The Social Security Administration (SSA) implemented anti-fraud tools to protect customers who file claims over the phone following Elon Musk’s warning that fraudsters were targeting the agency’s call-in lines to steal benefits.
The agency launched measures that will "identify suspicious activity in telephone claims by analyzing patterns and anomalies within a person’s account," effective immediately, according to the SSA.
The agency said if the technology detects irregularities, the individual will be required "to complete in-person identity proofing to continue processing their claim."
The agency will still conduct identity verification for all in-person claims, too.
Social Security acting Commissioner Leland Dudek said the move is a way to modernize how the agency serves the public, "enhancing both security and accessibility."
"These updates improve our ability to detect and prevent fraud while providing more flexible options for people to access their benefits," Dudek said.