| Social Security Fraud refers to the act of dishonestly | | | | report regarding Social Security Fraud. The Office of |
| claiming of benefits. Due to the increasing number of | | | | the Inspector General is the one who investigates |
| fraudulent claims, the US government enacted a law | | | | incidents of Social Security Fraud. If you have any |
| that will protect individuals from these illicit conducts. | | | | knowledge regarding these incidents, you can report it |
| What constitutes Fraud under the Social Security Act? | | | | immediately by: |
| The Social Security Act provides an outline for actions | | | | • Calling the Social Security Office hotline number |
| that are considered fraudulent. Some of those acts | | | | • Use the on line fraud reporting form |
| are the following: | | | | • Write to Social Security Office. |
| • Knowingly and willfully makes or causes to be | | | | Yet, if you have been the actual victim of a fraudulent |
| made any false statement or representation of | | | | act, seeking legal assistance from a competent Social |
| material facts in the application for benefits under this | | | | Security Fraud attorney is advisable. An attorney with |
| title; | | | | sufficient in handing these cases can help you |
| • Knowingly and willfully makes or causes to be | | | | prosecute the law violators. |
| made any false statement or representation of a | | | | What is the Office of the Inspector General? |
| material fact for use in determining any rights to the | | | | The Office of the Inspector General is the one directly |
| benefits; | | | | responsible for meeting the statutory mission |
| • Having knowledge of any event affectingo His | | | | promoting economy, efficiency and effectiveness in |
| or her right to the benefito The initial or continued right | | | | the administration of Social Security programs. It is also |
| to the benefit of other individual in whose behalf he or | | | | responsible for preventing and detecting fraud, waste, |
| she has applied for or is receiving benefito Having | | | | abuse and mismanagement in such programs and |
| made an application to receive any of such benefits | | | | operations. |
| for the use and benefit of other and having receive it, | | | | OIG also searches and reports systematic |
| knowingly and willfully converts the benefits for the use | | | | weaknesses in SSA programs and operations and |
| other than for what is intended | | | | make recommendations for improvements and |
| Information needed in filing Social Security Fraud | | | | corrective actions. |
| When planning to file a Fraud complaint, you need the | | | | Penalties for the violation of the Act |
| following data: | | | | Any person found guilty for Social Security Fraud shall |
| • Name | | | | be: |
| • Address | | | | • Fined under the United States Code |
| • Social security number of the person you are | | | | • Imprisoned for not more than five years or both |
| reporting. | | | | The federal court in sentencing the defendant may in |
| • Description of potential fraud incident | | | | addition to any other penalty order restitution. |
| In cases where the Social Security number is not | | | | When can there be restitution? |
| known, you need to secure his or her date of birth, | | | | The court orders restitution in any of the following |
| age and the name of the parents. However, if you are | | | | instances: |
| reporting a concealed activity you need the name of | | | | • The Commissioner of Social Security order |
| the employer and its address and phone number. | | | | payment that should not have been made |
| How to report Social Security Fraud incident | | | | • An individual suffers financial loss due to |
| The Social Security Administration takes seriously any | | | | defendant’s violation of this Act. |