The Street: “Got a letter from the Supreme Court? It’s a scam” Here’s what you need to know about the latest government impersonation scheme.
The Street, Oct. 10, 2025 — In today’s issue of The Street, Robert Powell, CFP, Retirement, Senior Editor shares: “Scammers are at it again, this time sending official-looking letters on fake U.S. Supreme Court letterhead. The Social Security Administration’s Inspector General wants you to know: these letters are completely fake.”
Here’s what the scam looks like: The letter arrives addressed to you personally. It uses forged signatures of Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Sonia Sotomayor. The scammers claim you’re a suspect in criminal proceedings. They’ll drop names — real SSA officials, New Mexico’s Attorney General Raúl Torrez — to make it feel legitimate.
The letter says your Social Security number has been compromised. That the DEA (which they incorrectly call the “Drug Enforcement Agency”) is involved. That the Supreme Court has ordered your bank accounts frozen. That you can’t keep more than $10,000 in any bank or $80,000-$100,000 in investments.
Then comes the threat: cooperate with the Treasury Department or face “full liability” for losses when your Social Security number gets suspended. It’s all designed to scare you into acting fast.
“This Supreme Court scam isn’t theoretical, explains Marguerita Cheng, a certified financial planner with Blue Ocean Global Wealth.
Her husband — a federal employee, CPA, and auditor — had to go to the Social Security office in person this week after someone filed a fraudulent claim on his record. The fraudster also opened a bank account at Wells Fargo in his name. He only caught it because he received a notice from SSA about a request to update his bank account information.
“If it can happen to a federal auditor, it can happen to anyone,” Rita insists.