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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Marie
Number calling to report is 2028865143 leaving vm robocall about my social security ….
Carol P.
Received 3 phone calls over past 2 weeks from same voice but different numbers:
800-757-1213
800 -777-1616
800-233-7965 –> told to call 410-942-9377
All 3 calls leave vague messages/threats — ….social security account will be blocked permanently ; make sure you give us a call before you go to jail.
Hope you have some luck tracking down these dispicable predators. Thanks
K.O.
Hello Carol, thank you for checking with us. The calls you describe is not from Social Security. Regrettably, 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. We hope this helps. Thanks
William K.
I have received 2 calls telling me my SS has been suspended the man has an Indian accent the number he calls from is, 424-250-3595 cell number.
Jill
Received a call with a recording saying I must call them back at 218-300-1074
pat b.
I received 3 calls from 1 800 9624731 1 from 1 800 5737570626 claiming problems with my social security,that it might be suspended. These calls started at five AM this morning.Please let me know if I need to do anything, I called ss andmin was on hold a long time, they said they were busy to call back another time. Thank you Pat Bouwens pbouwens49@gmail.com
K.O.
Hello Pat, thank you for checking in with us. The calls you describe is not from Social Security. Regrettably, 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. We hope this helps. Thanks
John B.
I have gotten multiple phone messages from 401-859-1564, a Rhode Island number, that states there are multiple suspicious uses reported on my SSN and to call this number to talk to someone to make sure my ‘Social is not cancelled.’ I now blocked the number.
K.O.
Hello John. Thank you for checking in with us. The messages you described is not from Social Security. Regrettably, 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. We hope this helps. Thanks
LUZ M.
got a call MSG from 800 772 1291 number yesterday saying that my SS have suspicious activity and that my benefits was suspended and to push 1, I guess they want me to talk to them.
Meryl C.
I just received a call with caller I’d: US Government…the number is 718-557-3000. No message was left. Is this a scam?
K.O.
Hi Meryl. Our employees will occasionally contact citizens by telephone for customer-service related purposes. We may call you in limited circumstances, such as if you recently filed a claim or have other pending business with our office.
That said, please be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, or email messages. If an unknown individual claims to be from a legitimate organization, try to verify his or her identity directly with the organization. Avoid providing personal information unless you are certain of the person’s authority to have that information. We hope this helps. Thanks!
N. K.
I have received 2 of these calls today from different numbers. 1-352-641-0957 and 1-260-918-0171.
Also on Friday (1/11/19) from 1-800-772-1213. It is a robot voice with poor grammar. I did file with the FTC in November/December about this then. I don’t know how to get them to stop calling. I have blocked the numbers and the phone won’t ring but they are still able to leave a message. I’m on the do not call registry. I did call them back (knowing it was a scam) just to see what would happen. A man with a thick accent (unsure from where) answered with “Social Security Office.” I asked him where he was located and he said “New Mexico.” Then I asked for the address to the office and he questioned me as to why I needed the address. I said, “So that I can go do some business.” He would not tell me and I hung up. These people are idiots if they think we are!
Heather B.
My social security card was stolen along with my luggage and my birth certificate. I am very worried and could use some help on how about I should approach the situation.