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Identity Theft &
Benefits Fraud Navigator

Step-by-step guidance if someone stole your SSN or benefits — protect yourself and recover — at no cost, ever.

Built by a former SSA District Manager
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Let's start here

What's happening with your identity or benefits?

Pick the one that best describes your situation. We'll take you step-by-step from there.

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Urgent Action Needed

Someone is using your SSN or benefits — here's what to do RIGHT NOW

⏰ Act immediately: The faster you respond, the less damage identity thieves can do. Follow these steps in order — they take about 30 minutes total.

Follow these steps in order:

1
Freeze your credit at ALL three bureaus — this is FREE and prevents thieves from opening new accounts in your name.
• Equifax: 1-800-525-6285 or equifax.com/personal/credit-report-services
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742 or experian.com/freeze
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289 or transunion.com/credit-freeze
2
Report to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov — this creates your official Identity Theft Report and generates a personalized recovery plan. You'll need this report for other agencies.
3
Report to SSA: Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and tell them someone is using your Social Security number. Also report to the SSA Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or oig.ssa.gov.
4
Check your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. Look for: changes to your address, direct deposit, or phone number you didn't make. If you don't have an account, create one NOW.
5
File a police report with your local police department. Bring your FTC Identity Theft Report. You may need the police report for creditors and agencies.
6
Contact the IRS at 1-800-908-4490 if you suspect tax-related identity theft. Request an Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) to prevent fraudulent tax filings.
Insider Tip from Dr. Ed
Here's what most people miss: Check your Social Security Statement at ssa.gov. Look at the earnings record — if there are earnings you don't recognize, someone may be working under your SSN. This is more common than you think, and it can mess up your future benefits.
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Scam Identification

Is it a scam? Here's how to tell.

Scammers impersonating SSA, Medicare, and the IRS are extremely common. Here are the red flags:

🚫 SSA will NEVER: Call you threatening arrest or legal action. Demand immediate payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. Threaten to suspend your Social Security number. Send official communications through social media.
🚫 Medicare will NEVER: Call you asking for your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) number. Threaten to cancel your coverage if you don't provide personal information. Offer "free" services in exchange for your Medicare number.
🚫 The IRS will NEVER: Call demanding immediate payment. Threaten arrest for unpaid taxes over the phone. Accept only gift cards or cryptocurrency as payment.

Common scam scenarios:

This is ALWAYS a scam. SSA cannot and does not "suspend" Social Security numbers. Scammers use this to create panic so you'll give them personal information or money. Hang up immediately.
The IRS always contacts you by mail first — never by phone for a first contact. They will never threaten arrest over the phone or demand payment by gift card. If you're unsure, hang up and call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040.
Medicare will never call you to "verify" your information. If someone calls asking for your Medicare number, it's a scam. They want your number to bill Medicare fraudulently. Hang up and report it to 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
SSA communicates benefit changes by mail. If you get an email or text about your benefits, do NOT click any links. Go directly to ssa.gov by typing it in your browser and check your my Social Security account.
Insider Tip from Dr. Ed
If you get a suspicious call, write down the phone number and what they said. Then report it to the SSA OIG at 1-800-269-0271. Even if you didn't fall for it, your report helps them catch these criminals and protect others.
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Understanding Benefits Fraud

Types of Identity Theft That Affect Your Benefits

Identity theft can hit your benefits in several ways. Understanding the types helps you know what to watch for.

Someone uses your SSN to work (creating false earnings on your record), open credit accounts, file tax returns, or claim government benefits. This is the most common form and can affect your Social Security benefits, tax refunds, and credit.
Someone redirects your Social Security payments by changing your direct deposit information, address, or creating a my Social Security account in your name. They may also file for benefits using your SSN.
Someone uses your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) to bill Medicare for services, equipment, or prescriptions you never received. This can affect your coverage and create false medical records in your name. Report to 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).
Someone files a tax return using your SSN to steal your refund. You find out when your legitimate return is rejected. The IRS has an Identity Protection PIN program to prevent this. Call 1-800-908-4490 or visit irs.gov/identity-theft-fraud-scams.
Insider Tip from Dr. Ed
The most overlooked type of identity theft for seniors is medical identity theft. If someone uses your Medicare number, false diagnoses and procedures end up in YOUR medical record. This can affect your future medical care and insurance. Review your Medicare Summary Notices carefully — they're not junk mail.
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Social Security Fraud

Someone Is Using Your Social Security Benefits

If someone has redirected your payments or is claiming benefits on your SSN, take these steps immediately:

1
Log into my Social Security at ssa.gov — check your direct deposit information, address, and phone number. If anything was changed without your knowledge, someone has accessed your account.
2
Call SSA immediately at 1-800-772-1213 — tell them your benefits have been compromised. They can freeze changes to your account and restore your correct payment information.
3
Report to SSA Office of Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or oig.ssa.gov. The OIG investigates benefits fraud — this is different from calling SSA's main number.
4
Check your earnings record on your Social Security Statement. If there are earnings from employers you never worked for, someone is working under your SSN. Report this to SSA.
5
Add extra security to your my Social Security account — enable two-factor authentication, use a strong unique password, and add security questions.
Insider Tip from Dr. Ed
Create your my Social Security account NOW if you haven't already. Here's why: if a thief creates one first using your SSN, they control your account. Once you create yours, no one else can create a duplicate. Think of it as locking the door before someone else gets the key.
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Medicare Fraud

Someone Is Using Your Medicare Benefits

Medicare fraud costs taxpayers billions and can affect your medical records and coverage. Here's what to do:

1
Review your Medicare Summary Notice (MSN) — this arrives every 3 months and lists all services billed to Medicare in your name. Look for services, equipment, or prescriptions you didn't receive.
2
Report suspected fraud to 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477) — this is the HHS Office of Inspector General. You can also report online at oig.hhs.gov.
3
Call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — report the suspicious charges and ask them to investigate. They can also help you understand your MSN.
4
Guard your Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) — treat it like a credit card number. Never give it to someone who calls you. Only share it with your doctors and trusted healthcare providers.
Did you know? Medicare Part B premium in 2026 is $202.90/month. If someone is using your Medicare fraudulently, it can affect your coverage, create false medical records, and even impact your future care decisions.
Insider Tip from Dr. Ed
Your Medicare Summary Notice is NOT junk mail. I know it looks like one of those boring government documents, but it's actually your best defense against Medicare fraud. Read it. If you see a charge for a service you didn't get, that's a red flag. Report it immediately.
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Tax Identity Theft

Someone Filed Taxes Using Your SSN

Tax identity theft happens when someone files a tax return using your Social Security number to steal your refund. Here's what to do:

⚠️ How you'll know: Your legitimate tax return gets rejected because one was already filed with your SSN. Or you receive an IRS notice about income you didn't earn.
1
File IRS Form 14039 (Identity Theft Affidavit) — this alerts the IRS that your identity was stolen. You can file it online at irs.gov or mail it in.
2
Call the IRS Identity Protection Specialized Unit at 1-800-908-4490. They'll guide you through the process and flag your account.
3
Get an IRS Identity Protection PIN (IP PIN) — this is a 6-digit number that prevents anyone from filing a tax return with your SSN without the PIN. Apply at irs.gov/get-an-identity-protection-pin.
4
File your legitimate return by mail if it was rejected electronically. Attach Form 14039 and any supporting documentation.
Insider Tip from Dr. Ed
Get an IP PIN even if you haven't been a victim yet. It's free, it takes 5 minutes, and it's the single best protection against tax identity theft. Once you have it, no one can file a return with your SSN without that PIN. Think of it as a deadbolt for your taxes.
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Prevention

Protect Yourself Before Identity Theft Happens

These steps take less than an hour and dramatically reduce your risk:

Essential protection steps:

1
Create your my Social Security account at ssa.gov — if you don't have one, create it NOW. Enable two-factor authentication. This prevents thieves from creating an account in your name.
2
Freeze your credit at all 3 bureaus — it's FREE and prevents anyone from opening new credit accounts in your name. You can temporarily "thaw" it when you need to apply for credit.
3
Get an IRS IP PIN at irs.gov/get-an-identity-protection-pin — prevents fraudulent tax filings using your SSN.
4
Review your Social Security Statement annually — check your earnings record for any employers or income you don't recognize.
5
Read your Medicare Summary Notices — look for services or equipment you didn't receive. Report anything suspicious.
6
Never give personal info to incoming callers — if someone calls claiming to be from SSA, Medicare, or the IRS, hang up and call the agency directly using the number on their official website.
✓ Quick security checklist: my Social Security account created ✓ Two-factor authentication enabled ✓ Credit frozen at all 3 bureaus ✓ IRS IP PIN obtained ✓ Medicare Summary Notices reviewed ✓
Insider Tip from Dr. Ed
The single most important thing you can do is create your my Social Security account and freeze your credit. These two steps alone prevent the vast majority of identity theft that affects benefits. Do them today — it takes 20 minutes total.
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What to Expect

Identity Theft Recovery — What Happens Next

  • 1

    Day 1: Immediate actions

    Freeze credit, report to FTC at IdentityTheft.gov, call SSA and/or IRS. File a police report.

  • 2

    Week 1: Follow up

    Check all your accounts (bank, Social Security, Medicare). Change passwords. Set up fraud alerts. Request credit reports from all 3 bureaus (free at annualcreditreport.com).

  • 3

    Weeks 2-4: Agency responses

    SSA, IRS, and credit bureaus begin investigating. You may receive confirmation letters. Keep copies of everything you send and receive.

  • 4

    Months 1-3: Resolution process

    Most cases are resolved within 90 days. IRS tax identity theft cases can take 6-12 months. SSA benefits corrections may take 30-90 days.

  • 5

    Ongoing: Monitor and protect

    Continue monitoring your accounts, credit reports, and Medicare notices. Keep your credit frozen. Review your Social Security Statement annually.

Insider Tip from Dr. Ed
Keep a folder with everything. Every letter, every report number, every phone call date and name. If you need to escalate your case — and sometimes you do — having a complete paper trail makes all the difference. I've seen cases resolved in days when the person had good documentation.
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Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

SSA will only assign a new SSN in extreme cases where you can prove ongoing harm despite taking all protective steps. It's very rare. In most cases, freezing your credit and monitoring your accounts is more effective than getting a new number.
It can. If someone works under your SSN, false earnings can appear on your record, potentially affecting your benefit calculation. If someone redirects your payments, you may temporarily lose access to your benefits. Report immediately to SSA at 1-800-772-1213.
Credit freeze: Completely blocks new credit accounts from being opened. You must "thaw" it to apply for credit. This is the stronger protection.
Fraud alert: Requires creditors to verify your identity before opening accounts. Less restrictive but also less protective. A freeze is almost always better.
Medicare fraud can create false medical records in your name, which could affect future medical decisions. It can also use up your benefits. Review your Medicare Summary Notices and report suspicious charges to 1-800-HHS-TIPS.
The most common sign is your e-filed return being rejected because a return was already filed with your SSN. You can also check your IRS account at irs.gov or call 1-800-908-4490. Get an IP PIN to prevent future tax identity theft.
Free credit monitoring (available from annualcreditreport.com and many banks) is sufficient for most people. Paid services add convenience but aren't necessary. The most important step is a credit freeze, which is free.
Don't be embarrassed — scammers are sophisticated and target millions of people. Take action immediately: freeze your credit, report to FTC at IdentityTheft.gov, and call the relevant agency (SSA, Medicare, IRS). The sooner you act, the less damage they can do.
IdentityTheft.gov provides a free personalized recovery plan. Your local Legal Aid office may help with identity theft cases. The AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline (1-877-908-3360) provides free support. Your state Attorney General's office also handles identity theft complaints.

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Identity Theft & Benefits Fraud Navigator — a free tool from 24help.org
Built by Dr. Ed Weir, former SSA District Manager
Educational resource only. Not legal advice. Always verify with official sources.