Every October, Social Security announces the yearly cost of living raise. Folks call it the COLA. And every October, right on schedule, the phone starts ringing with people pretending to be Social Security.
They say you need to "sign up" for the raise. Or "confirm" your information so it does not get delayed. Or pay a small fee so it arrives faster. Every one of those calls is a lie.
Here is what is really happening on October 14, how to spot the fake calls, and the one place to check the real number.
📅 What Happens on October 14
The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the September price numbers on October 14 at 8:30 in the morning. Social Security uses those numbers to figure out next year's raise and announces it the same day. The new amount shows up in your January payment.
We are not going to guess at the number here. Nobody knows it until October 14, and any website or caller who "already knows" your new amount is guessing too, or worse.
📞 Why the Scam Calls Come First
Scammers love a date on the calendar. They know you are expecting news about your check, so a call about your check does not sound strange.
A few years ago, a false rumor about a big Social Security bump went around online. According to AARP, the Social Security help line got more than 463,000 calls in a single day because of it. That is how quickly a rumor about your check can spread, and scammers ride right along with it.
🚩 How to Spot a Fake Social Security Call
Social Security's own scam warning page describes these tricks. If you hear any one of them, hang up.
They say there is a problem with your number or your account, or that you have extra money waiting. Either one is bait.
They ask you to confirm your Social Security number, bank account, or date of birth. Social Security will never ask for sensitive or personal information by text, email, or social media.
They say your raise will be delayed or stopped unless you act today. Real Social Security does not rush you.
They ask for a gift card, a wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or cash sent in the mail. Social Security never asks for payment like that.
✅ What to Do Instead
It happens on its own. Anyone who says otherwise is trying to scam you.
If someone calls about your raise, hang up. Do not press any buttons.
After October 14, look it up at ssa.gov/cola, or read your my Social Security account or the letter Social Security mails you.
Report fake Social Security calls to the Inspector General at oig.ssa.gov.
If this sounds familiar, it should. Scammers pull the same move every tax season, pretending to be the IRS. We walked through that one in how to spot and prevent IRS scams, and the rules are nearly the same: hang up, and call the agency yourself using a number you already trust.
📋 Who to Call
For more ways to keep the phone from becoming a doorway for crooks, see our Tyler neighbor’s guide to blocking scams.
God Bless.
Robert
Owner, TechEase
"No jargon, no judgment, just patient help that makes sense."
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