US Social Security weighs phone service cuts, report says

[EckoRomeo]

DOGE reported that their findings indicated that approx 40% of phone calls were fraud, or suspected of fraud, which is why this step is being taken. Don't know for sure if they will eliminate or reduce the phone service.

Resulted in fraud? Or we're simply fraudulent? It was posted earlier that less than 1% of Soc Security payments over like 7 years were fraudulent and most were overpayments. And over 2/3's of that money was recovered.

Even if 100% of the unrecovered payments that weren't overpayments originated over the phone, you're talking a fraction of 1% of social security patients.

So, what problem is this solving?

 

[LeeV]

Resulted in fraud? Or we're simply fraudulent? A link posted in another thread stated that less than 1% of Soc Security payments over like a 7 year period were fraudulent and most were overpayments. And over 2/3's of that money was recovered.

Even if 100% of the unrecovered payments that weren't overpayments originated over the phone, you're talking a fraction of 1% of social security patients.

So, what problem is this solving?

Their findings showed that of the phone calls made, 40% were made by someone trying to commit fraud. For example, someone calls in to change their direct deposit to another account. The problem is that they do not have a means of confirming that the person calling in was legit or not.

Difficult to determine if the fraud was committed because they do not have sophisticated systems in place to track the phone call to the fraud committed.

 

[EckoRomeo]

Their findings showed that of the phone calls made, 40% were made by someone trying to commit fraud. For example, someone calls in to change their direct deposit to another account. The problem is that they do not have a means of confirming that the person calling in was legit or not.

That's kinda the point. If you don't know how much of the attempted fraud actually resulted in fraud, its not clear whether you have a problem or not. If only 1% of those calls resulted in fraud, the system seems to be working. So, cutting service without knowing how much fraud really occurs doesn't sound like a good idea. Especially considering the lack of availability of local offices.

 

[EckoRomeo]

Difficult to determine if the fraud was committed because they do not have sophisticated systems in place to track the phone call to the fraud committed.

And this sounds made up. How are the systems sophisticated enough to determine that the intent of the call was fraudulent but not sophisticated enough to link the call to any actual fraud? Especially when the fraud would be linked to an SSN and a social security payment.

 

[annon123]

And this sounds made up. How are the systems sophisticated enough to determine that the intent of the call was fraudulent but not sophisticated enough to link the call to any actual fraud? Especially when the fraud would be linked to an SSN and a social security payment.

One of the problems SS has is that they are using a now way outdated computer program to handle many things (for example it is responsible for the millions of unrealistically old people listed as it has no other way to code them than doing that). That is likely behind the some, but not all, of the problems. And it may be that a human is thinking a call is fraudulent rather than a computer program flagging it. Of course from the outside looking in none of us have a good way to tell.

 

[annon123]

One of the problems SS has is that they are using a now way outdated computer program to handle many things (for example it is responsible for the millions of unrealistically old people listed as it has no other way to code them with a missing date than doing that). That is likely behind the some, but not all, of the problems. And it may be that a human is thinking a call is fraudulent rather than a computer program flagging it. Of course from the outside looking in none of us have a good way to tell.

 

[Surancedawg]

Their findings showed that of the phone calls made, 40% were made by someone trying to commit fraud. For example, someone calls in to change their direct deposit to another account. The problem is that they do not have a means of confirming that the person calling in was legit or not.

Difficult to determine if the fraud was committed because they do not have sophisticated systems in place to track the phone call to the fraud committed.

Both Google Play and the iPhone App store have Spoofing apps that allow a caller to choose any phone number that appears on the receiving phone as the # they are calling from. Many million$ are swindled from people each year by this means when they get a call showing its from "Amazon Customer Service". Even my significant other fell victim to that one time. The fraudsters are probably using that app so their victims get a call showing its from SSA.

 

[annon123]

One of the problems SS has is that they are using a now way outdated computer program/programing language to handle many things (for example it is responsible for the millions of unrealistically old people listed as it has no other way to code them than doing that). That is likely behind the some, but not all, of the problems. And it may be that a human is thinking a call is fraudulent rather than a computer program flagging it. Of course from the outside looking in none of us have a good way to tell.