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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Idahosa A.
I’m ****, I leave in **** *****. I’m new in the United States, I have my social security number. Today I received a call from your office with this phone number: 800 924 9714 with DMC 701091. Name: Mark Daniel 02840196 asking me to give last four digits of my social security number which I did ignorantly thinking the person was calling from the social security office. Few minutes I called my wife who told me it’s a scam and identity theft. Please I’m so confused and scared now I don’t know what to do. Please I need your advice and help on what I should do. Please advise. Kind regards
L.A.
Hi Idahosa. 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.
Connie F.
Repetitive calls about Social Security having ME under investigation for fraudulent activity involving my SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER.
PLEASE ADVISE??
L.A.
Hi Connie. 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.
Bobbie F.
I recently received a text stating that “a message is waiting for you at mysocialsecurity. Log in at secure.ssa.gov/RIL”. I also just did receive an email from do-not-reply-message-center@ssa.gov with a similar message.
I logged into at ssa.gov instead and accessed my account. I see no Message Center and found no indication of any new message waiting for me. Is this a scam?
CHERYL M.
ALMOST ALL OF THIS HAS HAPPEND IN MY HOME.
6 yrs ago I was scammed. I thought I was helping someone…. and over the 6 yrs… I have found out that I am just. 1of 240,000 SENIORSto be scammed. This was from a group of criminals let i to thé US from several AFRICAN COUNTRIES. There is lots more to this story. But I will not take your time here
L.A.
Hi Cheryl. 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.
Dean A.
Got called three times in two days from three different numbers…. 956-750-7508, 270-297-6144 and 832-536-6542… the usual that my SSN had been used to commit a crime.. did not call back… robo call…
L.A.
Hi Dean A. 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.
Lucille F.
Hi
Is a call from
API Healthcare legit
1 469 730-5130
Saying my SS # was used in So of Texas
I refused to give him my number an he said I Can Go to SS Office n tell them
Lou8412ny@aol.com
L.A.
Hi Lucille. 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.
Elizabeth K.
should we report these scams or just ignore?
We several a week and now on my cell phone.
L.A.
Hi Elizabeth. 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.
Nancy A.
DEBBIE called from 419-944-5803. Message said call 855-376-3300 I was being investigated. Man asked if I was Gary Yingling (that is my husband) I replied no I’m Mrs Yingling, he said he needs Gary, I said he is gone. Man says moved, not there….I said gone to heaven!!! This man apologized and told me how sorry he was not to answer any more calls that this is a scam!!!! The DEBBIE number just called our land line again! Thank goodness I am smart enough to know that no one calls like that!!! Nov. 22 2019.
L.A.
Hi Nancy. 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.
Jan M.
Just got call on my cell phone from 6464309505. Rob message left that my ss# has had illegal activity on it and I will be arrested for fraud. I called back that number – and this person (I had a hard time understanding her) answered “Social Security Administration, May I help you?” I hung up.
Very bad.
L.A.
Hi Jan. 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.
Ankit N.
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