Yes, Social Security Sends Emails—But With Caution
The Social Security Administration, or SSA, sends out emails to the general public but sends them from addresses that are deemed trusted. If you have received an email claiming to be that of the SSA, check whether the email ends with “.gov.” Official SSA emails typically come from addresses such as
- no-reply@ssa.gov
- subscription.service@subscriptions.ssa.gov
- Thank.You@ssa.gov
- DoNotReply@ssa.gov
- echosign.com (used for document signing)
Furthermore, SSA uses marketing firms from time to time for promoting their services, such as for creating a my Social Security account. These firms may send genuine emails, but the links contained in such emails should invariably lead to a “.gov” web address.
Protecting personal information
Identity protection is the cornerstone of SSA’s working philosophy. To ensure safety on your behalf for your information as well as for benefits, the agency makes it a must that whoever desires to create a personal my Social Security account must first confirm his or her identity.
You can use two government-approved credential service providers to sign up:
- Login.gov – A single government login for secure access to federal websites.
- ID.me – A service that verifies your identity through a secure single sign-on system, meeting federal standards.
Creating an account involves setting up credentials—your username, password, and two-step verification—which helps SSA confirm your identity securely online.
Beware of phishing scams
Phishing emails try to trick you into revealing personal details by pretending to be legitimate messages from trusted organizations, like Social Security. Here are ways to spot a phishing attempt:
- The sender’s email doesn’t end in “.gov.”
- The email contains poor grammar or odd phrasing.
- You’re asked to provide personal details or click on suspicious links.
Always verify where a link goes before clicking. Hover your mouse over the link to see the true web address. Official Social Security links will always begin with
- https://www.ssa.gov/
- https://secure.ssa.gov/
Example of a real link:
https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/
Examples of fake links:
- https://www.socialsecurity.gov.gmx.de/
- http://www.socialsecurity.gov.bx.co.rx/setup
Notice the extra text after “gov” in these links? That’s a sign it’s a scam.
What to do if you get a suspicious email
If you’re unsure about the legitimacy of a Social Security email, do not click on links, open attachments, or reply. Instead, report the email to the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) by forwarding it to:
📧 phishing-report@us-cert.gov
Extra safety tips
- Verify senders by checking the full email address.
- Don’t trust messages asking for personal data.
- Look up phone numbers or websites yourself—don’t rely on what’s in the email.
- Keep your web browser updated for better security.
To learn more about phishing protection, visit OnGuard Online.
Bottom line
Yes, Social Security sends emails—but they take strong precautions to protect your information. Know the signs of phishing, always verify links, and when in doubt, don’t click. Stay informed and stay safe online.
