An email from no-reply@ssa.gov can be legitimate. It is one of the addresses the Social Security Administration uses to send automated messages such as account notifications and security codes.1Social Security Administration. Security for your “my Social Security” Account That said, the sender line alone doesn’t prove anything. Scammers spoof government addresses, so the real test is what’s inside the message.
Other SSA Email Addresses You Might See
The SSA sends official automated email from a short list of addresses. Along with no-reply@ssa.gov, legitimate messages may come from:1Social Security Administration. Security for your “my Social Security” Account
- DoNotReply@ssa.gov
- subscription.service@subscriptions.ssa.gov
- Thank.You@ssa.gov
- echosign.com
Any of these can appear on a genuine SSA email. None of them, by itself, guarantees the message is genuine.
How to Confirm the Email Is Real
Check the links before you click. Every legitimate link from the Social Security Administration begins with https://www.ssa.gov/ or https://secure.ssa.gov/, and there is always a forward slash immediately after the .gov. Anything else in that spot, a dash, a period followed by more letters, or a different domain entirely, means the link is not going where it claims.1Social Security Administration. Security for your “my Social Security” Account
Hover over any link before clicking to see the real destination. If you want to be certain, don’t click at all. Open a new browser tab and go to ssa.gov directly, then sign in to your my Social Security account to see whether the same notice appears there.2Social Security Administration. Social Security FAQ – Section: Scams
Signs the Email Is a Scam
A message wearing an SSA sender address is not real if it does any of the following:2Social Security Administration. Social Security FAQ – Section: Scams
- Demands immediate payment of a fine or debt.
- Asks you to pay with gift cards, wire transfers, cash, pre-paid debit cards, or cryptocurrency.
- Threatens arrest, legal action, or suspension of your Social Security number or a professional license.
- Contains poor grammar, generic greetings, or logos that look slightly off from official federal symbols.
- Includes unexpected attachments.
The SSA does not demand immediate payment and does not accept those payment methods. Employees will not threaten you.2Social Security Administration. Social Security FAQ – Section: Scams
If You’re Not Sure, or If It’s a Scam
Don’t reply, don’t click links, and don’t download attachments. If you want to verify what the email claims, close it and contact the SSA through its official website or a verified phone number.2Social Security Administration. Social Security FAQ – Section: Scams
Report suspected Social Security scams to the SSA’s Office of the Inspector General through its online reporting tool3Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. SSA OIG – Report Fraud or by calling the OIG fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271.4Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General. SSA OIG – Contact Us