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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Olin
I am a financial advisor- do you have a tag i can ad to my site to promote your info, tag?
Leonard R.
Those of us in Alaska have a very hard time with contact with SSA. There is only one office in the whole state and that is often over 1000 miles from where we live. That one office in Anchorage does not answer their phone, calls are forwarded to the “National” number where one can wait over an hour for an answer. I sent an email to SSA a couple of days ago and have not received a reply and have no idea if I ever will. I think I need to renew my PW on my account
A.C.
Hi, Leonard. We are sorry to hear about your experience. If you are still unable to access an account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “help desk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office. You can submit also feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page at https://www.ssa.gov/agency/contact/. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email A Question to our Support Team” form, where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this helps.
Randolph R.
Why all the detail, I have 25 different phone numbers from various cities ALL claiming to be Soc. Sec. for someone to call and check out
June S.
I want to report a possible phone scam: “I received a possible phone scam from Social Security office (425) 388-2223 out of Everett, WA . They wanted me to call them at this phone number, I did not return the call. “
A.C.
Hi, June. 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.
torrie
just got a call from 207-406-3892 telling me my SS# was hacked and I am sure it was fraud. FYI
A.C.
Hi, Torrie. 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.
Bruce
Calls on our answering machine, mostly robo, from the “ssa”. Every so often this happens and needless to say, they get deleted. Ah, but now, today a text message from “mySSA” with a special link asking me to click on it and then sign in for an important message. Oh yeah, right! Deleted and good riddance. Do not fall for these almost certain scam traps.
Patricia J.
I’ve been scammed yesterday,
They got my s.s. No.
\i don’t know what next to do. Tried calling as
A.C.
Hi, Partricia. If you suspect someone is using your Social Security number, you should go to http://www.idtheft.gov and report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission or call 1-877-IDTHEFT (1-877-438-4338). For more information, check out our publication, Identity Theft And Your Social Security Number. We hope this helps.
Wayne V.
I received a phone call from 804 913-1100 telling me my social security has been discontinued due to some crime. Why can’t you arrest these criminals and put them in jail for about 100 years? I just gave you the phone number, please help!
A.C.
Hi, Wayne. 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.
Nita E.
I have received 4 calls this morning from the same number stating my SS# is suspended due to fraud. They are relentless. The calls started at 6:21 a.m. PST. The calls are from 1-888-256-3096. It is a recording. They are telling me to call the same number back.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Nita. 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.
Josh W.
Had one of my users (I work in IT Security) get a voicemail on 12/16/2019 from 1-800-320-9589 threatening to arrest her due to SS Fraud.
A.C.
Hi, Josh. 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.