Beware of Social Security Scams
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: June 30, 2021
Social Security phone scams are the #1 type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and Social Security. Over the past year, these scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Social Security encourages you to use the new online form to report Social Security phone scams to disrupt the scammers and help us reduce this type of fraud, and reduce the number of victims.
“We are taking action to raise awareness and prevent scammers from harming Americans,” said Andrew Saul, Commissioner of Social Security. “I am deeply troubled that our country has not been able to stop these crooks from deceiving some of the most vulnerable members of our society.”
Social Security employees will occasionally contact you by telephone or mail for business purposes if you have ongoing business with the agency. However, Social Security employees will not:
- Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended.
- Contact you to demand an immediate payment.
- Ask you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
- Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or cash.
- Demand that you pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.
- Promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money.
Remember that Social Security employees will never threaten you. If there’s a problem with your Social Security record, Social Security will mail you a letter. If Social Security needs you to submit payments, the agency will provide instructions in the letter, including options to make those payments.
“Awareness is our best hope to thwart the scammers,” said Gail Ennis, Inspector General for Social Security. “Tell your friends and family about them and report them to us when you receive them, but most importantly, just hang up and ignore the calls.”
You can learn more on our press release.
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Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Ankit N.
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Jeannette C.
Dec.9, 2019 at 10 AM
Received call that I had cimmitd fraud and they had a warrant for my arrest. Press 1 to speak to an agent to help me. pressed one and a man who could hardly speak english came on told him to stop calling this number or the FBI would be notified, he hung up 800-352-9562
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Jeannette. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
VR W.
received calls from 984-241-8878 and 973-245-9663 within a few minutes of each other on the same day. messages indicated my s/s # was used in relation to fraud and payments will be discontinued. when I returned the call could hear call center activity in the background and the recipient didn’t identify himself or the company, just yelled “hello”. I hung up convinced this was a fraud.
A.C.
Hi, VR. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Judith H.
I received a scam call regarding my social security number. The caller threatened that I would be arrested if I did not comply. He also stated money laundering and drug trafficking was associated with my name in Texas.
Timothy W.
Like many of you, I’ve received these fake SS calls. The ones who want to sell me some medical device, and my favorite my the suspension of my SS #.
I just received one the other day and decided to have some fun. I called back. Let me say at the outset, the callback process was professional with the please hold and the music playing while the call was shifted to one of their scammers.
Right off the bat, he told me my SS# was used in some illegal activity and demanded to know why I allowed that to happen and proceeded to prattle on when I stopped him and asked for his badge number. He rattled off a 9 digit number. Immediately told him it was a fake number. He insisted it was real, called him a liar and asked him what crime I committed. Let’s just say this, my last response to him was ‘you too bud, and the horse you rode in on.
I like to say the following:
– Most government agencies do not call people directly, they have no reason to unless you’re doing business with them or you initiated the call and are waiting on them for some level of follow-up.
– Also, what Federal, State, or local agency would call and warn you they have a warrant for arrest in advance?
So please stay alert, there are all types of scammers out there just trying to dupe people into giving them information so they can rob them of their hard earn money and benefits.
Gloria
received call from phone # 8452898114 going to suspend my ss check for renting a car,drugs found in car,opening 19 bank accounts,in TX. asked for bank I use what accounts on that bank,gave no info then said there would be warrant out for my arrest.
L.A.
Hi Gloria. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Edward W.
I have received several calls from 518-763-0121, claiming that my Social Security number has been used in fraudulent activities and unless I contacted them as soon as possible to avoid legal action being taken against me.
I called the number back to discover it was a call center and the person that answered the phone had a foreign accent. I commented that they had called me, and they should know who I am. I asked who the person was and I was given what I believe to be a fake name.
I challenged the caller again and he disengaged the call.
Please do something to stop these scam calls. I will also be contacting the FCC, my phone provider and the FBI regarding these multiple calls.
With all of the technology present today, why can’t this be stopped?
L.A.
Hi Edward. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Mindy N.
+18662594236 keeps calling saying they are you. Not an American on the line
L.A.
Hi Mindy. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Robert S.
I received a call today from: 1-800-749-5514. The person said my SS# had been used for drug deals in Texas? I stayed on the line to listen. The scary thing is the person knew my full name, address, last 4 digits of social security number, and that I banked at Bank of America.
I told them that I would need to call them back and they hung up. Tried the number and it is not available.
A bit concerned that they knew that much information.
L.A.
Hi Robert. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
saundra
so where can you report these numbers? Got a call from 443-342-2701 in Solomon Maryland…fraud.
L.A.
Hi Saundra. Thanks for letting us know. Generally, we will only contact you if you have requested a call or have ongoing business with us. Recently, scams—misleading victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for Social Security number problems—have skyrocketed. Our employees will never threaten you for information or promise a benefit in exchange for personal information or money.
If you receive a suspicious call like this: 1) Hang up. 2) Do not provide personal information, money, or retail gift cards. 3) Report suspicious calls here. For more information on how to protect yourself, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.