Inspector General Warns Public about Phone Calls from OIG “Imposters”
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: August 19, 2021
The Acting Inspector General of Social Security, Gale Stallworth Stone, is warning citizens about a nationwide telephone “imposter phishing” scheme. The Social Security Administration (SSA) and its Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have received several reports from citizens across the country about persons receiving phone calls from individuals posing as OIG investigators. The caller indicates an issue exists pertaining to the person’s Social Security account or Social Security number (SSN) and directs the person call a non-SSA telephone number to address the issue.
The reports indicate the calls include a recording from a caller stating she is “Nancy Jones,” an “officer with the Inspector General of Social Security.” The recording goes on to say the person’s Social Security account, SSN, and/or benefits are suspended, and that he or she should call 806-680-2373 to resolve the issue. Citizens should be aware that the scheme’s details may vary; however, citizens should avoid calling the number provided, as the unknown caller might attempt to acquire personal information.
OIG investigators occasionally contact citizens by telephone for investigative purposes, but they will not request sensitive personal information from a citizen over the phone. If a person receives a similar suspicious call from someone alleging to be from the OIG, citizens may report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Acting Inspector General Stone said, “This phishing scheme is targeting unsuspecting persons for the purpose of Social Security benefit theft or identity theft.” She warns citizens to be cautious, and to avoid providing personal information such as your SSN or bank account numbers to unknown persons over the phone or internet unless you are certain of who is receiving it. “You must be very confident that the source is the correct business party, and that your information will be secure after you release it,” Stone said.
If a person has questions about any communication—email, letter, text or phone call—that claims to be from SSA or the OIG, please contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy. (Those who are deaf or hard-of-hearing can call Social Security’s TTY number at 1-800-325-0778.)
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Tags: Office of the Inspector General, OIG, SSN
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Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
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JFD
2185172934 claims to be from Social Security Adm. Obviously, they are not.
Can they be stopped now that they are giving out their phone number?
It shouldn’t be too hard for the FBI or government officials who have the tools to effectively prosecute these criminals.
Michael H.
I was just called by a man with Indian accent stating his name was Gary Hall. Not likely! The called me from number 800-772-1213 and stated their was fraud on my account. Well I am not old enough to draw SS as of yet so hardly likely.
V.V.
Hi Michael, thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our two recent blog posts:
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-oig-impersonation-schemes/
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-caller-id-spoofing-scheme-misusing-ssa-customer-service-number/
If you have questions about any communication — email, letter, text or phone call — that claims to be from SSA, please contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). You may also report the information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Regina R.
Today is Nov 17 2018. I continur to receiviephone calls from thus Houston Texas number 281-899-0916. The caller identifies himself as the Irs social security office. He makes alligations that I have fraudulently used my social security number and that the agency has frozen the use of my social security. Interesting considering I am not eligible for social security and have worked a full time job without any lapse in time since 1990. I confronted this person via phone. And he hung up on me. Fraud that needs to be investigated.
V.V.
Hi Regina, thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our two recent blog posts:
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-oig-impersonation-schemes/
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-caller-id-spoofing-scheme-misusing-ssa-customer-service-number/
If you have questions about any communication — email, letter, text or phone call — that claims to be from SSA, please contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). You may also report the information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Tina
I have been called several times by this number out of California saying I in trouble with SSI. I am reporting this number 760-938-6159. It is out of Big Pine CA. The back round is a lot of noise of scammers on the phone trying to tell people that they are in trouble through Social Security. The accent is those of East India or Terroristic Countries. I am concerned about this because we are chronically getting these calls. Please if possible investigate.
V.V.
Hi Judy, thank you for checking in with us. Unfortunately there are some Social Security impersonation schemes that we are warning citizens about. See our two recent blog posts:
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-oig-impersonation-schemes/
https://blog.ssa.gov/inspector-general-warns-public-about-caller-id-spoofing-scheme-misusing-ssa-customer-service-number/
If you have questions about any communication — email, letter, text or phone call — that claims to be from SSA, please contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). You may also report the information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
James W.
Received call from scammer today saying my SSN had been compromised. I hung up. The call was placed from 240.270.8478.
Cathy D.
I received a call purportedly being from Social Security Administration, obviously fraud. Telephone number 9792698442. I wanted to report this.
K.O.
Hello Cathy, If you received phone calls from parties portraying to be SSA, you can report it to the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at: 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Hope this helps. Thanks
Lydia P.
(800) 269-0271
1 (800) 772-1213
These numbers have called and said they’ve placed a social security hold on my SS Number because of suspicious activity /
Someone keeps calling me from NY and NJ…
It’s a scam as they’ve told me I won $200k
and needed me to send 900 bucks to an address in NJ
HELP
LYDIA Poncé
310-488-0850
Tiffany P.
Got a auto dial scam call about my SS account being suspended due to “suspicious illegal activity” and to call back to prevent suspension of said account. The call was from 407-358-6681
R.F.
Thank you for sharing this information, Tiffany. Social Security Administration (SSA) employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employee may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business that are pending.
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which receives and analyzes public complaints related to identity theft, recently reported to the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) an increase in reports of suspicious phone calls from people claiming to be SSA employees.
If a person receives a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from SSA, citizens may report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.
Mary K.
I have had multiple harassing calls from two numbers in South Carolina saying I need to contact them and give my ss number. The phone numbers are 843 306 4679 and 843 306 4804. I blocked the first number and now they are using a different number. (I think I am getting these because I have a disabled sister on SSI.)
I prefer to use online forms rather than call—could you have a place to do that on the site? Thank you. Mary
R.F.
Hello Mary. Please see “What You Can Do Online” for a list of services.
Just a reminder – If a person receives a suspicious call from someone alleging to be from SSA, citizens may report that information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report. Thanks!
Enriqueta Q.
The following Number 360-775-2840 are calling random people including myself stating “some legal enforcement actions filed on your social security number. We have an order to suspend your social at this moment because we have found may suspicious activities….” I called them back and I said this does not sound like a social security office and the male said “so what are you going to do about it!” Someone please check on this for people who fall into this trap.
V.V.
Hi Enriqueta. Thank you for checking in with us. Social Security Administration (SSA) employees occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service purposes. An SSA employee may call you in limited situations, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other Social Security business pending. In only a few limited special situations, usually already known to the citizen, an SSA employee may request the citizen to confirm personal information over the phone.
If you have questions about any communication — email, letter, text or phone call — that claims to be from SSA, please contact your local Social Security office, or call Social Security’s toll-free customer service number at 1-800-772-1213, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to verify its legitimacy (TTY number at 1-800-325-0778). You may also report the information to the OIG at 1-800-269-0271 or online via https://oig.ssa.gov/report.