In the event that you suspect a social security fraud, you should immediately contact the fraud hotline. The Social Security’s Office of the Inspector General will take reports of social security fraud very seriously. When you report, make sure to include information such as name, contact number, address and social security number of the person you suspect of doing fraud. Moreover, you should also include the person’s place of birth, date, father’s name, mother’s birth name if known.

You should also provide a thorough description of the possible fraud incident and your name, telephone number and address. Social security is a benefit given to persons on a case-to-case basis. Those who are mentally or physically disable, elderly or school-aged children of a social security applicant are some of the person who could receive the benefits after being approved.

Committing social security fraud faces the consequences of prosecution, spend time in jail or lose benefits. A person who receives benefit for a child but is not the child’s biological or adoptive parent is considered having committed a fraud. To avoid fraud, you should report if anyone continues to receive benefits from a family member, spouse or friend even when the person is already dead. When applying for social security, you should list all assets you have. If you fail to do this when you apply, you could be considered as committing fraud.