while not ignoring possibly useful or needed information.

[4dog]

24. Probably/presumably not scam. My recent email was about a 1099 form for taxes

There is correct discussion here already. No more needed.

[bcool]

25. Not necessarily a scam

I just received one that notified me of a new message in my account.

When I get something like this, I do NOT click on the provided link but instead log in to the SSA website separately - this will prevent you from being scammed.

After logging in I saw the new message and read it there...easy-peasy.

The key is don't click on any text-based link.

[Hope22]

26. Go to your SS account at their website....

If they have correspondence it will be there.

[mcar]

27. I get texts from SS once a year

to tell me about my COL increase.

[Rebl2]

28. I had to

change the way I logged in last year, before trump was in office.

[beaglelover]

29. The real SS does not text anyone. This was a scam and thankfully you did not fall for it.

[sinkingfeeling]

39. Not correct. One sets their own notification preferences on the mySSA site. see direct cut & paste in #10.

[Martin68]

30. I haven't received a texts recently from the SSA.

[Evolve Dammit]

31. No

[twodogsbarking]

32. Advice from others, and me. Go to the website. It has all of your earnings, yada. In 1964 I made $ 87. I was 12.

Learn what you can aboutSS to make the right decisions. Don't count on one source, study many. I had taken continuing ed courses to keep my license. I focused on SS. Helped a lot. Happy Nude Year everyone.

[Picaro]

33. SSA does send texts

If you have agreed to go digital/electronic SSA does send texts. I get them.
My wife, who didn’t agree to go electronic, doesn’t get the texts. She continues to get the letters.

The one that is going out now is telling you about your COLA for the year.

I got the text (which just tells you to login to the SSA.gov site) and logged in and was able to see my increase.

Not a scam.

Not saying that there aren’t any scams to watch out for, but this isn’t one of them.

If you get anything that asks for money, credit or bank information etc.—those are scams

[mwb970]

34. I could tell from the headline that it was a scam.

[yardwork]

35. Here's the best approach to calls and texts.

Don't click on links in texts and don't give phone callers any info. Instead log into your account and check.