Scammers are becoming more creative and dangerous, and their latest trick involves using fake letters that appear to come from the U.S. Supreme Court, known as SCOTUS. These letters are designed to look official, complete with government seals, legal-sounding language, and the recipient’s personal details to make it all seem real. After sending the letter, the scammers usually follow up with a text message or a phone call, pretending to be from the Social Security Administration (SSA) or another federal agency.
John Haraburda, a specialist in robocall data from Transaction Network Services, explained to CBS News how these scammers operate. He said they’ve learned to build trust step by step. First, they send a well-designed letter through the mail, which looks exactly like something a government agency might send. Then, they send a text message to the victim saying, “This is the Social Security Administration. We’ll be calling you from this number shortly.” Moments later, the phone rings, and the caller ID shows the same number mentioned in the text. By doing this, the scammers make the call look genuine, and most people drop their guard, thinking it’s truly the government contacting them.
The fake letter itself is alarming. It’s written in a way that causes panic, claiming that the recipient is under investigation for criminal activity and might face charges in court. It goes on to say that their Social Security number has been compromised and that they are being linked to crimes like money laundering or identity theft. The letter even claims that the U.S. Supreme Court has ordered banks and financial institutions to freeze their accounts and assets immediately. Victims are told that the only way to protect their money is to cooperate with the U.S. Treasury Department — which, of course, is all part of the scam.
At the end of the letter, the scammers include a threatening paragraph warning that if the recipient doesn’t act quickly or fails to “safeguard their assets,” they will be held personally responsible for any financial losses after their Social Security number is suspended. The letter’s tone is meant to create fear and confusion, making people feel they have no choice but to follow instructions.
In some cases, the scammers send another message with a link that looks like an official Social Security or government website. The fake site often asks people to log in with their Social Security number, banking information, or even credit card details. Once the person enters that information, it goes straight into the hands of the criminals, who then use it to steal money or commit identity theft.
Michelle L. Anderson, the acting inspector general for the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General, has warned the public that this letter and everything about it is completely fake. She said scammers are still using fear and confusion to manipulate people, and the use of official-looking documents and fake government names is making these scams harder to detect. According to her, criminals are getting smarter, using technology and human psychology to trick even cautious individuals.
Although the SSA hasn’t revealed how many people have been targeted, officials say this scam is an evolved form of what’s known as “government impersonation fraud.” In the past, criminals would pretend to be from the IRS, threatening people with arrest for unpaid taxes unless they made immediate payments. Now, they’re using the Supreme Court and Social Security names to add an extra layer of credibility.
Reports from the Federal Trade Commission show that government-related scams are rising fast, costing Americans hundreds of millions of dollars every year. Many of the victims are elderly people, retirees, or anyone who depends on government benefits. The scammers know that these groups are more likely to respond quickly out of fear of losing their money or benefits.
Anderson explained that the criminals behind these scams intentionally accuse innocent people of crimes just to make them panic. They use real government names, logos, and phone numbers to make the scam seem believable. Some even use software that makes their phone calls appear as though they’re coming from a real government office. The more official it looks, the more likely people are to fall for it.
Officials are urging everyone to stay alert and take steps to protect themselves. The SSA’s Office of the Inspector General recommends a few simple but important precautions. Never trust a message, email, or call that claims to be from a government agency demanding immediate action. Real government agencies will not call or text you to ask for money or personal information. If you ever get such a message, take a deep breath, stop, and talk to someone you trust before responding. Go directly to the official government website instead of clicking on links from texts or emails.
People are also encouraged to report these scams to ssa.gov/scam or to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Keeping up to date with new scam tactics can also help. The SSA’s Office of the Inspector General shares regular updates and warnings on its social media pages, including Facebook and LinkedIn, to educate the public.
If you ever receive a suspicious letter like this, the best thing to do is to tear it up immediately. Don’t call the number listed, don’t click any links, and don’t reply to the sender. Report it and warn your friends and family — especially elderly loved ones who may be more vulnerable to such schemes.
Sadly, scam victims often lose huge amounts of money before realizing what’s happened. In one recent case, an online crypto streamer lost $31,000 that he had raised for cancer treatment after he unknowingly downloaded a fake app. In another heartbreaking case, an 80-year-old retired nun lost $400,000 in her life savings to scammers who tricked her into transferring money through what they called “money mule” transactions.
Authorities are reminding everyone that government agencies such as the Supreme Court, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Treasury Department never communicate with citizens through random texts, calls, or emails asking for sensitive details. If you ever receive such messages, it’s a scam, no matter how official it looks. Hang up, delete the message, and report it.
Scams like this are spreading rapidly across the country, using fear as a weapon. The best defense is awareness. By staying informed and alert, you can protect yourself and your loved ones from losing hard-earned money or becoming victims of identity theft.
