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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Margaret S.
6208429483, Anthony, Kansas … call says from SS and my SS# was suspended because of suspicious activity and to press 1 to know more about this case
Krista
18888100237 called me trying to say that they’re the social security office and not my social security number has came up as strange behavior so they’re suspending my license or my social security number so I answered it and the lady asked me for my address and my social security number to know who it is and I told her no she needed to send me something in the mail and she hung up on me I tried to call back and now I’m blocked watch out
Bruce P.
recvd call threatening my arrest. I hung up caller number was 620-842-9483
Wayne R.
Was called by a man saying his name was Chris Anderson (though did not sound like any American I met before. Gave his number as 520-762-7238, which he left in a message. Told me this was a warning call that if I did not call them back I would be arrested and jailed for drug trafficking. Told me he worked for social security.
I told him that I had no involvement in anything he noted and he told me I would be arrested. I told him to do it, as he wanted my ss# and other information which I refused to give over the phone.
A.C.
Hi, Wayne. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
Diane H.
April 3, 2019
Just received a call from 800-025-1548.
Their call-back number is 281-404-6700.
They first asked for my name.
When I said that they should know that,
they hung up.
A.C.
Hi, Diane. Thanks for letting us know. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
Vicky
Do not answer this number when calls.
361 298-3172 SOCIAL SECURITY SCAM
A.C.
Hi, Vicky. Thanks for checking in with us. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
Johanna E.
This phone number was left on my telephone with the message that there is a suspension notice on my
soc, sec, # by Social Security. 434 205-1854.
I did not return this call
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Johanna. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
Chrystal H.
We received a call from 281 528 3629 (Texas call) saying that our social security number was compromised etc., etc.
A.C.
Hi, Chrystal. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams: https://identitytheft.gov/ssa .We hope this helps.
Kevin
Got a call using the following number-
844-374-8851 stating that my Social Security number had been compromised. Is this a scam?
William A.
I received a call today (604-203-6841) from someone claiming to be from the Soc. Sec. admin (a woman with a strong Indian accent). They wanted to confirm some information. They had my phone number (obviously), name, address and wanted to confirm my birth date, which, when pressed, they had the correct date. At that point, I declined to confirm anything, and hung up.