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March 12
Social Security Administration publishes an explanation of phone service
changes.
“Approximately
40 percent of Social Security direct deposit fraud is associated with someone calling
SSA to change direct deposit bank information.”
The DOGE account on X also shared the statistic about direct deposit fraud
cases.
“Approx.
40% of Social Security direct deposit fraud is associated with fraudsters
calling SSA on the phone and changing the direct deposit bank account from the correct one to
a fraudulent one.”
Elon Musk quoted the post with a one-word response.
“Exactly.”
March 27
A DOGE engineer, Aram Moghaddassi, appears to distort the statistic in a Fox News interview.
“At Social Security, one of the first things we learned is that they get phone calls
every day of people trying to change direct deposit information …
We learned 40 percent of the calls that they get are from fraudsters.”
Users on X like @nicksortor, a right-wing influencer, share and exaggerate the claim.
“? HOLY CRAP! Elon Musk and DOGE just revealed a whopping
**40%** of calls to Social Security are fraudsters.”
Mr. Musk responds and amplifies the false claim.
“Craziest thing I’ve ever seen.”
March 30
Mr. Musk repeats the false claim at a campaign event.
“Forty percent of the calls into Social Security were fraudulent.”
April 1
Agency staff draft a statement to
correct the false claim and update their analysis. The memo is shared with
DOGE leadership.
“Monthly between 25% – 30% of direct deposit allegations
are for
direct deposit changes initiated over the telephone.”
Katie Miller, a White House aide advising DOGE, doubles down and instructs
staff not to release the statement.
“The number is 40 percent.”
April 3
Vice President JD Vance repeats the false claim in another Fox News
interview.
“Our Social Security system —
40 percent of the people who are calling in are actually committing fraud.”
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