Language-Specific Tax, Social Security, and Medicare Scams Against Senior Immigrants

Scammers do not all speak English. Some call in Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Russian, Arabic, or other languages. They sound friendly. They sound official. They say they are from the IRS, the Social Security Administration, or Medicare. They use words and details that make them seem real. They scare you, then they ask for money. This page covers tax, Social Security, and Medicare scams that target seniors who speak a language other than English at home. It also lists the official government resources in your language so you can verify before you act.

Was someone targeted? If a caller is pressuring you about taxes, Social Security, or Medicare right now: hang up. Call Eldercare Locator at 1-800-677-1116 for a free interpreter. Or call the agency directly using the number on a real letter you have received in the mail. Never use the number the caller gives you.

Federal multilingual resources are real, free, and official. The FTC publishes a full Spanish-language site at consumidor.ftc.gov. The Social Security Administration publishes information in 21 languages at ssa.gov/multilanguage. The IRS has materials in many languages at irs.gov/help/languages. Use these to verify anything you hear by phone.

Why Limited-English Seniors Are Targeted

Two things make these scams especially effective:

  • A call in your first language feels safe. Most people relax when they hear their own language on the phone. Scammers know this and hire callers who match the target community.
  • Government rules are confusing in any language. The IRS has hundreds of forms. Social Security has dozens of programs. Medicare has many parts. Anyone who claims to “fix” or “verify” something for you sounds plausible if you do not know how the agency really works.

Common Tax, Social Security, and Medicare Scams

1. The IRS impersonation call in your own language

Scammers call you in Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Korean, or other languages. They say they are from the IRS. They say you owe back taxes. They say you will be arrested today. They demand payment by gift card, prepaid debit card, wire transfer, cryptocurrency, or cash in the mail.

The real IRS sends letters by mail before any other contact. The real IRS does not threaten arrest by phone. The real IRS does not demand payment by gift card or cryptocurrency. The real IRS Spanish line is 1-800-829-1040, then press 2. To verify any tax message, call this number — never the number the scammer gives you.

2. The Social Security suspension scam in your own language

A caller in your first language says your Social Security number has been “suspended” because of “suspicious activity,” “money laundering,” or “drug trafficking.” They say you must verify your identity by reading back your SSN, date of birth, and bank information. They threaten to suspend your benefits or have you arrested.

Social Security numbers cannot be “suspended” or “deactivated.” This entire idea is fake. Real SSA contact comes by mail. If you are worried, call SSA directly at 1-800-772-1213 — Spanish line available, plus many other languages.

3. The Supreme Court / SSA threat letter (October 2025 warning)

A new pattern that the SSA Office of the Inspector General warned about in October 2025. A letter arrives on fake U.S. Supreme Court letterhead, with forged signatures of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sonia Sotomayor. It threatens the recipient with criminal charges and frozen assets unless they “verify” their identity. The Supreme Court does not send these letters. If you receive one, tear it up and report it to SSA OIG at oig.ssa.gov/scam.

4. The Medicare “new card” or “verification” call in your own language

A caller in your first language says they are from Medicare. They say you are getting a new Medicare card. They need to “verify” your current Medicare number. Or they say there is a new Medicare benefit — free dental, lower premiums, free medical equipment — and they need your Medicare number to enroll you.

Medicare does not call you and ask for your Medicare number. The Better Business Bureau reported in December 2025 that Medicare scam calls have surged 40% in the past year, partly because scammers now have personal details from dark-web data breaches. Even if the caller knows your name, address, or partial Medicare number — do not confirm anything. Hang up. Call Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) — many languages available.

5. The “free medical equipment” scam

A call or mailing offers free braces, scooters, CPAP machines, diabetic shoes, or genetic testing — “covered by Medicare.” The scammer asks for your Medicare number. They then bill Medicare thousands of dollars for equipment or tests you do not need. Sometimes nothing arrives. Sometimes equipment arrives that you cannot use.

Real medical equipment is ordered by your doctor based on a real medical need. If a stranger offers it to you by phone or mail, hang up.

6. Fake “tax refund” or “economic relief” calls in your own language

Around tax season, scammers call in many languages claiming you are owed a tax refund, economic stimulus payment, or COVID-related relief. They ask for your bank account information to “deposit” the money. They are stealing your account information, not depositing anything.

Real IRS refunds are sent automatically to the bank account you listed on your tax return, or by check to your address. The IRS never calls and asks for your bank account information to send a refund.

Verification Steps Before You Trust Any Call

  1. Hang up. No real agency cares if you hang up.
  2. Find a real number yourself. Look at a real letter from the agency, or look at the agency’s official website (irs.gov, ssa.gov, medicare.gov, uscis.gov). Use that number, not the number the caller gives.
  3. Use the agency’s multilingual line. Most federal agencies have language options. SSA: 1-800-772-1213. Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE. IRS Spanish: 1-800-829-1040, press 2. Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116 for 200+ language interpreters.
  4. Ask a family member to verify with you. Three minutes of family help can prevent a five-figure loss.
  5. If you still feel scared, write down everything the caller said and call your local Adult Protective Services through the Eldercare Locator. They can help you decide if it is a scam.

Where to Report Tax, SSA, and Medicare Scams

  • SSA Office of the Inspector General: oig.ssa.gov/scam — 1-800-269-0271
  • IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting: tigta.gov (Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration)
  • Senior Medicare Patrol (your state): smpresource.org
  • Medicare: 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227)
  • FTC: reportfraud.ftc.gov (English) / reportefraude.ftc.gov (Spanish)
  • FBI IC3: ic3.gov
  • National Elder Fraud Hotline: 1-833-FRAUD-11 — multilingual
  • Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116 — 200+ language interpreters

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Need help reporting a scam? Our Report an Online Scam page lists the right phone numbers and websites.

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