In recent days, millions of Social Security beneficiaries have been receiving fraudulent emails. These messages claim to confirm the arrival of the "July 9 check," which has alarmed many. However, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has warned that these emails do not come from its official department and are part of a new fraud attempt.
SSA doesn't use emails or direct messages to notify you about the dates or amounts of your monthly payments. Any information about your payment will only be available in your personal my Social Security account or in the official calendars that have been published. It is important for you to know how to identify these fraud attempts to protect your personal information.
Fraudulent emails imitate official communication
If you have received an email that mentions dates like "July 9" for the arrival of your payment, be suspicious. These emails often imitate SSA's official format, with logos and serious language, but they are not legitimate. SSA will never ask you to verify your bank account or your Social Security number through emails.
It is essential to know that Social Security payments follow a pre-established schedule. If you were born between the 1st and the 10th of any month, your payment is made on the second Wednesday of each month; this month, the corresponding payment will be on July 9. You do not need to click on links or provide any additional information to confirm these payments.
How to protect yourself from SSA-related frauds
The best way to protect yourself is to always verify any communication directly on SSA's official portal. If the email you receive doesn't come from an email address with the ".gov" domain, it is likely an attempt at identity theft. In addition, any message that asks you for urgency or confirmation of your personal information should be treated with caution.
If you have accidentally provided your personal data through these fraudulent emails, act quickly. Contact your bank and change your passwords in your my Social Security account; in addition, it is advisable to report these incidents to SSA through its official portal. Stay alert and remember that the safest way to check your payments is always through ssa.gov/myaccount.
How to identify fraud attempts and protect your account
Always check the sender of the email; if it doesn't end in ".gov," it is not official. In addition, fraudulent emails usually have grammatical errors or suspicious links. If you ever have doubts, the best option is to go directly to SSA's official portal to check your information securely.