Social Security Issues Warning on Fraudulent Pension Increase Scheme
The General Treasury of Social Security (TGSS) has issued a warning regarding a new fraudulent scheme aimed at pension recipients. This scam involves the distribution of letters featuring the official TGSS logo, soliciting individuals to send photographs of their National Identity Document (DNI) to a specified email address to claim an increase in their pension.
This alert comes at the beginning of January, coinciding with the annual pension increase of 2.8% for 2025. Scammers are leveraging this timing, suggesting that the rise in pensions is a means to entice victims.
In the fraudulent letter, it is claimed that due to a cyberattack on the systems of the Treasury and Social Security, personal data of citizens has been compromised. Consequently, recipients are urged to provide personal and banking information to qualify for the supposed pension increase.
Authorities caution that the intent behind this scam is to misuse individuals' identity documents to obtain loans fraudulently, which the victims would ultimately be responsible for repaying. The TGSS has requested that the public disseminate this warning to prevent further victimization.
In addition to requesting a photo of the DNI, the letter also asks for a picture of a bank statement showing the recipient as either the account holder or an authorized user, along with details on the last pension payment received.
The scam further misleadingly states that pension benefits will be increased by amounts ranging from 75 to 150 euros, depending on individual circumstances.
As awareness of this fraudulent activity grows, the TGSS emphasizes the importance of vigilance, advising individuals to refrain from sharing personal information via email or over the phone unless they can verify the legitimacy of the request.
In an era where cyber threats are increasingly prevalent, it is crucial for citizens to remain informed and cautious about unsolicited communications that request sensitive information. The TGSS encourages anyone who receives such a letter to report it to authorities promptly.
