10/17/2025
The Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for the Social Security Administration (SSA) has released an alert about a new scam affecting seniors relying on retirement benefits each month.
“Warning: The SSA OIG alerts about a government imposter scam using fake Supreme Court letters! Don't share personal info or money,” the Social Security OIG wrote on X on Wednesday.
Why It Matters
More than 70 million people rely on Social Security benefits each month. With millions of those at retirement age, scams are common with many fraudsters creating compelling tactics to steal one's identity or money.
Identity theft or stolen funds can occur if someone engages with the scammers, so ignoring letters, texts and calls and reporting it to authorities is essential.
What To Know
The new scam presents itself as an official-looking letter identified as a “certificate” on fake U.S. Supreme Court letterhead using forged signatures of U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Associate Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor.
The letter puts pressure on Americans to cooperate with the SSA official, asking them to send money and share personal information.
It might be convincing to seniors and other recipients as it is personally addressed to them and claims they are a primary suspect in connection with legal proceedings and criminal charges. The letter also alleges that according to findings from SSA and the incorrectly named “Drug Enforcement Agency,” the recipient may have been subjected to identity theft, adding that their Social Security number (SSN) has been compromised.
Some recipients may fall victim to the scam due to the letter’s statement that the Court requested financial institutions to freeze all the recipient’s assets and requires full cooperation with the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
Recipients are also told they cannot maintain a balance exceeding $10,000 in any banking institution or hold $80,000 - $100,000 in any investments or financial institution.
"Falling for this scam, which involves letters, texts, and/or emails pretending to be from the Supreme Court, can lead to identity theft, financial loss, and serious stress. Anyone targeted should avoid clicking links or replying and be sure to verify the claim through official government websites, and report it to the Federal Trade Commission or the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General,” Caroline Raker, a registered Social Security analyst and owner of Clarity Financial, told Newsweek. “If you’ve already provided information or money, act quickly to freeze accounts, monitor credit reports, and file a formal fraud report."
Information from Newsweek 10-9-25
