Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter (Post 2430952)

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.

Originally Posted by Boomer (Post 2430968)

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

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2431007)

I log in to my ssa account by going to ssa.gov, enter my email address, and then my login.gov password. If you don't have a login.gov password, you can create on by going to:

secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email

Note that the login.gov password is a universal Government password that can be used for other Government websites, not just ssa. Apparently, some Government agencies are moving toward a more universal password system.

Originally Posted by Boomer (Post 2431011)

So I have heard, retiredguy123. That universal Government password, suddenly needed, certainly will make things easier — but for whom or what?

When my imagination takes a leap, in some situations, song lyrics pop into my head.

For this universal password situation, for some reason, I am hearing Sting’s 1983 lyrics…….

“Every breath you take,
Every move you make,
Every bond you break,
Every step you take,
I’ll be watchin’ you.”

(shudder)

Boomer

Originally Posted by Boomer (Post 2431000)

First of all, earnest though they may be, most of this thread’s posts were the standard advice to never click on an unknown email link. Of course, I would never click on anything that makes me wary. I know 3 people who were scammed, and I never would have guessed it could have happened to any of them.

Bogie, my response to your “look it up” post (both quoted above) shows I found things that look legit saying the email is legit, so which is correct? In your post, you wrote there are “several explanations as to the FACT that this is a SCAM.” ……

But. But. But. I found several explanations that said it is not a scam.

I asked TOTV because I was hoping to find info here from those who had received this email, too. (And, btw, retiredguy123 is right in his post saying SS does send emails. Maybe it is just to those with online accounts. But emails SS does certainly send.)

So? Which answer is right, according to the almighty internet, in this fact-free society where we all now live?

Oh well, I don’t have time to click around and d _ _ _ around with this right now.

Boomer

Originally Posted by Boomer (Post 2431000)

First of all, earnest though they may be, most of this thread’s posts were the standard advice to never click on an unknown email link. Of course, I would never click on anything that makes me wary. I know 3 people who were scammed, and I never would have guessed it could have happened to any of them.

...

I asked TOTV because I was hoping to find info here from those who had received this email, too. (And, btw, retiredguy123 is right in his post saying SS does send emails. Maybe it is just to those with online accounts. But emails SS does certainly send.)

...

Originally Posted by Boomer (Post 2431011)

So I have heard, retiredguy123. That universal Government password, suddenly needed, certainly will make things easier — but for whom or what?

When my imagination takes a leap, in some situations, song lyrics pop into my head.

For this universal password situation, for some reason, I am hearing Sting’s 1983 lyrics…….

“Every breath you take,
Every move you make,
Every bond you break,
Every step you take,
I’ll be watchin’ you.”

(shudder)

Boomer

Originally Posted by manaboutown (Post 2431008)

Upon checking my email files I found several old emails from SSA, including, on May 9, the "Transition...Today" one cited by the OP. It was legit.

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2431007)

I log in to my ssa account by going to ssa.gov, enter my email address, and then my login.gov password. If you don't have a login.gov password, you can create on by going to:

secure.login.gov/sign_up/enter_email

Note that the login.gov password is a universal Government password that can be used for other Government websites, not just ssa. Apparently, some Government agencies are moving toward a more universal password system.

Originally Posted by Boomer (Post 2431016)

OP Boomer here, manaboutown. While mannerly me must thank you for the validation, I must confess that I was hoping it was a scam. I was not about to do anything that could possibly screw up my SS but looks like choice is once again off the table.

I do not watch much so-called news lately because I value my sanity. But how could this one happen without widespread announcement through various media to tell us it was coming.

Boomer

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2431017)

Though for any that want to believe Big Brother is watching, it is certainly conceivable that login.gov could track which client sites requested authorization for you. How useful it would be for someone to know which Govt websites you looked at is anyone's guess.

Originally Posted by Aces4 (Post 2431015)

Oh, for heavens sake. Some people have so much drama in their lives that it must be difficult for those people to manage anything.

Back to the SS question, call the office or go in person if you're not comfortable with the answers provided here. That's the nice part about being retired, there is time for the details in life. Another point to consider is that I have always had a long wait to speak with a SS representative when calling in to the office. I simply put the phone on speaker and continued reading, working on a current project or whatever until they respond. Hope you are able to harness the solution to your question.

Originally Posted by Boomer (Post 2431016)

OP Boomer here, manaboutown. While mannerly me must thank you for the validation, I must confess that I was hoping it was a scam. I was not about to do anything that could possibly screw up my SS but looks like choice is once again off the table.

I do not watch much so-called news lately because I value my sanity. But how could this one happen without widespread announcement through various media to tell us it was coming.

Boomer

Originally Posted by manaboutown (Post 2431027)

Well, I have to limit my news watching time as well as so much of the news is so good if I spent more time watching it I would be stuck in an overjoyed state of constant elation and forget to eat, sleep and tend to my business which is doing great!