{"id":228414,"date":"2026-04-10T05:00:58","date_gmt":"2026-04-10T12:00:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?p=228414"},"modified":"2026-04-08T10:54:07","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T17:54:07","slug":"social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Security Scam Emails and a Healthcare Data Breach: This Week in Scams"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Emails claiming to be from Social Security are making the rounds right now.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">They look official. They sound official. And\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0designed to get you to click before you think twice.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Social Security Administration\u2019s Office of Inspector General is <strong>warning about a spike in messages that claim your Social Security statement is ready to download<\/strong>. The goal is simple. Get you to click a link or open an attachment.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">From there, things can go sideways fast.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Before interacting with anything like this,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0worth pausing and running it through a tool like McAfee\u2019s Scam Detector. This is exactly the kind of message\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0built to flag. Something that looks\u00a0legitimate, but\u00a0feels just slightly off.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">How The\u00a0Scam\u00a0Works<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The email mimics official government communication, using logos, formatting, and language that feels familiar. It might say your statement is ready, your account needs attention, or you need to review a document.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once you click:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You may be sent to a fake website designed to capture your personal information\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You may download malware without realizing it\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Or you may be prompted to enter sensitive financial details\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Either way, the goal is the same: get access to your identity.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">The Red Flags\u00a0In\u00a0These Emails<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Messages claiming your social security statement is ready to download\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Links or attachments\u00a0labeled\u00a0as official documents\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Urgency pushing you to act quickly\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sender addresses that do not end in\u00a0\u201c.Gov\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The biggest tell: Social Security does not send emails like this asking you to download statements or provide sensitive information.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">What To Do If You Get One<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Do not click links or download attachments\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Delete the email\u00a0immediately\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Access your account by going directly to the official SSA website\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Report the message to the SSA Office of Inspector General <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span data-contrast=\"auto\">If you already clicked:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stop communication\u00a0immediately\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Contact your financial institutions\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Monitor your accounts closely\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Report the incident to the FTC or the FBI\u2019s IC3 <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And that, my friends, is\u00a0scam\u00a0number one in this week\u2019s\u00a0<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This Week in Scams<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Let\u2019s\u00a0get into what else is on our radar.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">A Healthcare Data Breach That Could Lead to Follow-Up Scams<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Healthcare data breaches\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0always make headlines the same way big tech breaches do, but they can be just as serious.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">According to\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mcas-proxyweb.mcas.ms\/certificate-checker?login=false&amp;originalUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.foxnews.com.mcas.ms%2Ftech%2Fhealthcare-data-breach-hits-system-storing-patient-records%3FMcasTsid%3D20892&amp;McasCSRF=2523f91618c87a85b66e7a4303ebc49b9eaa014e09a09d4bc1b75599a5704456\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">reporting from Fox News<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,\u00a0CareCloud, a company that supports electronic health records for tens of thousands of providers, recently confirmed a security incident involving unauthorized access to one of its systems.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The access lasted several hours. And while\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0still unclear whether any data was taken, that uncertainty is exactly what makes situations like this risky.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Because even if\u00a0you\u2019ve\u00a0never heard of the company, your doctor might use it.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Why\u00a0This Matters<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Healthcare data is incredibly valuable. It can include:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Names and social security numbers\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Insurance details\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Medical history\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Billing information\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Unlike a credit card, you\u00a0can\u2019t\u00a0just cancel your medical history.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And when that kind of data is exposed or even potentially exposed, scammers often follow up with messages that feel highly specific and personal.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">What To Watch\u00a0For\u00a0Next<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">After incidents like this, scammers often move quickly:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Emails or texts pretending to be your provider\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Messages about billing issues or medical records\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Requests to \u201cverify\u201d your information\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Links to log in or update your account\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">These\u00a0scams\u00a0work because\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0timed perfectly and feel relevant.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This is another moment where Scam Detector can help flag suspicious links or messages before you engage, even when they reference real healthcare providers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">How To Protect Yourself<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:281,&quot;335559739&quot;:281}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Review medical bills and insurance statements for unfamiliar activity\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Enable two-factor authentication on patient portals\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Use strong, unique passwords\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Avoid clicking links in unexpected healthcare-related messages\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Consider identity monitoring to catch misuse early\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 aria-level=\"2\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Where McAfee Steps In (So You\u00a0Don\u2019t\u00a0Have to Guess)<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Scams\u00a0today are layered.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A fake email leads to stolen credentials. A breach leads to targeted phishing. And those follow-ups are getting harder to spot.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/identity-theft\/protection.html?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">McAfee+ Advanced<\/span><\/b><\/a><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">gives\u00a0you\u00a0multiple layers working together so you are not left figuring it out after the damage is done:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/identity-monitoring\/?path=blogs\">Identity Monitoring<\/a>\u00a0alerts you if your personal info shows up where it should not, so you can act fast<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/personal-data-cleanup\/?path=blogs\">Personal Data Cleanup<\/a>\u00a0helps remove your information from data broker sites, making you harder to target in the first place<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/scam-detector\/?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Scam Detector<\/a>\u00a0flags suspicious texts, emails, links, and even deepfake videos before you engage<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/web-protection\/?path=blogs\">Safe Browsing<\/a>\u00a0helps block risky sites if you do click<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/en-us\/antivirus.html\/?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Device Security<\/a>\u00a0helps detect malicious apps or downloads<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/learn\/vpn\/?path=blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Secure VPN<\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u00a0keeps your data private, especially on public Wi-Fi\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4 aria-level=\"3\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Safety Tips\u00a0To\u00a0Carry\u00a0Into\u00a0Next Week<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245418&quot;:true,&quot;134245529&quot;:true,&quot;335559738&quot;:160,&quot;335559739&quot;:80}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Be cautious of emails that look official but create urgency\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Never trust unsolicited messages asking for personal or financial information\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Go directly to official websites instead of clicking links\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Stay alert after any breach or security incident makes headlines\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Use tools\u00a0like McAfee\u00a0that help you verify\u00a0what\u2019s\u00a0real before you act\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:0}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Because the reality is,\u00a0scams\u00a0are designed to look legitimate.\u00a0You\u00a0shouldn\u2019t\u00a0have to figure it out on your own.\u00a0We\u2019re\u00a0safer together.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We\u2019ll\u00a0be back next week with more\u00a0scams\u00a0making headlines.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134233117&quot;:false,&quot;134233118&quot;:false,&quot;335559738&quot;:240,&quot;335559739&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Emails claiming to be from Social Security are making the rounds right now.\u00a0 They look official. They sound official. And\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0designed&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1440,"featured_media":210954,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10667,10661,13],"tags":[],"coauthors":[16632],"class_list":["post-228414","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-security-news","category-internet-security","category-privacy-identity-protection"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Social Security Scam Emails and a Healthcare Data Breach: This Week in Scams | McAfee Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Fake Social Security emails are surging while a healthcare data breach raises new risks. Here\u2019s what to watch and how to stay safe.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Social Security Scam Emails and a Healthcare Data Breach: This Week in Scams | McAfee Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Fake Social Security emails are surging while a healthcare data breach raises new risks. Here\u2019s what to watch and how to stay safe.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"McAfee Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/McAfee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-04-10T12:00:58+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/300x200_Blog_Recognize-Online-Scammer.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Brooke Seipel\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@McAfee\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@McAfee\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Brooke Seipel\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Brooke Seipel\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/person\/e0177129df164a74082f47397af3e729\"},\"headline\":\"Social Security Scam Emails and a Healthcare Data Breach: This Week in Scams\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-10T12:00:58+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/\"},\"wordCount\":875,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/300x200_Blog_Recognize-Online-Scammer.png\",\"articleSection\":[\"Security News\",\"Internet Security\",\"Privacy &amp; Identity Protection\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/\",\"name\":\"Social Security Scam Emails and a Healthcare Data Breach: This Week in Scams | McAfee Blog\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/300x200_Blog_Recognize-Online-Scammer.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-04-10T12:00:58+00:00\",\"description\":\"Fake Social Security emails are surging while a healthcare data breach raises new risks. Here\u2019s what to watch and how to stay safe.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/300x200_Blog_Recognize-Online-Scammer.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/300x200_Blog_Recognize-Online-Scammer.png\",\"width\":600,\"height\":400},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Blog\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Security News\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"Social Security Scam Emails and a Healthcare Data Breach: This Week in Scams\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/\",\"name\":\"McAfee Blog\",\"description\":\"Internet Security News\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#organization\",\"name\":\"McAfee\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/mcafee-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/mcafee-logo.png\",\"width\":1286,\"height\":336,\"caption\":\"McAfee\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/McAfee\/\",\"https:\/\/x.com\/McAfee\",\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/mcafee\/\",\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/McAfee\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/person\/e0177129df164a74082f47397af3e729\",\"name\":\"Brooke Seipel\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/ac03c1083bbdcd2cbb0675dc29c62cbe\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1693283531327-96x96.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1693283531327-96x96.jpg\",\"caption\":\"Brooke Seipel\"},\"description\":\"Brooke Seipel is the Content Editor in Chief at McAfee, where she leads the company's content strategy with a focus on cybersecurity education. With a decade of experience in audience development and digital content, Brooke has a strong understanding of online audiences, emerging trends, and the evolving cyber landscape. Before joining McAfee, Brooke led audience teams and served as both a reporter and editor at numerous award-winning publications including Fortune, The Hill, International Business Times, New Republic, and The OC Register. Brooke is dedicated to providing insightful, actionable content that empowers readers to make informed decisions about their digital safety. When she's not immersed in the world of cybersecurity, you can find her scrolling social media endlessly, soaking up the latest trends, and also volunteering as a naturalist.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/author\/brooke-seipel\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Social Security Scam Emails and a Healthcare Data Breach: This Week in Scams | McAfee Blog","description":"Fake Social Security emails are surging while a healthcare data breach raises new risks. Here\u2019s what to watch and how to stay safe.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Social Security Scam Emails and a Healthcare Data Breach: This Week in Scams | McAfee Blog","og_description":"Fake Social Security emails are surging while a healthcare data breach raises new risks. Here\u2019s what to watch and how to stay safe.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/","og_site_name":"McAfee Blog","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/McAfee\/","article_published_time":"2026-04-10T12:00:58+00:00","og_image":[{"width":600,"height":400,"url":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/300x200_Blog_Recognize-Online-Scammer.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Brooke Seipel","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@McAfee","twitter_site":"@McAfee","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Brooke Seipel","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/"},"author":{"name":"Brooke Seipel","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/person\/e0177129df164a74082f47397af3e729"},"headline":"Social Security Scam Emails and a Healthcare Data Breach: This Week in Scams","datePublished":"2026-04-10T12:00:58+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/"},"wordCount":875,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/300x200_Blog_Recognize-Online-Scammer.png","articleSection":["Security News","Internet Security","Privacy &amp; Identity Protection"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/","url":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/","name":"Social Security Scam Emails and a Healthcare Data Breach: This Week in Scams | McAfee Blog","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/300x200_Blog_Recognize-Online-Scammer.png","datePublished":"2026-04-10T12:00:58+00:00","description":"Fake Social Security emails are surging while a healthcare data breach raises new risks. Here\u2019s what to watch and how to stay safe.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/300x200_Blog_Recognize-Online-Scammer.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/300x200_Blog_Recognize-Online-Scammer.png","width":600,"height":400},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/social-security-scam-emails-healthcare-data-breach\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Security News","item":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/security-news\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Social Security Scam Emails and a Healthcare Data Breach: This Week in Scams"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/","name":"McAfee Blog","description":"Internet Security News","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#organization","name":"McAfee","url":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/mcafee-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/mcafee-logo.png","width":1286,"height":336,"caption":"McAfee"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/McAfee\/","https:\/\/x.com\/McAfee","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/mcafee\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/McAfee"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/person\/e0177129df164a74082f47397af3e729","name":"Brooke Seipel","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/ac03c1083bbdcd2cbb0675dc29c62cbe","url":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1693283531327-96x96.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/1693283531327-96x96.jpg","caption":"Brooke Seipel"},"description":"Brooke Seipel is the Content Editor in Chief at McAfee, where she leads the company's content strategy with a focus on cybersecurity education. With a decade of experience in audience development and digital content, Brooke has a strong understanding of online audiences, emerging trends, and the evolving cyber landscape. Before joining McAfee, Brooke led audience teams and served as both a reporter and editor at numerous award-winning publications including Fortune, The Hill, International Business Times, New Republic, and The OC Register. Brooke is dedicated to providing insightful, actionable content that empowers readers to make informed decisions about their digital safety. When she's not immersed in the world of cybersecurity, you can find her scrolling social media endlessly, soaking up the latest trends, and also volunteering as a naturalist.","url":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/author\/brooke-seipel\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228414","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1440"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=228414"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228414\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":228417,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/228414\/revisions\/228417"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/210954"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=228414"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=228414"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=228414"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=228414"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}