Beware of Scammers Pretending to be Social Security
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
In the digital age, frauds and scams are an unfortunate part of doing business online. During the holiday season, Social Security has traditionally seen a spike in phishing scams, and we want to protect you as best we can.
We urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information such as your Social Security Number (SSN) or bank account information to unknown individuals over the phone or internet. If you receive a call and aren’t expecting one, you must be extra careful. You can always get the caller’s information, hang up, and — if you do need more clarification — contact the official phone number of the business or agency that the caller claims to represent. Never reveal personal data to a stranger who called you.
Please take note; there’s a scam going around right now. You might receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security or another agency. Calls can even display the 1-800-772-1213, Social Security’s national customer service number, as the incoming number on your caller ID. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number (SSN), on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information. This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.
Callers sometimes state that your Social Security number is at risk of being deactivated or deleted. The caller then asks you to provide a phone number to resolve the issue. People should be aware the scheme’s details may vary; however, you should avoid engaging with the caller or calling the number provided, as the caller might attempt to acquire personal information.
Social Security employees occasionally contact people by telephone for customer-service purposes. In only a few special situations, such as when you have business pending with us, a Social Security employee may request the person confirm personal information over the phone.
Social Security employees will never threaten you or promise a Social Security benefit approval or increase in exchange for information. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, please report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online.
Remember, only call official phone numbers and use secured websites of the agencies and businesses you know are correct. Protecting your information is an important part of Social Security’s mission to secure today and tomorrow.
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About the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Sheila E.
I received a phone call at 1134am mountain time today, Jan 28, 2019 from a recording that stated it was Stacy Goodwin from the Inspector General’s office of the Social Security Administration. The recording said”your social security number has been suspended and please contact the emergency helpline number at 15622466812″. This message was left on my answering machine and I did not return the call. I want to report this as a possible scam.
V.V.
Hi Kathleen, thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about.
We are asking those that receive these calls to report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online.
Larry S.
I received an email from DoNotReply@ssa.gov on January 23, 2019 asking me to call 866-964-7317 ext 229226 and ask for Charles Wedderburn before February 7, 2019. Is this a valid email from the SSA?
Larry Shviak
V.V.
Hi Larry, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. Social Security Administration (SSA) employees occasionally contact citizens by email for customer-service purposes. Any links that you find within these E-mails should always point to a “.gov” web address. Thank you for checking with us and yes, that is a legitimate email address.
Edward J.
As of January 28, 2019 I received five (5) phone calls demanding that I return a call about my Social Security number is being fraudulently used. These times are Mountain Standard times:
Time Phone number
0645 512-647-1672
0700 360-519-6773
0718 512-647-6773
0822 512-647-1672
0954 360-519-6773
This information has also been reported to the Teller County Colorado Sheriff’s Office.
Larry B.
When you disclose your SS# to an unknown by accident what action should you immediately take?
Cathy S.
Missed a call today and when I called back the called stated it was the Social Security Administration then started asking for my name and social security number. Here is the number that called me. 817-591-0351. I know this was not the Social Security offices but wanted to make your office was aware of someone calling and asking this info.
Jeannie
Color me stupid but I’m confused. I was told when my husband passed away at the age of 47 that I would be able to collect his benefits at age 60. I am five years older than he was and there is also a shady ex-wife involved. And no I’m not one of those women! I have an ex-husband that would come help me with my husband because he was terminally ill and we have always spent holidays together throughout the years. Unfortunately I couldn’t get his ex to understand that she didn’t need to be the textbook picture of an “Ex”. There is also the fact that their son has disabilities and as soon as he passed his income went from $749 a month to over $1900 a month. Until we found out my husband was stage IV Pancreatic Cancer we were down to pay for one child at the tune of $1100+ a month. Anyway she has always known how to use the son to get what she needs and acting ignorant at the same time. I know that being his first wife and having the ten year mark under her belt she is also entitled. I guess I need to know (1) Am I able to collect at 60 or do I have to wait until he would have been of retirement age (2) What amount am I entitled to and (3) Any advise would be appreciated. I have worked the majority of my life full-time, raised (3) active boys that were involved in sports year round (support – $375, not $2000 like his ex at the highest point) and started taking care of everyone from my grandmother, parents, a brother that has had a debilitating stroke and another brother that was an amputee right up to my husband that worked right up to the point of his diagnosis of stage IV Pancreatic Cancer. He still worked from home for most of the last nine months, but can I say…I’m tired! I still have a mortgage and after 2 1/2 years the funds are going fast because I paid off everything I could and due to the fact that we rarely had a chance to save because she (the ex) didn’t miss a three opportunity to take him back for more support and because he traveled for work we were never able to take care of things like arranging for retirement, other than our 401K’s, which at times had to be stopped due to the ridiculous amounts she was awarded based on overtime he had to worked so that we too could keep a roof over our heads and not to mention the out of pocket funds that went to taking care of my brother and parents. I worked full-time myself and had a decent second income of $51K-$53K the last five yrs before he passed. I guess because I’m so used to having the screws put to me I need to find out if I should plan of working until I’m dead too? I’d love to hear from anyone with any experience on this issue. And thank you for taking the time to listen to me whine…trust me that’s just the tip of the iceberg where his ex is concerned. Honestly it’s sad to be so greedy.
Thanks again!
A.C.
Hi, Jeannie. We are sorry to hear about your loss. You could be eligible for benefits based on your husband’s earnings. You can receive full benefits at full retirement age for survivors or reduced benefits as early as age 60. If you are disabled, you could begin receiving benefits as early as age 50 if the disability started before or within 7 years of your husband’s death. For additional information, visit our Benefits Planner: If You Are The Survivor web page. For specific questions, toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. and speak with one of our representatives for further assistance. We hope this helps.
Lenagene W.
I have received several call today, 1/25/2019. I need to know if SS is calling or if it is a scam.
V.V.
Hi Lenagene, thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. If you receive these calls, please report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online.
Carol L.
Keep getting called from 4107744310 saying an issue with my social security.
Please let me know if this is a real concern.
Carol
V.V.
Hi Carol. That is part of the scam. The call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up. If you receive these calls, please report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online.
theresa s.
i recieved a call 1/24/2019 from a ron smith phone number1-562-373-4270 telling me to return a call to saying that i was doing illegal acting with my social security that i will be proscuted for this
V.V.
Hi Theresa, thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our recent blog posts:
https://blog.ssa.gov/ig-warns-public-about-fraudulent-phone-calls-threatening-arrest-or-legal-action/
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-oig-impersonation-schemes/
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-caller-id-spoofing-scheme-misusing-ssa-customer-service-number/
If you have questions about any communication — email, letter, text or phone call — that claims to be from SSA, please contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). You may also report the information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Angela H.
Someone is using me and my children social security information without my consent.
V.V.
Hi Angela: Generally, identity theft issues are handled by the Federal Trade Commission. Visit http://www.identitytheft.gov to report identity theft and get a recovery plan or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338).
Visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on what you can do if you think someone is using your Social Security number.