[Boomer]

I access Social Security information online and received an email this morning with the subject title, "Transition Your Social Security Account Today."

Does anyone know what this is all about? It looks legit, but scammers are getting better every day at looking legit.

I have not followed through on it yet because I have heard nothing about expecting whatever this "transition" is.
Is this for real? If so, does anybody know why?

Boomer

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Boomer

I access Social Security information online and received an email this morning with the subject title, "Transition Your Social Security Account Today."

Does anyone know what this is all about? It looks legit, but scammers are getting better every day at looking legit.

I have not followed through on it yet because I have heard nothing about expecting whatever this "transition" is.
Is this for real? If so, does anybody know why?

Boomer

1. Don't click on anything in that e-mail. Either delete it, or report-as-spam and delete.
2. The SSA changed its accounts system a couple years ago? Longer possibly. You had to "transition" to a new mySSA thingie using a login(dot)gov login, or some kind of thing. I did it back when it happened so I can't remember what the exact change was.

Anyone who had created an online account when they were younger, and are now old enough to care about collecting SS checks, will have already changed, or will need to change, that account stuff.

In addition, SSA only sends out e-mails on very rare occasions, for very specific things. Their primary method of communication is US mail. So getting an e-mail from them should always be a red flag. Go to your own online account, by NOT clicking on anything in that e-mail but instead going to either login.gov or my Social Security | SSA and check for any new notifications or action alerts there.

[retiredguy123]

I agree with not clicking on or responding to the email. Go to ssa.gov, and either sign in to your online account, or, if you don't have an online account, create one.

[Bill14564]

As with many questionable emails, the best approach is to NOT click anything in the email but to go to your account the way you've always gone to your account and see what it says there.

For example:
- Don't click the PayPal link in the email, go directly to PayPal (I learned that, as I suspected, I had not paid for GeekSquad service)
- Don't click on the link to sign into your bank account, go to your normal bank account login and see if there is a notification waiting for you (heck, I don't even have a Wells Fargo account to log into)

SSA may truly want you to transition your login from their old authentication system to either login.gov or id.me but wait to see a notification on your ssa.gov login screen, don't trust the link in an email.

[Stu from NYC]

Not even sure if SS even has my email and we have been collecting for over 10 years.

Sounds suspicious

[Caymus]

I log in to both my IRS and Social Security sites with ID.me.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Boomer

I access Social Security information online and received an email this morning with the subject title, "Transition Your Social Security Account Today."

Does anyone know what this is all about? It looks legit, but scammers are getting better every day at looking legit.

I have not followed through on it yet because I have heard nothing about expecting whatever this "transition" is.
Is this for real? If so, does anybody know why?

Boomer

A simple Internet search, on "Transition Your Social Security Account Today, will provide you with several explanations as to the fact this is a scam.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Totally agree with previous posts. Do NOT ever click on links in an email unless from a trusted, and verified, source.

ALWAYS go to the source website by typing in the web address in the URL or web field of your browser yourself.

If you're not sure of the authentic web address, usually google will provide it by being the first "hit" when you search for it.

[Boomer]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

A simple Internet search, on "Transition Your Social Security Account Today, will provide you with several explanations as to the fact this is a scam.

I just did that and 3 different hits said it is legit. One was the damned omnipresent AI that popped up its explanation immediately. I always go beyond AI though. The other two were a television station somewhere, and then a. relatively professionally done YouTube video that explained it.

Supposedly this transition is needed for those who created online accounts before September of 2021. I don't know for sure when I did that, but do remember the reason was due to issues with mail delivery when mail was being stolen from drop off mailboxes in my home city. (Postal carriers had been robbed of keys and all the keys fit all the mailboxes.)

If this is legit, it could have been better announced. With SS cuts in staff it is now more impossible than ever to get through by phone call.

I wish I could just switch back to mail-only now and take my chances. I will log on the old way and see if that is an option. The only time I use it is for my form at tax time.

Btw, the YouTube video says this has caused a whole lot of confusion. Of course it has, especially for those of us on SS who are highly vigilant about scams -- or should be.

It's a fine mess they've got us in now,, huh.

Boomer

[Taltarzac725]

I recently signed up with Medicare and had to the Leesburg office. We had a very professional person deal with us. Had gone with a family member. All the stuff I get from them is by mail. We have had done scams come in the mail too but they usually have no return address on them.

[retiredguy123]

Don't assume that Social Security does not use email to correspond with customers. They definitely do. I have many emails from them in my stored email folder. I even created a separate email folder named "Social Security".

[manaboutown]

A few days ago I tried to log onto the SS site but was unable to do so as it required I use the gov dot com site. So I did. When on the gov site I attempted to reach the SS site a note showed up that I had used an invalid SS#. Huh? The number I used was my correct number. I tried a couple more times, same result, so I logged off. Scared me a little as I did not want to interrupt the SS deposits into my bank account. I tried again today and got onto the SS site from the gov site just fine. My experience was disconcerting...

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Boomer

I just did that and 3 different hits said it is legit. One was the damned omnipresent AI that popped up its explanation immediately. I always go beyond AI though. The other two were a television station somewhere, and then a. relatively professionally done YouTube video that explained it.

Supposedly this transition is needed for those who created online accounts before September of 2021. I don't know for sure when I did that, but do remember the reason was due to issues with mail delivery when mail was being stolen from drop off mailboxes in my home city. (Postal carriers had been robbed of keys and all the keys fit all the mailboxes.)

If this is legit, it could have been better announced. With SS cuts in staff it is now more impossible than ever to get through by phone call.

I wish I could just switch back to mail-only now and take my chances. I will log on the old way and see if that is an option. The only time I use it is for my form at tax time.

Btw, the YouTube video says this has caused a whole lot of confusion. Of course it has, especially for those of us on SS who are highly vigilant about scams -- or should be.

It's a fine mess they've got us in now,, huh.

Boomer

Rather obvious from the posts on this thread.

[Michael G.]

Here's a idea.
Take a photo of this e-mail on your phone, take it to the s/s office.
Naf said.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

Not even sure if SS even has my email and we have been collecting for over 10 years.
Sounds suspicious

Yes, my mom never has had an email account, and collected until she passed.
So once you have started collecting, all is good UNTIL you need to change the bank deposit location, or if a paper check, the mailing address. Then you will need to create a new account and login ID, with an email account.

I had an old account set up along time ago, and just today, created the new account as I will start collecting next January or so. . same email address, different password. . .

good luck to us!