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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Tags: fraud
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Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Mike Korbey, Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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JAN
The form OIG posted seems designed only for people who lost money on the impostor scam. If that’s the only response you want, please say so. If you want to get reports from people who get calls and do not lose money, simplify the form by allowing respondents to enter scam phone numbers/date, etc in one section at the beginning for the form.
PS It should not take 6 clicks to enter a birth date in the 1940s.
Luis A.
Hi Jan. 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.
J
Got the scammer call from 361 203 0071
Luis A.
Hi j. 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.
M. V.
Received a phone call saying my Social Security will be suspended. The phone number was from 1-844-293-4516 and I called the number from my work phone and I asked where was the office located and he said is in Austin Tx (background noise of a call center environment).
SYLVIA
there seems to be alot of scam calls i got one last week from a 866 area code lost the rest of the number but at the time my son saw me crying they said to me that my ss # was somehow being used out of el paso texas and threatned to cut my first retirement check on 12-10-2019 and there was an arrest warrant for me gave me his badge number and name jackie watson he was oriental called the number back it said social security office it was a recording my son said they recorded that off the original SS # went as far as saying mexico and south america i am not that dumb of a person but they scared the shit out of me i was in tears and they had my personal info the scammers are getting better at this BEWARE THE WOLVES COME IN SHEEP CLOTHING
Luis A.
Hi. 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.
Donna
I’m so glad reporting this is getting easier. I tried to report one of my calls. It was so confusing I gave up. I’m not a senior yet, I couldn’t even imagine my poor mother trying to wade thru the old way. Next time I get a call, I will definitely try to use the form
Susan S.
I was given the wro g information. In 2015
I was told that I took was entitled to my ex husband’s social sec benefits half of it.
I went to the Schenectady ny office the woman explain that yes I was able to get half of his benefit and when I turned 66 years of age I would come back and get mine Soc Sec.
So last week I came back I was told the first woman was mistaken and I have to to pay for soc sec mistake.
I either paid back 35,000.
To soc sec.
, or sign off and get a check for $11,000.
And my benefits now go back to my salary at the age of 62.
This isn’t fair for your people making this mistake and now I have to lose mo eyes every month .
Luis A.
Hi Susan. Please note that for your security, we do not have access to information about your overpayment in this forum. We ask that you continue to work with your local Social Security office. For more information and to learn about appeal and waiver rights, read our publication titled “Overpayments.” We hope this helps.
lesly f.
Even the government abusive elderly people we can get what we need like elderly.legaly age 65 means people benn elder! What does mean elderly ?
Yes ! I am abused mentally phiisicly from a system.!!!!
lesly f.
IN GOD PEOPLE!! TRUST MR SAME !!!!
Robert W.
I am receiving multiple calls from people claiming to be Social Security. Calls 1) Calls asking for part of my payment to go to a person in emergency need of funds, 2)Calls asking for my number so that an increase in my payment may be sent to me, 3) Calls warning me of no increase in cost of living unless I register with my number, In no case have I fallen for these scams but I worry these people will get my number from any one of several sources. Can this happen?
Tina D.
Hi, even if someone does manage to access your SSN the SSA has strict guidelines that require any person who contacts SSA to ask for information regarding his or her account to provide detailed information before any matters regarding the account can be discussed. Also the majority of SSA lines are recorded for quality assurance and protection. SSA takes individual’s PII (Personal Identifying Information) very serious, and uses a variety of measures to ensure that no one’s PII or SSN is compromised. SSA works closely with the OIG (Office of Inspector General) to identify and prosecute any individual(s) who attempt to access another person’s information. SSA employees are not able to speak with an individual’s spouse, parent, child or guardian without receiving permission from the person who’s information is in question. SSA urges anyone who receives a suspicious call from someone claiming to be an SSA employee to please report the call information using the link provided in the Commissioner’s message on SSA’s webpage (ssa.gov).
Luis 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.
David W.
I have constantly been getting phone calls threatening me claiming to be from the Medicare and also the Social Security Administration. They leave a toll free number to call if I do not call immediately an arrest warrant will be issued for me and I feel sorry for the people that don’t realize that Medicare and Social Security Administration do not call people
Hope M.
Same…warning as above I am to be arrested if i dont call about my social security number…called today at 9:18am EST…from PA…
1-724-313-5009…I never respond to any calls asking for information or say I’m going to get arrested…
I hope you can get these ppl so no one gets hurt…
Ty
Luis A.
Hi David. 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.
Glenda K.
tHIS WEEK WE HAVE RECEIVED 4 PHONE CALLS TRYING TO TELL US THEY ARE SS AND ARE TRYING TO SEND US A BACK BRACE. THEY HAVE OUR NAME AND BIRTH DATE AND TELL US THEY ARE SS.
WE ARE AWARE THEY ARE A SCAM, JUST WOULD LIKE TO LET YOU KNOW.
Luis A.
Hi Glenda. 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.
Noreen R.
Those people tried to exactly what I am reading from above. I immediately called the SS office and they told me to ignore them. There was nothing wrong with my number. Please BE AWARE!