Hot off the heels of the 2026 Social Security Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) announcement comes a new but familiar scam.
Fraudsters are busy this season, trying to trick retirees into giving up personal information by claiming you need to “verify” or “claim” your COLA.
You never need to sign up, confirm anything, or provide details to receive it.
The Social Security Administration will never call, text, or email you asking for personal information. This includes your Social Security number, bank account, or income information. You should treat any message that requests this as a scam.
If something doesn’t seem right, don’t engage. End the call or delete the message immediately. To be certain, reach out to the SSA yourself at 1-800-772-1213 or visit their website.
A little caution goes a long way — protect your information and share this reminder with friends who might be targeted by these “claim your COLA” scams.
