“About 40% of Social Security direct deposit fraud stems from calls to Social Security to change bank information, the agency said, noting that the current protocol of asking identifying questions is no longer sufficient.
Going forward, beneficiaries will have to change their bank accounts through their “my Social Security” website or visit a local office.
The rapid shifts in the policies have also left the agency’s customer service representatives unclear about what to tell those who call or visit. Not all representatives received training on the new rules about claims before Social Security changed them again in early April”
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“The changes have also been worrisome for some who haven’t retired yet. Matt Koob, 66, who works as a health technician at a Veterans Affairs hospital in Tampa, Florida, plans to apply for benefits in August. He tried to go to his local office in late March to verify his identity so he wouldn’t have any problems down the road. But he couldn’t get into the office and was told to call the agency’s 800 number, which he found highly irritating.
“They’re telling people, ‘We will want you to do it in person, but we’re not going to let you in the building,’” Koob said.”
https://www.yahoo.com/news/social-security-anti-fraud-measures-100037006.html