Social Security Administration sending emails to download 'SSA support client' - is this a legitimate contact or scam?

This is 100% a scam! The Social Security Administration will NEVER ask you to download any software or 'client' via email. The SSA primarily communicates through physical mail sent to your address on file. For anything requiring immediate action, they might call you, but even then they would never ask you to download anything. Please report these emails immediately. You can forward them to the SSA's fraud department at oig.ssa.gov/report or forward the email to phishing-report@us-cert.gov. Never click any links or download any attachments from these emails.

OMG i got these emails too!!!! I almost clicked on it yesterday because I'm waiting for my disability decision and thought maybe it was related. THANK GOD I didn't!! Did yours also say something about needing to verify your identity because of "suspicious benefit activity" on your account?? Mine did and it scared me!

As someone who's worked with the SSA for years, I can confirm this is definitely a phishing scam targeting Social Security beneficiaries. The SSA follows very strict communication protocols: 1. Most official communications come through USPS mail 2. If they do email, it's only for general newsletters or reminders IF you've opted in 3. They will NEVER ask you to download software 4. They don't send emails about suspending benefits (this would come via certified mail) These scams are unfortunately becoming more sophisticated. They can spoof email addresses, use official logos, and even reference real SSA forms to appear legitimate. Always verify any communication directly through the official SSA channels (call the number on your Social Security statement or go to ssa.gov directly, never through links in emails).

If you're ever unsure about communication claiming to be from the SSA, the safest approach is to contact them directly through verified channels. The problem is their phone lines are notoriously difficult to get through on. I recently discovered a service called Claimyr that can help you get through to a live Social Security agent much faster. It saved me hours of hold time when I needed to verify if a letter I received was legitimate. You can check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Otherwise, you can always visit your local SSA office in person to verify any communication you've received. Just never provide personal information or download anything in response to an unsolicited email.

I HATE THESE SCAMMERS!!!! My mother has dementia and she got these emails too and was CRYING thinking her benefits would stop!!!! I had to spend HOURS calming her down and explaining it was fake!!!! WHY doesn't the government DO SOMETHING about these criminals???!! The real SSA should send out warnings about these scams - most elderly people don't know about this stuff!! DISGUSTING how they prey on vulnerable seniors who depend on SS to SURVIVE!!!

i think i got same email but deleted it. wish i saved it now so i could report it. do they ask for your ss number in the download? my friend says these downloads usually have viruses that steal your passwords and banking info. maybe check your computer if you clicked anything

My neighbor fell for something similar last month. The scammers are getting really sophisticated with these SSA emails. They even had a fake website that looked just like the real mySocialSecurity login page. I think they got her bank info before she realized what was happening. She had to cancel all her cards and it was a huge hassle.

Thank you all for the quick responses! I've reported the emails to the fraud department as suggested. I'm a bit embarrassed I almost fell for it, but they really do make these look legitimate. I'll stick to only trusting physical mail from the SSA from now on, and if I need to contact them, I'll use the official website or phone number from my statement.

Great job on reporting this and staying vigilant! Just wanted to add that if anyone wants to check the legitimacy of their actual Social Security account, you can create a secure my Social Security account at ssa.gov (type the URL directly, don't click links). This is the ONLY official way to access your SSA information online. The real portal will never ask you to download additional software - everything is done through your web browser. Also, if you're expecting important correspondence from SSA (like disability decisions or benefit changes), they will send it via postal mail to your address on file. You can always call 1-800-772-1213 to verify if they've sent you anything recently, though as others mentioned, expect long wait times.

These SSA email scams are becoming a real epidemic! I work at a senior center and we've been getting multiple calls every week from worried residents who received similar emails. What's particularly disturbing is how these scammers are targeting the most vulnerable population - people who depend on Social Security benefits to survive. A few red flags everyone should watch for: - Any email claiming to be from SSA asking you to download software - Urgent language about benefits being "suspended" or "terminated" - Requests for personal information via email - Links that don't go to the official ssa.gov domain We've started doing monthly workshops at our center to educate seniors about these scams. The real SSA has confirmed they do NOT conduct business via email for sensitive matters. When in doubt, hang up the phone, delete the email, and contact SSA directly using official channels. Stay safe out there everyone! And thank you @Noah Ali for bringing this to the community's attention - these discussions help protect all of us.