A shocking claim spread quickly online: someone who is 360 years old was receiving Social Security benefits in the U.S. This strange idea caught the attention of millions, especially when Elon Musk, a well-known billionaire, called it “the biggest scam in history.” His statement stirred up even more curiosity and concern about the Social Security Administration (SSA) and how it handles public funds.
While the idea of someone living for 360 years may sound interesting, the truth is more technical than exciting. There’s no real person that age getting benefits. Instead, this strange case points to problems with the SSA’s computer systems and how they store information. The records showing extremely old ages are caused by data errors, not fraud.
Still, this situation revealed bigger issues. Many people are now wondering how such errors happen, and whether the SSA is ready for the future. It’s a reminder that even small mistakes in large systems can lead to major misunderstandings—and in some cases, real risks.
Where Did the 360-Year-Old Story Come From?
The confusion started when someone spotted a record in the SSA’s database showing an age of 360. This led people to believe the government was giving money to someone who couldn’t possibly be alive. Social media quickly spread the story, and some people believed it was proof of fraud in the system.
After further checks, experts explained that the record was not real. It came from old data errors. The SSA database includes millions of entries, and sometimes, wrong birthdates are entered or not updated. In some cases, placeholder dates were added during data transfers from paper to digital files.
So while the number “360” was in the system, no one was actually receiving benefits under that false age. Still, it raised concerns about how accurate and secure the SSA’s records are.
Why These Mistakes Happen in the SSA System
The SSA handles information for over 65 million people. Its system is very old and was created many decades ago using a programming language called COBOL. Most developers today don’t know how to work with COBOL, making updates difficult and slow.
Several things can go wrong in such an old system:
- Outdated Processes: Many records are not checked often, especially if someone has died and the death wasn’t reported correctly.
- Typing Mistakes: A small error in entering a birthdate can make someone appear much older or younger than they really are.
- Temporary Data: In the past, staff sometimes entered fake or placeholder dates to fill in missing data. These were never corrected later.
- No Real-Time Updates: Federal and state systems are not always connected, so records aren’t updated as quickly as they should be.
All of this allows errors to build up over time, and some of them—like the 360-year-old man—can look very suspicious to the public.
Elon Musk’s Bold Statement and Its Effects
Elon Musk reacted strongly to the news, calling it the “biggest scam in history.” While he misunderstood the facts, his comment sparked a serious conversation. People started asking whether other similar errors might lead to fraud.
Musk’s criticism pointed to a real issue: the government uses very old technology in many places, including the SSA. These old systems are hard to fix and easy to mess up, especially when working with millions of people’s records.
Experts agreed that the database has many problems. But they also explained that there’s little proof these errors lead to fake payments. An audit in 2015 showed many wrong birthdates, but none resulted in money being given to non-existent people.
Actual Types of Social Security Fraud
Even though the 360-year-old case wasn’t real, fraud in Social Security does happen. Here are the most common types:
- Stolen Social Security Numbers: Criminals use SSNs from dead people or stolen identities to collect benefits.
- Fake Disability Claims: Some people lie about their condition and get money they don’t deserve.
- Family Fraud: In some cases, family members continue collecting checks after someone has passed away.
- Fake Identities: Some scammers create new identities using real and fake information mixed together.
The SSA investigates thousands of fraud cases every year. Many lead to arrests and repayment of stolen funds. But because the system is so large, some cases go unnoticed for a while.
How the SSA Is Trying to Fix the Problems
To prevent more errors and stop fraud, the SSA is working on updating its systems. These are the key changes:
- Electronic Death Registration (EDR): Helps the SSA get death updates faster to avoid sending payments to deceased people.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Detects suspicious patterns in the data more quickly.
- Cross-Checking Data: The SSA is working with other agencies to confirm records more often.
- Public Education: Campaigns are teaching people how to avoid scams and protect their Social Security numbers.
- Possible New Laws: Lawmakers are discussing new rules to improve security and punish fraud more strictly.
How You Can Protect Yourself from Social Security Fraud
You can also take steps to make sure your Social Security information stays safe:
- Check Your SSA Account: Go to ssa.gov and regularly review your personal records.
- Protect Your SSN: Don’t share it unless you really have to, and never carry your SS card with you.
- Watch Out for Scams: The SSA doesn’t make threats or ask for payments by phone or email. If someone does, it’s a scam.
- Use ID Protection Services: Consider using services like LifeLock or Experian to watch for signs of identity theft.
- Report Fraud Quickly: If you think something’s wrong, call the SSA Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or visit oig.ssa.gov.