Contact from Social Security Scotland

Phishing is the fraudulent act of emailing a person to get their personal or financial information.

These emails often include a link to a fake website that asks you to enter your personal details.

The following guidance explains how to:

• recognise genuine contact from Social Security Scotland
• tell when a text message or email is phishing or fake

What to look out for

Check whether a text message or email is related to an application for a Social Security Scotland benefit or payment

Social Security Scotland text messages and emails will always be linked to a recent application for one of their benefits or payments.

Check the sender of a text message or email

Check who sent the text message or email.

Text messages from Social Security Scotland will always be sent from 'Scot Gov'.

Emails from Social Security Scotland will always be sent from the same email address. This email address is social.security.scotland@notifications.service.gov.uk.

Check if a text message or email asks you to reply

Social Security Scotland will never ask you to reply to a text or email

Check what pages a text message or email directs you to

Social Security Scotland will only ever direct you to pages on this website. This means the website address URL will always start with https://www.mygov.scot/

Check what phone number a text message or email gives you

Social Security Scotland will only ever give you one phone number in a text message or email. This number is always 0800 182 2222.

Text messages or emails sent by Social Security Scotland

Social Security Scotland will never contact you with generic text messages and emails. They will only contact you by text message or email to let you know:

• when they've got your application form
• if there's any delays in processing your application form due to high application volumes
• if you've applied for a benefit or payment too early
• if they need more information from you

Reporting a suspicious Social Security Scotland text message or email

If you get a suspicious text message, report it to Action Fraud by forwarding the message for free to 7726 ('SPAM' on a keyboard).