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.)
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: Office of the Inspector General, OIG, SSN
See CommentsAbout the Author
Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
Andrew Cannarsa, OIG Communications Director
Comments
Comments are closed.
eileen r.
I keep getting messages from 888-810-0371 that my social security # has been suspended. Get these almost every day
A.C.
Hi, Eileen. Thanks for checking in with us. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.
B A.
Phone call from 602 490 0552 said to call another number. My Social Security account has had fraudulent activity. Did not call.
Arnold S.
Add 760-303-4145 to list of numbers to call due to SSA account “suspended”. I have received 3 calls from this number. Fraud highly suspected.
chris r.
I was the victim of a telephone scam, a man from India claiming to be a Social Security Agent. He was threatening me that there was an FBI investigation concerning my SS#. The phone number that called me was 1-917-504-8649.
CDC
Had a pre-recorded message today regarding S/S. This was the number:
#760-623-0459
Kathy B.
I received a voice message : This call is from the Dept. of SSA the reason you have received a phone call is to inform
you that we just suspended you ss number because we found some suspicious activity
1-469-206-4381
Dallas, TX
4/11/19
Adele A.
third time i have received a warning of legal proceedings from these scammers. phone number they used was 401-237-4058. claiming to be soc, sec. admin. and legal proceedings would start against me.
L.A.
Hello Adele. Thank you for letting us know about these calls. We do not usually make random calls. If you or anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams here. We hope this helps.
Therese D.
I received a call from this number, 877-607-9525, on April 10 at 12:52 PM. The caller claimed to be from SS and my SS has been suspended and I could be arrested if I don’t contact SS. I hung up knowing it is a scam.
Andrea
I have been receiving harassing calls from this number: +19565670222. It is a automated message with female voice who claims to be Officer Kelly Jones of Social Security Administration. The message advised my SSN was linked to criminal activity and if I did not return a call to the above number, they would begin legal proceedings and my SSN would be suspended. I have received this call on the day of 04/09/2019 several times and decided to call them back urging for them to cease calling me because I was aware that they were a scammer. I couls barely make out what the gentleman on the line said when he answered the phone as the call was very fuzzy and he made a middle eastern accent. I informes him that if I continued to get these calls, I would take legal action to which he could only say “Very funny” then immediately hang up.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Andrea. We do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.
Cynthia M.
FRM:Verizon FiOS
SUBJ:Notification
MSG:Call 1-888-234-6786 to listen to your new voicemail message from ORADELL NJ from 201-987-5182 in mailbox 4104370279
This number is claiming that My SSA benefits are being cut off.
A.C.
Hi, Cynthia. Keep in mind we do not usually make random calls. If anyone receives calls saying that they are from Social Security, do not give out any personal information. Suspicious calls should be reported to the Office of the Inspector General at 1-800-269-0271 or online. You can also report these scams to the Federal Trade Commission through a new site specific to Social Security scams, here. You can find additional information here. We hope this helps.