Last month, the Social Security Administration (SSA) revealed that it will be implementing Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA) for its **72.5 million beneficiaries and Supplemental Security Income recipients**. The 2.5% increase is scheduled to commence in January, and informational letters will be distributed next month. Nevertheless, SSA officials are cautioning that scammers are already attempting to take advantage of the situation.

“Exercise caution with any correspondence requesting personal information or asking for added steps for this increase, as it’s probably a scammer aiming to steal your identity or financial resources,” stated Hannibal “Mike” Ware, Acting Inspector General for the SSA. “Our office is dedicated to safeguarding the public and stopping these criminals from exploiting honest, hardworking individuals.”

The COLA adjustment will be automatically implemented, either through direct deposits or mailed checks, requiring no action from recipients.

Ware stressed that **you should never disclose personal information**—such as your Social Security number or banking details—to anyone who claims to be associated with the SSA. If you suspect any fraudulent activity, report it to the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General via their website: [https://oig.ssa.gov/report/](https://oig.ssa.gov/report/).

SSA officials are advising recipients to remain vigilant against **”fraudulent calls, texts, emails, websites, social media communications, or letters.”** Although the SSA primarily communicates through mail, they might occasionally contact individuals, especially if they’ve recently applied for a Social Security benefit, are receiving payments and need to update their information, or have requested a callback from the agency. Additional information can be found on the [SSA anti-scam site](https://www.ssa.gov/scam/).

The SSA has also created a video alerting the public about scammers impersonating SSA agents. These impostors may assert that armed marshals or sheriffs are en route to arrest the recipient for some made-up offense. **One SSA recipient reported being directed by scammers to buy Google Play cards to avoid arrest**. If you get a call from someone claiming to be from the SSA who makes threats, demands payment, or offers prizes, hang up right away, reach out to someone you trust, and look for more information online.

“**The SSA will never threaten you, ask for personal information or immediate payment, send pictures or documents via email or text, or use the name of a legitimate government official to earn your confidence**,” the SSA asserted in another anti-scam video. Furthermore, **Social Security does not accept payments via gift cards, pre-paid debit cards, internet currency, or cash sent through the mail**.

For further details on SSA-related scams, visit the [SSA scam page](https://www.ssa.gov/scam/), and explore additional [online resources](https://www.ssa.gov/onlineservices/).