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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Jim S.
I am receiving as many as 6 calls per day with claims of problems with my SS number. Numbers include
510/112-7820, 510/112-7630, 510/112-7620, 510/112-7610, 510/1127604, 510/112-7576, These ae just one day with recordings lasting 13 seconds claiming problems with my number and they were going to cancel my number if I didn’t dial one for help. Just some to add to your list.
Julius P.
on 6/20/2019 received a call from 14242555151 saying social security was going to sue me hungup at that point so no information was gotten from me
Charlotte
Get calls often, threatening my social security. Saying charges will be pressed against me for fraud, it’s a robot call & the number is
530-298-7505
These need to be addressed & taken care of, I know social security does not do robot calls
Jerry M.
This article was very helpful to read after I logged on (per my social security benefits letter) to report an attempted scam. I challenged the live person that he was indeed NOT a SSA person. He asked “why?” I responded I would report the phone call/number to authorities and ended the call. In attempts to ring this number back, now, to determine that it does ring in to a recorded message, but no live person ever comes on. I get several copies of a recorded message, then silence. I did fill out a report on another site.
Elaine G.
ILLEGAL Aliens steal and post emails as REVENGE when USA citizens are on to their schemes. Once the email is placed on the Dark Web, watch out for all types of FRAUD and ILLEGAL online concluding including a
Approvalmatch.com, a scam credit card offering company that will STEAL.from you any way they can.
Gloria M.
I was contacted by these people, they asked for the last 4 Digetsog mySS number, I refused saying if you are the Social Security Adm you should already have it, she replied that My card would immediately be suspended and I would spend 5 years in Prison if I didn’t give the number! I asked for the Address of the SS office, got a Minnesota address, asked the name of the Supervisor she worked for, SHE HUNG UP on me.
I immediately gave imy daughter the phone number, she looked up from and the SS address the lady gave me! The phone number was a New York number.
Thank God!! I knew to NEVER give out my SS number! My daughter me this information number!
I will pass it along to hundreds of Seniors in the Seniors Living Facility where I live!
Thank you! God Bless You All ?
Kate
425-880-0914 They are saying they are part of OIG, They kept using the same name between each of my call backs. Then hung up on me 5 times after I asked them why did they use the same name and then hung up and each time I asked What the call was about they hung up on me.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Kate. 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. Thanks, again.
Gina
I recently got a phone call from Gowanda, NY from +1 (716) 241-1688. I ignored the phone call because I’m from CA and don’t know anyone in NY.
I read the VM synopsis of the phone call and it said my social security number had been suspended due to suspicious activity.
If anyone gets any phone calls from +1(716)241-1688, please ignore it, block the number, and know that it is a scam.
A.C.
Thanks for letting us know, Gina. 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. Thanks also for helping us fight fraud.
Raul e.
+14102133991 this number just called me using this scam
A.C.
Hi, Raul. 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. Thanks, again.
Andrea S.
I’m getting called over and over about my “Social Security Number” is shut off. The numbers a a variety of:
510-112-7335
510-112-7303
510-112-7285
510-112-7266
510-112-7255
These keep changing it after I block them
L.A.
Hello Andrea. 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